Seattle residents were bitterly disappointed in 1873 when the Northern Pacific selected rival Tacoma as the future Puget Sound terminus for Washington Territory's first transcontinental railroad. Lavishly illustrated, Orphan Road depicts the growth of railways across the Puget Sound region, including Tacoma's frantic quest for a saltwater terminal of their own, descriptions of individual lines, and the colorful personalities and urban aspirations that eventually brought Seattle to the forefront of Washington commerce.