I just finished reading: The Men Who Loved Trains, the Story of Men Who Battled Greed to Save an Ailing Industry, written by Rush Loving Jr. and published by the Indiana University press in 2006. I thought it very good and an exciting read since I was not aware of all the details, debacles, etc. in the NYC & Pennsylvania; Penn Central; Conrail; CSX; NS mergers and splits! This book has a lot of information about the lines themselves and the personality of their leaders, both good and bad. Quite an amazing story. Of course this is hindsight but there were many contributors from closed door meetings that are interesting.
Joseph R. Daughen & Peter Binzen, two Philadelphia newspapermen, wrote a fascinating book entitled “Wreck of The Penn Central,” an account of the events that led up to what was then the largest corporate bankruptcy in American History.
H. Craig Miner, “Rebirth of the Missouri Pacific 1956-1983,” is an interesting account of how a railroad that was in bankruptcy reorganization for 23-years came to attract and assemble a crackerjack management team, one which transformed a sleepy, country-bumpkin railroad into a no-nonsense, powerhouse freight carrier.
Author Maury Klein has written two volumes covering the history of Union Pacific. The first volume covers the beginning years, 1862-1893. The second volume covers the “Harriman era,” 1894 to 1969. Mr. Klein supposedly is working on a third volume covering the post-1969 era, but I don’t think that volume has been published yet.
Miner’s book is excellent. That is a great book explaining the transition period to modern railroading. Your description of “country bumkin to powerhouse” is right on the money.
The volume 3 of Union Pacific would be something to really look at the western railroading modern era.
Ed