Death Rode the Rails: American Railroad Accidents and Safety, 1828–1965

Contents

Contents List of Figures ix List of Tables xi Preface xiii Introduction 1 1. In the Beginning: American Railroad Dangers and Safety, 1828–1873 10 2. Off the Tracks: The Changing Pattern of Derailments, 1873–1900 42 3. Collisions and the Rise of Regulation, 1873–1900 70 4. The Major Risks from Minor Accidents, 1873–1900 97 5. Engineering Success and Disaster: Bridge Design and Failure, 1840–1900 130 6. Coping with the Casualties: Companies, Workers, and Injuries, 1850–1900 155 7. Safety Crisis and Safety First, 1900–1920 181 8. Lobbying for Regulation: Transporting Hazardous Substances, 1903–1930 216 9. Private Enterprise and Public Regulation: Safety between the Wars, 1922–1939 237 10. Safety in War and Decline, 1940–1965 271 Conclusion. The Political Economy of Railroad Safety, 1830–1965 303 Appendix One. Nineteenth-Century Railroad Accident and Casualty Statistics 309 Appendix Two. Casualties and Accidents from Interstate Commerce Commission Statistics, 1888–1965 321 List of Abbreviations 341 Notes 343 Essay on Sources 421 Index 439 Photo gallery appears following page 215 This page intentionally left blank ...