Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Early railways of Japan


Author Dan Free of New York City spent 25 years putting together this comprehensive illustrated account of the development of railways in Japan, which as most people know, were 3'6" (1067 mm) gauge like those of New Zealand. And of course, Japan is a rugged island nation on the "Pacific rim of fire" like New Zealand.

This book covers the period 1853 to 1914, and is pretty much the first one to provide comprehensive information on Japan's railways in English. Informative it certainly is, not just on the technical side but the social and economic side too. Dan Free has also included a large number of photos, maps, postcards, diagrams and drawings in the book's 288 pages, all of which are reproduced in duotone, or colour in the case of artworks and colored postcards. 300 x 220 mm, hardcover with jacket.

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