Railroads

[Rainier]

1 hour ago, MxMI17 said:

It is probablly not you are looking for exactly, but If you have not read Railroader, Hunter Harrisons biography, I would higly recommended. He is a legend in the industry

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1989025048/?bestFormat=true&k=railroader&ref_=nb_sb_ss_w_scx-ent-pd-bk-d_k0_1_10_de&crid=8IREN37S2BQG&sprefix=railroader

I can second this book. Very interesting biography, but also gave me a lot of insight into how the business works.

[oscarazocar]

1 hour ago, hasilp89 said:

Apologies if it has already been mentioned somewhere but is there a railroad history book (similar to Yergin's The Prize) that anyone would recommend.

 

 

 

I don't know of one good comprehensive book, but there are biographies on a number of the main players that pretty much get you to the same place - Gould/Harriman/Hill/Vanderbilt/Van Sweringen/etc.

 

Jay Gould

 

The Life & Legend of Jay Gould - this one is very long and comprehensive if you really want to get in the weeds.

https://www.amazon.com/Life-Legend-Jay-Gould/dp/0801857716/ref=sr_1_5?crid=1DT0JUYCR277U&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.mt1TVjMgDxRFQIwlIxM4hPV0l22aVLApBZWPBgpq1JhL-7Jl7JbQIMmhyvZbGE2Ik3d2SJY_fGtJh-T8RMqt1XXnoRjALrtYXVmQKSdQEBIRRw3XHSNYqLKZIwnbbxE5Cv-pw9XEtBmhWtxj-bt71AJPFE9XN3YaXIYI_I9ggoAc7ebuJyWbmUb4XAYU70Hl-o7lA-XBvtkiMrogh4XTAoPYl42373TUapdAzKdEl-0.eivntz0f3KI-gtT-ullz3pNZKJ5wiBx_c-8QQSLu5FU&dib_tag=se&keywords=jay+gould&qid=1758552446&s=books&sprefix=jay+gould%2Cstripbooks%2C92&sr=1-5

 

American Rascal - this and the next are more recent and shorter, I preferred Dark Genius

https://www.amazon.com/American-Rascal-Streets-Biggest-Fortune/dp/1982107405

 

The Dark Genius of Wall Street

https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Genius-Wall-Street-Misunderstood-ebook/dp/B00A9XVLXI?ref_=ast_author_dp_rw&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.EnZgMbypos3lT9P404GKZ77XPuOy-TJ-ePHURf3_tfgbJ0pW0CU4W-BHNgdDtRgLWLzw9jix-tMB3uLfyg3VE3AfXWm-pAQReul_Nh6xK7C67x0wgXIuXjrdDBFJz0FvrbHJwNpuRlmp1sIlTBFacJmI7afXHaQXMqN6whAuguKRzVzQvoi0QWC03DmfYVK4JiIL6ERyKlcUZmp20Xw-Ft42jJtIjcO_6R5u3yWWMPw.9D0SbHQhHFYfQkHmzXQSFYmLhQxRQROchUn_dQdPL_Q&dib_tag=AUTHOR

 

Van Sweringen brothers - I haven't read this but it is supposed to be excellent

https://www.amazon.com/Invisible-Giants-Clevelands-Sweringen-Brothers/dp/0253341639

 

Charles Morris - The Tycoons - good broader coverage of all robber barrons, I thought this was great

https://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/02/books/review/the-tycoons-benefactors-of-great-wealth.html

 

Harriman vs Hill -  I think Buffett recommended this somewhere years back, he blurbs it.  Very well written account of Harriman/Hill 1907 battle and resulting panic.

https://www.amazon.com/Harriman-vs-Hill-Streets-Railroad/dp/0816683646

 

Vanderbilt

https://www.amazon.com/First-Tycoon-Epic-Cornelius-Vanderbilt/dp/0375415424

[Xerxes]

Totally UNCH since the high summer August days of 2020