If anyone knows of some good books to recommend for the Chesapeake & Ohio lines (Virginia, Allegheny mountains, up thru Pennsy) with lots of prototype pictures showing steam. 1910s-1940s
I am building a railroad on this theme and mainly interested in the C&O coal hauling (maps would be great , as I know nothing of Southern roads) and an explaination of the basic coal ops.
URL/web links would be good too, as I only have found a couple good ones (however I have yet to see some really good images on the web).
Google is your friend. Doing various searches, I’m coming up with:
“C&O steam”, 59,000 hits
“C&O train”, 95,200 hits
“Chesapeake and ohio steam”, 191,000 hits
“Chesapeake and ohio train”, 381,000 hits
“Chesapeake and ohio engine”, 463,000 hits
And on and on…
True, 50% of the above websites will be completely useless or redundant, and another 49% will be for things for sale, but if 1% of 100,000 websites is useful, that’s still 1000 websites that have some useful content.
Start doping Google searches. It might take you a month or two to scour the bulk of them all (learn to quickly scan a site), but that’s the best way to mine the internet for data. I’ve got several ever-growing railroad databases which are mostly made up of internet finds: with over 20 gig’s worth of data stored, I’m burning full discs all the time!
Of course, printed material is still your best resource, since it will be several years before most RR data gets digitized (it’s happening, but still slowly). There have been dozens of books printed on the C&O (the C&OHS sells 34); your best bet os to ask on one of the C&O fan forums online, for opinions on what’s best for your needs. Of course you’ll get a better answer if you’re more specific with your question.
I have a book entitled ALLEGHENY, LIMA’S FINEST , which is mainly about the 2-6-6-6 that ran on both the C&O and Virginian lines. It’s published by Hundman Publishing company, 5115 Monticello Road, Edmonds WA, 98020. A really excellent book about that particular locomotive, and it does contain some information on other locomotives used by the C&O, mainly their 2-10-4’s and their H-series 2-6-6-2 and 2-8-8-2 articulateds.
I’m sure there are quite a few other books on C&O steam available–you might Google up the C&O Historical Society and see what they have to offer. C&O had some of the handsomest steam running, IMO. In HO at least, for modeling purposes, Spectrum has both the C&O 4-8-2 and 2-6-6-2 availalable, BLI has the C&O 2-10-4, and Hornby is expected to re-release the Rivarossi Allegheny 2-6-6-6 sometime this year . Other than that, C&O steam is still mainly hard-to-find brass imports.
Tom
Thank you so much for the needed info! I will definately search the bookstores online for that volume you mentioned—sounds fantastic! Yes, you guessed it–I am enthralled by the C&O steamers and I have a Bachmann J-2 4-8-2 on the way! I also want to get a 2-6-6-2 and Rivarrossis Allegheny (the new version from Hornby). Guess what–I just saw an ad for the Hornby model the other day, and I said “What??? You mean the Rivarrossi stuff is back?? Great!” Although its quite a steep price as I don’t think it comes with sound but who cares! That loco is a monster! Oh, btw, in that book does it show manufacturer’s photos mostly or does it show off the steam on the mainlines (trackside photos)?
Google isn’t really my friend! I was doing my own research and didn’t come up with very good leads from those portals. Thats why I was asking here. But thanks for the tip on the C&O HS I will check in there!
Doing research on railroads isn’t like going to a restaraunt: you can’t go to one place and order up everything you want for an entire meal. It’s more like travelling to a different store for each ingredient for a home cooked meal. It may take much longer in the long run, but the end result is something much better than what you’d get bought from someone else!
That’s why you need to dig through dozens (or thousands) of sites looking for individual nuggets of data, AND start buying books and magazines, AND join the historical society, AND ask around both online and at meets, etc, etc, etc. It’s actually sort of fun.
Tom M: The book shows mainly in-service photos of the various locomotives, though there are a great many production shots of the Alleghenys at the Lima factory. sinc
I was just looking at ebay yesterday and noted that someone was selling “C&O Power” for $90.00 as I recall. You might get lucky and make a purchase.?
Mike
Luckily I found one on ebay back in November and snagged it for around $40. It was in used condition but what a great book! And for the price I got a bargain.
Take a look around the web and one will certainly churn up.
Just got C&O Power off of Alibris bookstore online. Alibris is great because they have so many used and late print books, and they are cheaper than Amazon I find…at least for the railway books!
I got my copy for $14.95 +shipping!
Its not in the top shape, but who cares with a deal like that!
I also thought I might mention it since you guys might have C&O models…I got my C&O 4-8-2 and was running it but now the pilot truck derails, its driving me crazy. Its a Bachmann Spectrum model and I’m using 22" radius curves.
Tom: I think 22" radius is just about the minimum for the Spectrum 4-8-2. Are you using sectional track? If so, make sure that the joints are secure and even. You might want to buy a Ribbonrailer 22" radius track gauge at your LHS and test out the curves–the Ribbonrailer sets right between the rails and checks the radius as you push it along. Also, a thought–a tiny bit of lead weight on top of the front wheelset of your pilot truck. There is no spring to hold the truck down, so a small flat piece of lead might do it.
Good luck.
Tom [:D]
Well, I got the 4-8-2 operational again . At least I ran it for an hour (it was 1 a.m. so I only played with it for an hour, I will run it longer tomorrow to make sure all is well)
It seems my benchwork had a tiny little lip that caused the problem. It was kinda strange though that the steamer ran fine for several hours before derailing, but I guess settling had something to do with it (the steamer is rather heavY).
My diesels aren’t nearly as fussy!
I can’t wait for the C&O book to arrive! I really must find some “Coal Ops 101” reference if I am going to make sense of the industry. Right now I am slowly collecting C&O coal hoppers wherever I can find them (although I won’t be buying Athearn blue box anymore!)
All I can say is “WOW!”…‘’‘C&O Power’‘’ is certainly a very comprehensive reference! I got this off of Alibris for $20 (used copy–the outer sleeve is a little mushed but who cares!)
It just came in the mail today! WHAT A GREAT BOOK! I’ve been reading it…
I have only ONE LAMENT…“The C&O rarely or never used Mountains for freight drags…”
Yikes! Oh well, my 4-8-2 J-2 is going to bend the rules, Lads! Not to say I haven’t seen some juicy passenger fleets in my future! Since the “derailment” issue is solved (my bench was the fault) I now can safely look forward to a Bachmann 2-6-6-2 in the near future.
Hey , does the Rivarrossi Allegheny (now from hornby) work with 22" curves???
Never say never regarding C&O and their operating practices. If you haven’t visited the C&O Historical Society’s website - check it out; they have a lot of photos on line.