While cruising the railroad section in my favorite used bookstore (Why is it my favorite used bookstore? Because it has a railroad section!) I picked up a copy of this out-of-print book, the 4th Edition, and boy, am I glad I did! It is a real education on prototype practices. Even if I never go into actual railroad work (and I have not ruled that out yet) it is neat to know WHY railroads actually do X, Y or Z: how air brakes work, common practices and procedures, and especially the chapter on operations! Books on model railroad operation provide some insight, but it helps to read a book on HOW THE RAILROADS OPERATE rather than a book on how to simulate how the railroads operate. Theory provides some insight into practice.
Quite a bargain at $4 for a used copy–if you’re looking for insight on how things run, this textbook is very handy! And, of course, it is the same John Armstrong who wrote TRACK PLANNING FOR REALISTIC OPERATION and many other model railroading books and articles. I suppose a lot of the information is old news for those of you who have actually worked on railroads, but it’s a definite benefit for modelers who want to know a bit more of the ins and outs of real railroad service!