--- product_id: 7971232 title: "Train: Riding the Rails That Created the Modern World--from the Trans-Siberian to the Southwest Chief" price: "£19.51" currency: GBP in_stock: true reviews_count: 11 url: https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/7971232-train-riding-the-rails-that-created-the-modern-world-from store_origin: GB region: United Kingdom --- # Train: Riding the Rails That Created the Modern World--from the Trans-Siberian to the Southwest Chief **Price:** £19.51 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Train: Riding the Rails That Created the Modern World--from the Trans-Siberian to the Southwest Chief - **How much does it cost?** £19.51 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.co.uk](https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/7971232-train-riding-the-rails-that-created-the-modern-world-from) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description Train: Riding the Rails That Created the Modern World-from the Trans-Siberian to the Southwest Chief [Zoellner, Tom] on desertcart.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Train: Riding the Rails That Created the Modern World-from the Trans-Siberian to the Southwest Chief Review: All Aboard for a Great Ride - This is an outstanding book. It has it all. Travel, geography, history, insights, and of course, a lot about trains. Good news, bad news. The good news- the book is a very fun and informative read. Bad news - it creates, at least for me, an overwhelming need to take a long distance train to somewhere. If you have ever wondered what riding the Trans Siberian Express or riding trains through India is like, you can find out here. All Aboard. Review: Part travelogue, part history, value in both parts, but be aware it's not Theroux - The author takes us along on his rides of half a dozen world-famous long distance train trips, in each case providing the historical context of the railroad's role in that country, the cultural/economic/political significance of that railroad or of that particular route, and so on. The result is part travelogue and part history, neither part comprehensive, but certainly entertaining, especially for fans of rail travel. Supporting Theroux's assertion that railroads are microcosms of their countries, part of the interest is that the journeys could not be more different because of their history and cultural embedding: the trans-Siberian railway, the new Chinese high-speed line to Tibet, the Indian Railways, the journey crossing the US from Chicago to LA, etc. Zoellner pays particular attention to the economic and cultural significance of these runs. Without railroads, the extractive industries that drove colonialization and expansion in the USA, South America, and India would not have been possible, nor would the efficient movement of millions of prisoners to concentration camps in Nazi Germany; and the author concludes the Chinese have similar aspirations to "colonize" Tibet and thereby permanently end any discussions of its independence. At the same time, the very trains that were the ultimate symbol of British colonialism in India now represent unprecedented mobility for its masses, and the trains that served as symbols of white oppression in the antebellum American South soon became the vehicles that transported free blacks to Chicago in search of a new middle-class life. The author is at his best when he doesn't try to affect Paul Theroux - it's not clear he's found his own voice, since the historical parts of the narrative are written in a quite different voice than the travelogue parts. He should stick to his natural voice; he's a good writer. Overall enjoyable, but if you're looking specifically for travel writing (as opposed to a historico-travel collage), Paul Theroux focuses more on the "human interactions" side of travel (and this author admits as much). ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #2,610,909 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #384 in Railroad Travel Reference #432 in Mystery Writing Reference #464 in History of Railroads | | Customer Reviews | 4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars (157) | | Dimensions | 5.5 x 0.96 x 8.44 inches | | ISBN-10 | 0143126342 | | ISBN-13 | 978-0143126348 | | Item Weight | 10.9 ounces | | Language | English | | Print length | 384 pages | | Publication date | October 28, 2014 | | Publisher | Penguin Publishing Group | ## Images ![Train: Riding the Rails That Created the Modern World--from the Trans-Siberian to the Southwest Chief - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81zOhx2aTML.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ All Aboard for a Great Ride *by A***R on April 23, 2023* This is an outstanding book. It has it all. Travel, geography, history, insights, and of course, a lot about trains. Good news, bad news. The good news- the book is a very fun and informative read. Bad news - it creates, at least for me, an overwhelming need to take a long distance train to somewhere. If you have ever wondered what riding the Trans Siberian Express or riding trains through India is like, you can find out here. All Aboard. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Part travelogue, part history, value in both parts, but be aware it's not Theroux *by A***X on March 13, 2014* The author takes us along on his rides of half a dozen world-famous long distance train trips, in each case providing the historical context of the railroad's role in that country, the cultural/economic/political significance of that railroad or of that particular route, and so on. The result is part travelogue and part history, neither part comprehensive, but certainly entertaining, especially for fans of rail travel. Supporting Theroux's assertion that railroads are microcosms of their countries, part of the interest is that the journeys could not be more different because of their history and cultural embedding: the trans-Siberian railway, the new Chinese high-speed line to Tibet, the Indian Railways, the journey crossing the US from Chicago to LA, etc. Zoellner pays particular attention to the economic and cultural significance of these runs. Without railroads, the extractive industries that drove colonialization and expansion in the USA, South America, and India would not have been possible, nor would the efficient movement of millions of prisoners to concentration camps in Nazi Germany; and the author concludes the Chinese have similar aspirations to "colonize" Tibet and thereby permanently end any discussions of its independence. At the same time, the very trains that were the ultimate symbol of British colonialism in India now represent unprecedented mobility for its masses, and the trains that served as symbols of white oppression in the antebellum American South soon became the vehicles that transported free blacks to Chicago in search of a new middle-class life. The author is at his best when he doesn't try to affect Paul Theroux - it's not clear he's found his own voice, since the historical parts of the narrative are written in a quite different voice than the travelogue parts. He should stick to his natural voice; he's a good writer. Overall enjoyable, but if you're looking specifically for travel writing (as opposed to a historico-travel collage), Paul Theroux focuses more on the "human interactions" side of travel (and this author admits as much). ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Thoroughly engaging combination of history and travelogue *by M***G on March 11, 2014* I can't remember when I've enjoyed a book more. Zoellner packs plenty of history into TRAIN, and he does a graceful job of delivering it. His account of the train's origins in Britain is particularly thorough and lively, and the chapter on railroads in India is superb. His descriptions of the technical challenges of various rail systems fascinated me, and I am certainly no "foamer" (railroad lingo for avid rail fans). That said, I have to admit that my favorite parts of the book were Zoellner's stories about the characters he encountered as he rode trains all over the world. He has a gift for bringing people to life through small, telling details, and he seems to have a deep and genuine interest in the folks who cross his path. Not that every encounter is happy -- on the contrary, some are distinctly unfriendly (and one with a certain hairy Russian is potentially life-threatening). But Zoellner writes about his travels like a man recalling a pleasing adventure, and I came away from the book longing to take a train journey myself. --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/7971232-train-riding-the-rails-that-created-the-modern-world-from](https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/7971232-train-riding-the-rails-that-created-the-modern-world-from) --- *Product available on Desertcart United Kingdom* *Store origin: GB* *Last updated: 2026-06-03*