Narrow Gauge in the Tropics

Augustus J. Veenendaal, Jr., is a professional historian who worked for the Institute of Netherlands History of The Hague, Netherlands, and the Netherlands Railways (NS). He has published extensively, in Dutch and in English, chiefly covering the railroads of his home country and those of the United States, including the financial involvement of Dutch investors in the building of US railroads.

Preface Acknowledgements 1. The Dutch or Netherlands East Indies 2. The First Railway on Java 3. The Choice of the Most Suitable Railway Gauge for the East Indies 4. State or Private Railways? 5. The Early State Railways 6. Slowing Down and Reorganization 7. Railways of Sumatra 8. Sumatra's Other Railways 9. The Coming of the Steam Tram 10. Toward a New Prosperity 11. The Private Companies until 1914 12. World War One and Its Golden Aftermath 13. Travel in the Tropics-Electrification 14. The Non-Public Railways 15. Worldwide Depression and Slow Recovery 16. Epilogue Maps Gazetteer Abbreviations Sources and Suggestions for Further Reading Index

"Augustus Veenendaal has written a ground-breaking and superbly researched study of narrow-gauge railroads in the Netherlands East Indies. He reveals the technology, finances, traffic, and enthusiasm for these slim-width carriers. This is a book that the general reader and professional historian alike can relish."-H. Roger Grant, Kathryn and Calhoun Professor of History, Clemson University "It should be no surprise that the first comprehensive work on the Dutch East Indies railways comes from a Dutch author. He could hardly be better qualified: Guus Veenendaal is not only a railway enthusiast and modeller but by profession an academic historian, greatly respected in The Netherlands, and ultimately official historian to the Nederlandse Spoowegen. Heartily recommended."-Andrew Burnham, Editor, Continental Modeller "An informative addition to the growing library of books devoted to the history of railroads outside North America and Europe. Well-researched and beautifully illustrated."-Carlos Schwantes, author of Crossroads of a Continent