From the Lumière brothers' legendary locomotive to today, trains have shaped the language and imagination of film. In this book, Genevieve Yue offers an original and evocative meditation on this enduring cinematic motif, charting how railways have served not only as engines of narrative momentum but as spaces of reflection and quiet transformation.
Across a range of filmic genres and geographies, Yue traces the many ways trains structure cinematic experience. Rather than focusing solely on the spectacle and technological wonder traditionally associated with railways on screen, she considers departures and reunions, romances, reveries, and encounters with strangers. With a feminist politics in mind, Trains explores how movement through space becomes movement through memory, fantasy, and thought.
Central to Yue's exploration is the experience of being a woman on a train. In such instances, trains become places where desire, vulnerability, and possibility coincide. The book also reflects on broader questions of infrastructure, ecology, and state power, revealing how railways shape both collective histories and individual lives.
Written with clarity and wit, Trains invites readers aboard a richly idiosyncratic itinerary through film history. At once critical and personal, it offers a fresh way of seeing the moving image—through the sensations and stories of travel by rail.
eBook - PDF
Trains
About this book
Information
Publisher
Fordham University PressYear
2026Print ISBN
9781531514402
9781531514396
eBook ISBN
9781531514426
Table of contents
- Cover
- Series Page
- Title Page
- Copyright
- Dedication
- Contents
- Introduction: Departures
- 1. How It Feels to Be a Woman on a Train
- 2. Ends of the Line
- 3. Phantom Rides
- 4. Strangers on Trains
- Acknowledgments
- Notes
- List of Figures
- Index
Trusted by 375,005 students
Access to over 1.5 million titles for a fair monthly price.
Study more efficiently using our study tools.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can cancel anytime from the Subscription tab in your account settings on the Perlego website. Your subscription will stay active until the end of your current billing period. Learn how to cancel your subscription
No, books cannot be downloaded as external files, such as PDFs, for use outside of Perlego. However, you can download books within the Perlego app for offline reading on mobile or tablet. Learn how to download books offline
Perlego offers two plans: Essential and Complete
- Essential is ideal for learners and professionals who enjoy exploring a wide range of subjects. Access the Essential Library with 800,000+ trusted titles and best-sellers across business, personal growth, and the humanities. Includes unlimited reading time and Standard Read Aloud voice.
- Complete: Perfect for advanced learners and researchers needing full, unrestricted access. Unlock 1.5M+ books across hundreds of subjects, including academic and specialized titles. The Complete Plan also includes advanced features like Premium Read Aloud and Research Assistant.
We are an online textbook subscription service, where you can get access to an entire online library for less than the price of a single book per month. With over 1.5 million books across 990+ topics, we’ve got you covered! Learn about our mission
Look out for the read-aloud symbol on your next book to see if you can listen to it. The read-aloud tool reads text aloud for you, highlighting the text as it is being read. You can pause it, speed it up and slow it down. Learn more about Read Aloud
Yes! You can use the Perlego app on both iOS and Android devices to read anytime, anywhere — even offline. Perfect for commutes or when you’re on the go.
Please note we cannot support devices running on iOS 13 and Android 7 or earlier. Learn more about using the app
Please note we cannot support devices running on iOS 13 and Android 7 or earlier. Learn more about using the app
Yes, you can access Trains by Genevieve Yue in PDF and/or ePUB format, as well as other popular books in Media & Performing Arts & Film History & Criticism. We have over 1.5 million books available in our catalogue for you to explore.