Profusely illustrated with rare historic and previously unpublished modern photography, this is the perfect book for every railfan. Now available in a value-priced paperback edition, this invaluable volume spans more than 150 years of locomotive technology to examine the wide variety of steam, diesel, and electric locomotives that have powered ninety North American railroads, past and present, through the decades. Because locomotive-building has long been a made-to-order business, the book is arranged alphabetically by railroad to give readers a better understanding of how specific technologies suited specific needs, whether for freight, passenger, or switching operations, and whether for congested metropolitan areas, wide-open plains, or tortuous mountain passes.The railroads range from the best-known historic lines, such as the Canadian Pacific, Santa Fe, Union Pacific, and Baltimore & Ohio, to today's giant Class I roads, commuter lines, and selected short lines. The result is a beautifully presented reference guide that features more than 400 locomotive gems, including historic machines such as New York Central's J3a Hudsons, Pennsylvania Railroad's GG1 electrics, and EMD's classic E- and F-Units, to today's most powerful modern diesels. All the major buildersa past and presenta are represented, including such heavyweights as Baldwin, Alco, Lima, EMD, GE, and more.".