I’ll offer the following recommendations for a good library for understanding railroading:
The Railroad, What it is, What it Does
The Men Who Loved Trains
All About Railroading
Railroad Engineering
Railway Maintenance
Small Railroads
So You Want to Start A Small Railroad
The Official Railway Guide
The Official Railway Equipment Register
Steam Powered Atlases (various)
There’s my start. What books do you think belong? I’ll be adding more as I think of them.
LC
Not necessarily for understanding railroading, but The Art of Railroad Photogrpahy by Gary J. Benson has done more to improve my personal rail photography than all the rest of my books combined. It’s not only a great source for general photographic information, it also specializes in Rail Photography and the challenges that rail photographers face. While the book is a bit dated now due to Benson’s death, I still feel that it is THE starting point for any serious rail photographer.
It’s truly a shame that Gary is no longer with us. I really can’t name one other rail photographer with the same percentage of shots that make me say “Wow! That is spectacular!” as Gary. (Not even the greats like O. Winston Link or Richard Steiheimer meet the level of Mr. Benson IMHO). Easily a must have for any photographer of the rails
A Passion for Trains. Dick Steinheimer. This is an excellant book for those evenings after a day at the RR when the FODAS are getting the upper hand. FODAS are the Forces Of Darkness and Superstition. FODAS do not love trains.
Set Up Running: The Life of a Pennsylvania Railroad Engineman, 1904-1949 by John W. Orr.
This book is written by Orr about his father who worked his way up in the PRR. This books talks about technical aspects to social life. A great book that I need to re-read.
This book is need-to-have to any PRR fans, but all railroad fans would appreciate it.
You reminded me of one more:
LC
I’ll nominate four books. Two by George W. Hilton.
a) American Narrow Gauge Railroads
b) The Electric Interurban Railways in America
They’re both obviously “autopsies”. But Hilton is a PhD economist. He explains why the railroads were built, how they were operated, their finances, the competitive environment, and why they failed. If you want to learn what makes a railroad function, and avoid mistakes, these are good ‘autopsies’.
c) Organization and Traffic of the Illinois Central System. It explains how everything from LCL to livestock to perishables to suburban passenger service was orgainized and marketed circa 1936. To know where you are you have to know where you were. (Important note: “Don’t run down the intercity bus company, sell the railroad’s strengths”)
d) Freight Terminals & Trains. Again, it’s from the early part of the last century. But it’s got track diagrams, rail to water terminals, British operations, etc. Again, it’s old. But if you understand the problems moving this stuff (whatever stuff it is) you’ll have a better understanding of today’s problems. You’ll understand what it takes to get trains past each other and run efficient terminals. The latter being the key to railroad success. The methods have changed, the principles haven’t.
I would add The American Railway, it’s Construction, Developement, Management, and Appliances [sic]-a book that was compiled from a series of monthly articles appearing in Scribner’s Magazine from June, 1888. It does much to trace the developement of US railroads up to that date. Droege’s companion volume to Freight Terminals and Trains, unsurprsingly enough titled Passenger Terminals and Trains brings you from just after the turn of the 20th century to World War I. The book Enterprise Denied focuses on the increase of regulation from the Hepburn Act of 1906 to federalization of the RR’s in 1917. All very instructive and interesting publications.
One more:
LC
I’d add:
The American Railroad Freight Car by White
The American Railroad Passenger Car also by White
The North American Railroad by Vance
The two books by White tell the story of the American railroad cars including the development of wheels, trucks, brakes, couplers, etc. The Vance book gives a perspective of the development of RR’s from a physical geography viewpoint.
Several come to mind:
The aforementioned Official Guides, Equipment Registers, etc. are great to have.
Richard Saunders wrote two excellent books on the merger movements from 1900 thru current. I know one is entitled Merging Lines, but am unsure of the second. Both are excellent reviews of the current railroad route structure.
From a Hoosier standpoint, the references Railroads of Indiana and Passenger Trains of Indiana are good to have.
The O Winston Link books are a priceless look at an era passed, with the best photography I have ever seen.
I read Leaders Count, the Story of the BNSF Railroad and found it informative.
The Rebirth of the Missouri Pacific by Craig Minor is an excellent look at the MoPac from the 30’s to the UP merger.
However, the finest railroad book I have read is Rush Loving’s The Men Who Loved Railroads. Perhaps it is because it essentially covers eastern railroading during my life, but more importantly, it was a necessary look at how we got where we currently are today.
ed
Greyhound:
Tell me about that 1936 IC book…is it on the market? Was it published or an internal IC manual. Would love to get my hands on it.
ed
Just about anything from Doug Ridell. From his columns in rail magazines to his own book.
CC
In my office I have a pretty darn complete set of the adventures of Thomas the tank engine. Nice little hard cover books keep those pesky EMD parts manuals from flopping over .
Randy
I just got done with a book about the Indiana Railroad. It was very well done.
I am starting The Men Who Loved Trains. Also, has anyone read “The Strategy of Great Railroads?” I have it; is it worth my time to read or is it too out dated?
Thanks for this great topic.
Gabe
Gabe:
Is that the new book on IRR? How is it?
You will enjoy the Men Who Loved Trains.
ed
The Strategy of Great Railroads is a good period piece. You might learn something new from it, but it’s more a historical reference to its time–and its time was 1898. I love the beginning of the chapter on the C&NW.
All About Railroading is about to come out with a second edition. I bought the first (and I bought one for you, too, right, Mooks?). After the first one came out, I wrote Mr. Vantuono a long list of corrections and comments, I’m hoping they had some influence in the new edition.
Shoot, forgot one that was certainly interesting reading (at least to me) about railroading (as opposed to my collection of photographic books):
The Fallen Colossus by Robert Sobel
A piece about the build-up of the Pennsylvania and NYC railroads, their merger and subsequent bankruptcy. One of these days, I need to get into The Wreck of the Penn Central, so I can compare the two. So far, it looks like the latter might delve into the matter a little more, but the narrative style of the former was a lot easier for a non-railroader, non-businessman like yours truly.
Gabe -
I’d definitely read “The Men…” first. Then, if you can get Doug Riddell’s book From the Cab , you need to read that. I’ve had just about every lesson in that book and alsmost the same verbatim from old heads I worked with…even though we were on totally different railroads…
LC
Various Kalmbach guides too:
American Shortline Guide 4th Ed.
Diesel Locomotives 1st Ed.
Diesel Spotters Guides various editions
Historical Guide to American Railroads
LC
Why does it seem like the Shortline Guide and Trainwatchers Guide haven’t been updated in forever?