author
Henry Dawson
b. 1825
A 19th-century railroad writer, this author is remembered for vivid tales from the age of steam that bring the dangers and drama of early locomotive work to life.
1 Audiobook
Trips in the Life of a Locomotive Engineer
by Henry Dawson
About the author
Henry Dawson, listed in library and public-domain records as born in 1825 or 1826, is associated with Trips in the Life of a Locomotive Engineer, a memoir-style work first published in the 19th century. The book presents a series of episodes about railroad work and the men who ran steam locomotives, with a strong interest in courage, risk, and everyday life on the rails.
The surviving records available online are sparse, and some catalog entries note that the work has been discussed in terms of attribution. Even so, the book has continued to circulate through archival and public-domain collections, where it stands out as an engaging firsthand-flavored portrait of early railroading.
Because dependable biographical information appears limited, it is safest to remember Dawson mainly through this work: a writer connected with one of the memorable railroad narratives of the steam era.