THE [RALPH OF THE] RAILROAD SERIES
By Allen Chapman

Notes

Titles

In this series, young Ralph Fairbanks battles malevolent millionaire Gasper and dastardly bully Ike as he works his way up the ladder to career success on the Great Northern Railway line. His rise in life is accelerated by his penchant for stopping runaway trains, rescuing kidnapped relatives of the railroad president, foiling train robbers, etc. A continuing theme throughout the series is Ralph's struggle to reclaim his late father's fortune, appropriated by the wily millionaire. If you're fond of Alger- or Frank Webster-type books, you'll like this series.

 

 

 

"Railroad stories are dear to the heart of the American boy, and these are certain to become deservedly popular. Clean and clear from cover to cover. Ralph is determined to be a "railroad man." He starts in at the foot of the ladder; makes both friends and enemies; but is full of manly pluck and "wins out." There is abundance of stirring incident in these tales, the characters are all natural, and the tone is altogether breezy and wholesome. Well printed and illustrated and bound in cloth, stamped in colors." --from Grosset & Dunlap advertising, courtesy of Thomas Duffy.

"In this line of books there is revealed the whole workings of a great American railroad system. There are adventures in abundance--railroad wrecks, dashes through forest fires, the pursuit of a "wildcat" locomotive, the disappearance of a pay car with a large sum of money on board--but there is much more than this--the intense rivalry among railroads and railroad men, the working out of running schedules, the getting through "on time" in spite of all obstacles, and the manipulation of railroad securities by evil men who wish to rule or ruin." 
--
Grosset and Dunlap advertisement in Tom Swift and His Electric Locomotive

  1. RALPH OF THE ROUNDHOUSE; OR, BOUND TO BECOME A RAILROAD MAN -- 1906. Chatterton-Peck; Grosset & Dunlap.

  2. RALPH IN THE SWITCH TOWER; OR, CLEARING THE STACK -- 1907. Chatterton- Peck.

  3. RALPH ON THE ENGINE; OR, THE YOUNG FIREMAN OF THE LIMITED MAIL -- 1909. Grosset & Dunlap.

  4. RALPH ON THE OVERLAND EXPRESS; OR, THE TRIALS AND TRIUMPHS OF A YOUNG ENGINEER -- 1910 Grosset & Dunlap.

  5. RALPH, THE TRAIN DISPATCHER; OR, THE MYSTERY OF THE PAY CAR -- 1911. Grosset & Dunlap.

  6. RALPH ON THE ARMY TRAIN; OR, THE YOUNG RAILROADER'S MOST DARING EXPLOIT -- 1918. Grosset & Dunlap.

  7. RALPH ON THE MIDNIGHT FLYER; OR, THE WRECK AT SHADOW VALLEY -- 1923. Grosset & Dunlap.

  8. RALPH AND THE MISSING MAIL POUCH; OR, THE STOLEN GOVERNMENT BONDS -- 1924. Grosset & Dunlap.

  9. RALPH ON THE MOUNTAIN DIVISION; OR, FIGHTING BOTH FLAMES AND FLOOD -- 1927. Grosset & Dunlap.

  10. RALPH AND THE TRAIN WRECKERS; OR, THE SECRET OF THE BLUE FREIGHT CARDS -- 1928. Grosset & Dunlap.

Source:

WorldCat Holdings

Mary Crosson's "Plain Jane" Series Listings Main Page