Kenneth C. Springirth, with a lifelong interest in rail transportation. Born and raised in the United States, he commuted to Drexel Institute of Technology (now Drexel University) in Philadelphia by trolley car, subway, and sometimes commuter train. His father was a trolley car motorman in Philadelphia, and his grandfather was a trolley car motorman in Washington D.C. A detailed researcher, Ken's interest in rail transportation by 2013 has culminated in writing 20 books on trolley car systems and railroads covering a variety of locations.
Traces the history of the Stourbridge Lion, Americaâs first steam locomotive, and the railroads shaping northeastern Pennsylvaniaâs Stourbridge Line. Stourbridge Lion to the Stourbridge Line begins with the Stourbridge Lion,...
CSX Transportation Railroad Heritage is a photographic essay of this major railroad that was formed in 1980 by a merger of the Seaboard Coast Line with the Chessie System, providing...
Philadelphiaâs Suburban Red Arrow Trolley Heritage is a photographic essay of suburban Philadelphiaâs Red Arrow system and operation by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA). By 1899, the Philadelphia &...
Viewing SEPTA'S Rail Heritage began with the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) acquiring the Philadelphia Transportation Company in 1968 followed by acquiring Philadelphia Suburban Transportation Company in 1970, and taking...
Philadelphiaâs Streetcar Heritage is a photographic essay of the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, streetcar system. The first electric streetcar line in Philadelphia opened in 1892 and quickly replaced horsecar service by 1897....
Detroit's Streetcar Heritage is a photographic essay of the Detroit, Michigan, streetcar system. Replacement of slow moving horsecar service began with the opening of an electric street railway by the...
Cincinnati Streetcar Heritage is a photographic essay of the Cincinnati, Ohio, streetcar system. Cincinnati's first electric streetcar line was the conversion of the Mt. Adams & Eden Park Inclined Railway...
Viewing Norfolk Southern Railway covers the history of this railroad, beginning with the South Carolina Canal & Rail Road Company, which in 1830 operated the first regularly scheduled passenger train...
San Francisco's first cable car line opened in 1873. The successful development of the electric streetcar by Frank Sprague in 1888 plus the 1906 San Francisco earthquake resulted in the...
On August 7, 2011, former Pennsylvania Railroad type E8A diesel units No. 5711 and No. 5809 are passing through the borough of Greenville in Mercer County, Pennsylvania on the former...
Viewing Pittsburghâs Trolleys and Inclines is a photographic essay covering Pittsburghâs trolley car system that under Pittsburgh Railways Company (PRC) operated about 600 miles of trolley car lines that linked...
New Jerseyâs Trolley Heritage is a photographic essay of trolley cars that once served Atlantic City, Ocean City, and Wildwood, plus the modernized Newark City subway, along with the new...
The first street railway opened in New Orleans in 1835. Over the years various methods of powering the streetcars including horses, stream locomotives, overhead cable system, and fireless locomotives were...
Reading Railroad Heritage is a photographic essay of the history of a well-run system up to its acquisition by the Consolidated Rail Corporation in 1976, and its legacy that includes...
Trolleys of Pennsylvania is a photographic essay covering trolley car systems in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania had more operating trolley companies than any other state in the United States. Fairmount Park in...
Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Heritage started in 1849 with the opening of the Aurora Branch Railroad in Illinois from Aurora to Chicagoâs west side. This grew into the Chicago,...
Union Pacific Railroad Heritage covers the history of this amazing railroad that was founded in 1862 and completed the United States first transcontinental railroad in 1869. With the need to...
West Chester Railroad is a photographic essay of the railroad that linked the borough of West Chester, Pennsylvania, via Media to Philadelphia. West Chester (25 miles west of Philadelphia and...
The Toronto Beaches Lions Club Easter Parade of April 8, 2012 leading off with Toronto Transit Commission historic Presidents' Conference Committee car No. 4500, vintage Peter Witt car No. 2766,...
Chicago's South Shore Line is a photographic essay of the last interurban electric railroad operating in the United States. Completed as the Chicago, Lake Shore & South Bend Railway (CLS&SBR)...
Baltimore was the first United States city to begin regularly scheduled electric railway service in 1885. However, because of technical problems the line had to go back to horse car...
Street Cars of Washington D.C. is a photographic essay of the history of the well-kept modern street car system that provided frequent transit service to much of our nation's capital...
Reading and Northern Railroad Heritage begins with the predecessor railroads in northeastern Pennsylvania including Reading Company, Pennsylvania Railroad Schuylkill Branch, Central Railroad of New Jersey in Pennsylvania, Lehigh & New...
Excellent book! It was such a good read, that I couldn't put it down. There were great stories with lots of interesting facts. Barry's writing style makes the reading informative and interesting. And each story includes amazing photographs that brought me right there to the scene of the action.
đ¸â¨ Just picked up NolaDeejâs *Deserted New Orleans* and it is outstanding!
It is outstanding to learn the history of abandoned New Orleans from a true native who knows every back road and forgotten corner of the city. His passion for the lost and forgotten is evident on every single page â you can feel the respect and wonder in his words and photos as he brings those haunting landmarks back to life.
The images pull you right in, capturing that beautiful Southern decay and the stories time tried to erase. Itâs the kind of book that makes you slow down, linger, and really see the magic in what most folks drive right past.
Highly recommended for your coffee table â itâs one youâll keep coming back to with your morning coffee, flipping through and getting lost in the history all over again. If you love urban exploration, Southern charm, or just damn good storytelling through pictures, this oneâs a must-have. đ¤ đ
Big thanks to NolaDeej for sharing his hometownâs hidden side with the world!
Deserted New Orleans: A Journey Through Abandoned Landmarks
Stephanie
This author does an excellent job at explaining the importance and history behind these now abandoned buildings. The photographs in this book are breathtaking. Every page you turn feels like youâre transported back in time. I highly recommend this book if youâre interested in history and abandoned asylums. 100/10!
Abandoned Asylums and Institutions of Massachusetts: The Bay State of Decay Rises
Rosa
Incredible history of New jerseyâs southern beaches towns with great photos!
I purchased this second volume of the Ocean Access series; part one was for the northern beaches (point pleasant, LBI) - this one covers those between Atlantic City and Cape May. While Iâve been to both of these towns, Iâve never made to the other ones featured in this book and WOW - they look amazing. Avalon, Sea isle City, Stone Harbor - The photos in this book make these towns look like postcards. I always wanted to learn about how these shore towns began, and these two Ocean Access books explain it perfectly.
Ocean Access: The Beachfront Towns of Atlantic & Cape May County, New Jersey
Ruth Mattingly
Great Asylum Documentation
Excellent documentation of the many asylums of New York. Great photography and plenty of interesting facts. Also a great explorer :)
Abandoned Asylums and Institutions of New York: The Empire State Strikes Back
C Sonder
âMemphis: Juke Joints, Civil Rights, and Soulful Nightsâ by Adam David is a heartfelt photographic tribute to the rich history and vibrant culture of Memphis. Through compelling street photography, David captures the cityâs essenceâfrom its musical heritage and civil rights landmarks to the enduring spirit of its people. This collection not only showcases iconic scenes but also delves into the narratives that have shaped Memphis, making it a must-have for both locals and visitors seeking a deeper connection to the city and the indelible mark it made on the blues and beyond.
Memphis: Juke Joints, Civil Rights, and Soulful Nights
