Chapter 4: Secrets of the railways ...

Friedrich Bertschinger u.a.: Die Geheimnisse der Eisenbahn: Technik, Betrieb und Organisation der Eisenbahnen [...]. (Basel, 2. Auflage 1955).

published February 2015

The favorite book of Werner Nef

The fourth book in this series is about the "secrets of the railways", a very special chapter in the history of technology and one which has fascinated people from the very beginning. The reader is a real specialist with 40 years of experience as a locomotive driver.

The reader

The book

Friedrich Bertschinger u.a.: Die Geheimnisse der Eisenbahn: Technik, Betrieb und Organisation der Eisenbahnen; eine allgemeinverständliche Darstellung unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der schweizerischen Verhältnisse. (Basel, 2. Auflage 1955).

The book gives the reader a very clear idea of the enormously difficult circumstances under which new lines had to be adapted to hostile landscapes, with audacious bridges and long tunnels, so that even after 150 years they are still capable of handling the growing volume of traffic and ever greater speeds. With over 600 illustrations, it provides a comprehensive overview and brings to life the lure of the railways, which in the early days was a major factor in their popularity but which has unfortunately fallen victim to the breakneck pace of progress.

Have a look at some illustrations!

The book in IRONCAT

"The secrets of the railways" in the catalog of the Iron Library