I should probably ask on little details, but....

[rm]

Lives of railway construction workers in America circa 1892/3.
Google is not quite getting me where I need to go.

Got anything?

Yes, fandom people who recognize the year in question, it's for fic.

Comments

[ladyofthelog.livejournal.com]

the 1864 ed. is here: http://books.google.com/books?id=hPENAAAAYAAJ&dq=byrne's+pocket+book+for+rail-road+and+civil+engineers&printsec=frontcover&source=bl&ots=oJhm4KalyY&sig=DT9qOkWnjlYdtXmtPY1KlEwpj24&hl=en&ei=Bkz7Sdu1G5K-Mojr2a0E&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1#PPA6,M1