Frederic D. Schwarz

At RPI, students design and build a model railway with amazing attention to detail; in Alaska, the real thing is even more striking.

Good books to curl up with: a review of the best recent writing on the history of engineering and technology

Where can you find the world’s greatest collection of cars, trucks, farm equipment, engines, washing machines, and snowmobiles? In Minden, Nebraska, of course.

An eminent scholar ponders the social ramifications and historical significance of hot rods, funny cars, top fuelers, and other dragsters.