This compelling work of historical fiction focuses on two generations of a "railway family." The experiences of the Baldwin and Smith clans tie in with the early rivalry between the Grand Trunk and Canadian Pacific railways, and also with technological and operational changes in the whole railroad industry during and immediately after World War I.Railway Ties conveys a clear sense of a future-defining period in Canada. The years that saw the growth of rail travel in this country were marked by possibility, adventure, and individual sacrifice.Carefully researched from railway and family archives, Railway Ties is enhanced with more than 200 original images. Elizabeth Waterston, a celebrated academic and creative writer, blends historical accuracy with lively style to make this new book a page-turner.

Elizabeth Hillman Waterston was inducted into the Order of Canada in 2019. She is also a Member of the Order of Ontario and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. She received these honors for her pioneering work in the fields of Canadian, children's, women's, and historical Canadian travel literature. These awards also recognized her far-reaching mentorship of fellow writers. She taught at the universities of Concordia and Western before moving to the University of Guelph where she is now Professor Emerita.