• News

‘Public Transportation – From the Tom Thumb Railroad to Hyperloop and Beyond’

Written by William C. Vantuono, Editor-in-Chief
image description

“Public Transportation – From the Thumb Railroad to Hyperloop and Beyond” is a new children’s picture book by Paul Comfort and illustrated by Sudeep KP. It presents “the wonderful world of public transportation,” providing youngsters a chance to “discover its history, how public transportation has improved our world and what is next!”

“As a transit evangelist, my goal is capture the imagination of children, giving them a positive viewpoint toward public transportation, and eventually even have them consider working in our transit industry,” says author Paul Comfort. “Beautifully illustrated pictures and fun facts will enthrall kids ages 5-15 with stories of how the first steam locomotive, the ‘Tom Thumb,’ lost its big race with a horse, and how cable cars in San Francisco move up those steep hills. Each page brings children to a different era and type of public mobility, from horse-drawn carriages to the first subways, buses, light rail vehicles and maglev trains. Along the way they can picture themselves riding these fun vehicles and traveling to their destinations. Then children see how the future will be amazing with autonomous vehicles, Hyperloop and Vertical Take Off and Landing Aircraft (VTOL) shuttling them to a new age of public transportation.”

“Public/private schools and homeschoolers can use this book as a way to introduce children to the important world of public transportation—its history, present and future,” Comfort adds. “Transit industry professionals can now share with their children and grandchildren what they do for a living in public transportation, whether they work as a bus operator, mechanic or administrator.”

Paul Comfort, the former CEO of the Maryland Transit Administration, has spent a career in public transit and local government. He has also worked in business development and operations management for many public and private transit operations. Currently Vice President of Business Development for Trapeze Group, he hosts a national podcast, Transit Unplugged, interviewing public transportation leaders about their lives, operations and transit trends.

“Public Transportation – From the Tom Thumb Railroad to Hyperloop and Beyond,” is available through Simmons-Boardman Books.

Tags: , , ,