Car Builders Dictionary

Classic Toy Trains Forum
1

Hi from England
My father, an avid fan of all American Railroads passed away recently. In his large collection of Railroad books we have found the following:

Original Publication
Locomotive Dictionary and Cyclopedia
Fifth Edition 1919

Original Publication
Car Builders Dictionary and Cyclopedia
Ninth Edition 1919 (second edition)

Re-print
Re-published by Kalmbach 1973
Car Builders Cyclopedia Of American Practice
15th Edition 1940

No one in the family is a railroad enthusiast, therefore we are a little in the dark as to know what is what. Can anyone advise us as to the status of these publications and if there is an interest in the USA regarding these books?

We also have found Model Railroader magazines dating back to the 1940’s thru to the present day
and we do not know what we should discard or retain.

I would be grateful if anyone is able to point me in the right direction.

2

Ican’t say about the car builders cyclopedias – but they should be very collectible (as a certain TV show says), but the magazines tend not to sell for great sums, probably less than postage costs.
If you are near London, there is a small chain of shops called Motor Books or Old Motor Books that could probably guide you with an offer.
Look at Continental Modeller magazine; they have ads from model shops that specialize in North American trains and might be interested.
–David