Need info on "50s" Model Railoading paperback book.

Classic Toy Trains Forum
1

Way back in the late1950s or early 60s, a paperback book on model railroading was published. It was very thick for a paperback book,had a 3/4 view of a large steam engine on the cover. Inside were simple drawings of model projects and some black and white photos of layouts,all were of 3 rail lionel style track.
I would like to find a copy…any ideas?
Thanks for the help
Don

2

There were several editions of that fifty cent Bantam book, which was produced by Lionel–each with different covers. The book was also reproduced in more recent times by Greenberg Publishing Company (no longer existing). I still have my original version from the 50s, which saw so much use that its signatures are coming loose from the binding, as well as a more pristine version of the book that we published back when I worked with Greenberg. Definitely one of my all-time favorite model railroading books, and the source of many great ideas back in my boyhood years when I had a large Lionel layout.

3

Copies of Model Railroading can occasionally be found on E-bay.
Use the keywords “Bantam” and “Model Railroading”.
I picked up a very clean and complete 1953 copy a few months ago for seven dollars.

4

This is a great book. I also have the one I originally purchased. It is falling apart but it is all there.

Great writing and photos. Great scratchbuilding stuff. Great chapter on the NY PAL layouts. Several of the classic Lionel Diorama studio photos.

Get one if you can. The Greenburg repro is good except the photo reproductions are quite grainy, but better than nothing at all.

Regards,
Roy

5

Actually, they ALL fall apart due to the aging, volume size, and binding if you read them more than a couple of times. I’ve got at least five different ones, and there may have been seven editions total. The first was done in 1950, and the final version was done in 1957and they have fairly different content. All of them have great plans for structures on the showroom layout and lots of unique layout photos of temporary set-ups done by the factory. As mentioned, shopping on eBay can yield copies for under $10.00 fairly regularly. Good luck.

6

Thanks for all the great info, Don

7

I still have mine - it is in pristine condition, and I really enjoy flipping through it. It’s a great book.