The iron horse--once chuffing its way across new country, then becoming the biggest business of 19th century America which ""made nearly all other businesses possible,"" now a ""ragged, bony mendicant""--parallels the conditions of this country; and with devotion editor-historian-writer Jensen tells its complete story, photovisualized with hundreds of photographs, paintings, drawings--some in color. Here she comes, 'round the bend for a great many enthusiasts.