Iron empires: robber barons, railroads, and the making of modern America

Introduction: Agents of transformation

The age of scoundrels. Uncle Daniel and the Commodore ; Chapters of Erie ; Pierpont Morgan's grand tour ; The king of frauds ; The Northern Pacific panic ; Jay Gould returns ; Year of upheaval

Morgan and Harriman. The rise of Ned Harriman ; The first skirmish ; A community of interests ; Savior of the Union Pacific ; The Reconstruction ; "A pig-headed affair" ; The empire builder ; The quest for the Burlington

The ghost dance. Peacock Alley ; Lions guarding the way ; "A good-sized panic" ; Exhaustion ; The trustbuster ; "Malefactors of great wealth"

Epilogue: The end of an epoch.