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Symphony in Steam By Jan Gleysteen 1966 Soft Cover Damaged 112 Pages
Symphony in Steam By Jan Gleysteen Hard Cover 1966 112 pages Lots of photos.
Outer Cover is Damaged see photos (mostly the front cover)
A book about one single type of steam locomotive suggests a highly specialized presentation, but those even slightly acquainted with the subject of this volume know better. The wonder is not that a book should be published about the "American"-type locomotive but that we have had to wait so long for someone to record the story of this masterpiece of locomotive design which over the course of a century established itself as the classic symbol of a new society.
If ever a nation had a love affair with a product of its own ingenuity, the United States had one with the locomotive we designate technically as the 4-4-0. In innumerable ways it worked magic in the hearts of millions of Americans over five generations and earned naturally the name which common affection bestowed on it-the "American" type. Thus we have here not only the story of a magnificent steam locomotive but also the exciting response of an energetic and turbulent society to its most cherished mechanical creation.
People require many kinds of symbols to see and grasp firmly their own qualities and aspirations. They commonly select famous men, places, and events to exemplify what they value. In this elite company the "American" locomotive finds itself very much at home, because its own qualities emerged from and mirrored comparable qualities of the society it served. In short, the American-type person built his own traits into the American-type steam locomotive. That is why he loved it.
Consider for a moment just a few of the thoughts which a reading of this volume will bring imperceptibly to the forefront of the mind. Mobility, especially the wish to move with speed, has always distinguished the American from other societies. The steam locomotive gratified the urge for movement, and the American-type locomotive beyond all others sang the song of speed. From start to finish the 4-4-0's produced new speed records, whether interurban, transcontinental, or in measured miles per hour. When old "999" won immemorial fame as the fastest thing on wheels, the whole world cheered. The close association between a mobile, impatient society and the 4-4-0's emerges clearly from the simple fact that the American-type locomotive outnumbered all its rivals by thousands and became the national favorite. It typified speed, a quality valued by the people.
It also typified mechanical ingenuity, or what some called "Yankee" ingenuity. The product of experiment, it became also the subject of experiment. Some ideas tried out on the 4-4-0's, like the air brake, brought lasting benefits to railroading; others earned such titles as "Holman's Absurdity." But tinkering, altering, inventing, and improving-qualities dear to the American people-centered on the American-type locomotive if only because there were so many of them so widely distributed. For several generations these remarkable engines represented the highest level of mechanical perfection of their age. They brought a thrill of fulfillment to those who vicariously shared pride in their meticulous craftsmanship. Mid-century gems like the "John C. Breckinridge," the "William Mason," or the silver engine called "America" proved without any question the skill, indeed the genius, of the mechanic arts in the United States.
The American people admire functional ideas. They like things that work well or promise some improvement. In this sense the 4-4-0 locomotive gave expression to a pervasive national spirit. A jack-of-all-trades, the American type doubled in passenger and freight service; it had speed for the plains and power for the mountain hauls; it had water and fuel capacity for long runs and the quick starting needed for short-line service; it required little routine maintenance, and ran incredible distances between overhauls; and it had a durability which made companies measure its life-span by quarter centuries rather than decades.
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