In an era before the government nationalized (via Amtrak) the nation’s depressed railway system, passenger trains were the state-of-the-art in sophistication and comfort for the well-to-do traveler. Fierce competition brought to the forefront the sleek stainless steel trains of the Moderne twenties; leading into the Art deco period that attempted to revive flagging interest due to the great depression of the 1930s.
Daylight schedules were heavily advertised for routes through the scenic Rocky Mountains and other natural wonders. The availability of sleeping accommodations and fine dining was also in vogue for the pampered passenger of leisured means. As travel for the sake of same gave-way to the speed and economy of the airlines and the freedom represented by the automobile, the railroads concentrated on the transport of freight for survival. The war years of the 1940s brought a vast increase in strategic military rail use, which served as a temporary reprieve to the industry’s subsequent decline in the decades that followed.
“She’ll be comin’ ‘round the mountain . . .”
In the 8 x 9 inch paper-bound book All Aboard!: Images from the Golden Age of Rail Travel, authors Lynn Johnson and Michael O’Leary unite informative text with a panorama of poster-art and associated memorabilia from the days when rail was king. Full-color artwork is presented on heavy-stock paper and conveniently arranged in relevant sub-categories; making this the ultimate rail traveler’s coffee table tome.
Introduction
A Sentimental Journey . . .
The history of the railroads - from inception through the Golden Age - is condensed for an effortless and informative three-page read that leans heavily toward the romance of the rails. Photographs include an interior shot of a richly-appointed smoking car that was part of the opulence of the 1934 Burlington Zephyr; the first of the stylized Art deco wonders.
“Lets Take The Train”
Three more pages of text give an overview of railroad economics. Twenty pages of full-color reproductions follow; these include timetables, labels and baggage tags - as well as advertising posters and magazine ads of the period. The trains themselves take center stage here; imaginative artistic license gives an often surreal touch to much of the artwork.
Streamline
The advent of stylized high-speed comfort is discussed, with emphasis on the designs and designers that best represented the Art deco movement - recognized as the last true pure style established before the homogenization of culture led to our current age of hybridization. The essence of this design is captured in the sixteen pages that follow - with several fine examples of locomotives and the advertising that promoted them.
The highlight here is a photograph of designer Raymond Loewy, who stands on the “cow catcher” of his first streamlined locomotive offering. Loewy was responsible for the design of many cutting-edge products of the day - from kitchen appliances to cigarette packaging. His studio was also highly regarded for the creation of several classic automotive designs for Studebaker from the 1930s-1950s.
Rails West
Western expansion is the story, with talk of rail links to several pre-state territories and a nod to the Chinese and European laborers whose efforts made access to this vast frontier possible. The sixteen pages of advertising illustration show the emphasis placed on natural wonders such as Boulder Dam and the various national parks that serve as destinations of recreation throughout the western United States.
A Certain Elegance
Artists in the British and European Golden Age embraced modernism through a conceptualized prism, with a resulting refinement and grandeur that raised many of these works to the status of fine art. From Alpine skiers to the beauty of London at twilight, the seventeen pages of illustration included in this chapter feature examples that qualify this as the most intriguing.
Heading North
Our Canadian cousins have a truckload of their own natural beauty to promote and they do it here with style. Although this chapter rates less introductory text than previous, the pictures are the story - with the accent on Canada’s wide-open spaces.
The majesty of Indians (native Canadians) in full dress are a popular subject, as is the beauty and scope of the Canadian Rockies in both summer and snow. A gorgeous valley scene is the only example of expressionism in the book and is one of the few that appear sans caption. The Northern Pacific’s plea to “Travel Via the Route of the Great Big Baked Potato” features what else - a picture of a great big baked potato - served-up on company china with a pat of butter. Lovers of Canadian moose-art will also have reason to rejoice.
Rails For Victory
Offering the most text of any chapter, the role of the rails in wartime gives an overview of this era and the use of art toward the instillation of morale and motivation. Grand in scope, these montage-style works combine industrial might with patriotic symbolism that achieves an almost religious fervor.
Several renowned artists of the period (including Alexander Leydenfrost and Dean Cornwell) were commissioned to help justify and explain the hardships of rationing for the cause of freedom. The romance of armament transport beneath a starry sky at the hands of shirtless and sweaty soldiers makes for some imaginative and effective illustration.
Collecting Rail Images
The final chapter profiles the Railroading Ephemera and Collectibles market. Affordable examples of brochures, menus, baggage tags and advertisements can be found at collectible paper shows and flea markets worldwide. Several clubs exist whose dedication to the preservation and collection of railroad history is both comprehensive and accessible. A great deal of information on this subject can also be found on-line.
I recommend All Aboard!: Images from the Golden Age of Rail Travel for its voluminous and well-researched content - as well as its inherent browsability for the casual fan. My only caveat regards the rather cheap binding that has caused the cover of my copy to separate despite a minimum of handling. Five stars for the book’s exceptional content, with a one-star deduction for a lack of physical-quality follow-through.
All Aboard!: Images from the Golden Age of Rail Travel (1999)
Authors: Lynn Johnson, Michael O’Leary
Chronicle Books
85 Second Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
chroniclebooks.com
ISBN: 0811817474
Cover Price: $16.95 (US)
Price Paid: $4.95 @ edwardrhamilton.com
America’s Railroads - The Steam Train Legacy
This review qualifies as an entry in both the Canadiana Write-Off hosted by elvisdo...
...and the Fabulous French and English Finds Write-Off hosted by ifif1938.
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