In the writing of this volume I have been assisted by innumerable friends who have been identified closely with the introduction of Stephenson’s invention into fresh fields of conquest. I am indebted especially to the following gentlemen: Messrs. Norman B. Dickson, M.INST.C.E.; A. M. Cleland, the Northern Pacific Railway Company; the late J. C. Meredith, chief engineer, the Florida East Coast Railway; A. L. Lawley; R. R. Gales, M.INST.C.E.; H. E. Gwyther, chief engineer, the Leopoldina Railway Company, Ltd.; Francis B. Clarke, president of the Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railway; William Hood, chief engineer, the Southern Pacific Company; F. A. Miller, the Chicago, Milwaukee and Puget Sound Railway; the I. R. Austrian Railway Ministry; W. Weston, the Denver, North-western and Pacific Railway Company; the Pennsylvania Steel Company; W. T. Robson, the Canadian Pacific Railway Company; the Cleveland Bridge and Engineering Company, and Frederic Coleman of Darlington; the Swiss Federal Railways; H. R. Charlton, the Grand Trunk Railway Company of Canada; the chief engineer, the New Zealand Government Railways; the Peruvian Corporation; the chief engineers of the New South Wales, South Australia and West Australia Government Railways; the Minister of Ways of Communication of the Russian Empire; the Trans-Andine Railway Company; the chief engineer, the Imperial Japanese Government Railways; J. J. Gywn, chief engineer, and S. K. Hooper, the Denver and Rio Grande Railway; G. J. Ray, chief engineer, the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad; Virgil G. Bogue, vice-president and chief engineer, the Western Pacific Railway Company; and S. J. Ellison of the Great Northern Railway, U.S.A. FREDERICK A. TALBOT. HOVE, _September 29, 1911_. CONTENTS CHAP. PAGE I THE RAILWAY SURVEYOR’S ADVENTUROUS LIFE 1 II THE ROMANCE OF CONSTRUCTION 12 III THE BORING OF THE GOTTHARD TUNNEL 30 IV THE RAILWAY INVASION OF CANADA 46 V THE FIRST TRANS-CONTINENTAL ACROSS THE UNITED STATES 59 VI THE LONGEST “TOY” RAILWAY 76 VII THE WONDERS OF THE TYROL 88 VIII THE RECLAMATION OF ALASKA 102 IX THE HOLY RAILWAY TO MECCA 117 X THE HIGHEST LINE IN THE WORLD 128 XI CECIL RHODES’ DREAM--FROM THE CAPE TO CAIRO (I. NORTHWARDS FROM CAPE TOWN) 139 XII CECIL RHODES’ DREAM--FROM THE CAPE TO CAIRO (II. SOUTHWARDS FROM CAIRO) 152 XIII GRIDIRONING THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS 162 XIV THE IRON HORSE IN AUSTRALASIA (I.) 175