New Book Compares Mount Lowe Railway’s Past to Present

The newest addition to Arcadia Publishing’s Then & Now series is Mount Lowe Railway from local authors Michael A. Patris, Steve Crise, and the Mount Lowe Preservation Society. The book boasts more than 200 vintage and modern images, comparing the town’s past to its present.

Since Mount Lowe Railway’s abandonment in 1936, millions of hikers, mountain bikers, and rail fans have followed the long-deserted rail beds to glimpse the scenic grandeur of what was once the “Earth’s Grandest Mountain Ride.” Now, readers can enjoy local history and fabulous vistas without the effort of a day’s hike.

Comparing our present to our past is how we understand our history.  Arcadia’s Then & Now series makes such local comparisons available.  Books in this series offer a special view of American life, placing historical images side by side with contemporary photographs. 

Authors Michael A. Patris and Steve Crise serve on the board of the Mount Lowe Preservation Society, which provided most of the images in this book from its archives.

Arcadia Publishing is the leading publisher of local and regional history in the United States.  Our mission is to make history accessible and meaningful through the publication of books on the heritage of America’s people and places.  Have we done a book on your town?  Visit www.arcadiapublishing.com.