Hi, Can ya’ll tell me about some good train books that tell about trains,mergers,layouts and other items like history an such?
Title and a brief discription about the book,please
Thanks, Stephen[:)]
Well, recommending a train book would depend pretty much on exactly what you’re looking for, Stephen. Are you looking for a general book on railroad history, or the history of specific railroads? Locomotive types, freight and passenger car rosters? Railroad books are pretty much subject specific these days. I think if you could give us a little more SPECIFIC information on exactly what you’re looking for, you’d probably get a lot more help. Also, are you near a LHS? Most of the LHS I’ve been in lately, carry railroad books that you can browse through to see if the subject interests you. For instance, I’m interested in both Rio Grande and Southern Pacific steam–there is an enormous library available on just those two roads, these days. So I think if you could narrow it down to specifics, a lot of us out here would be glad to give you some recommendations.
Tom [:D]
You could do a lot worse than to mosey down to you public library and browse through the train and history sections.
For example Jim Scribbins has recently written a superb book about the Milwaukee Road 1928-1985 published by Heimburger House. I have seen it for sale for close to $90 but also cheaper so look around for ads. Scribbins was the railroad’s public relations executive. It is virtually a year by year history of the railroad.
Stan Mailer has just had published (by Hundman) a splendid look at the Omaha Road. Very thorough, good pictures, and both are likely to grow in value. It sells for around $60.
Those two publishers Heimberger and Hundman offer a number of good quality rr books
http://www.hundman.com/cgi-bin/viewcatalog.cgi?magazine=book&ct=1
http://www.heimburgerhouse.com/
But if those are not the railroads that interest you, you’ll probably look elsewhere. The best railroad books are specialized items, appealing to a somewhat limited audience, sell for seemingly stiff prices, and often go out of print rather quickly.
American Heritage has or had a pretty good general history book on American railroads
Dave Nelson
go here
http://www.railroadbooks.biz/
try hard not to spend all your money on books [:D]
My favorite general history would be
All Aboard - The Railroad in American Life - Douglas.
For a one book history of the transcontinental railroad effort I’d recommend
A Great and Shining Road - Williams
For layout operation and presentation I’d recommend Ellison’s articles in Model Railroader - The Art of Model Railroading
A good starting book for first person accounts of railroads would be
We Took the Train - Grant
…and for a look at a particular railroad function a good starting point would be
Mail by Rail - Long and Dennis
i am looking for books about the history of railroads, railroads that are no more, railroads in the USA and canada, books that have nice shiney pictures in them[:-,]
Some of my favorites are:
“Interurban Interlude, A History of the North Jersey Rapid Transit Company” by Cdr. E.J. Quimby. The author worked for the company in his younger days so the book is both a history of the line and his reminiscing about the line.
“MA & PA, A History of the Maryland & Pennsylvania Railroad” by George W. Hilton. A fascinating shortline formed by mergers and finally started fading in the 50’s - although a remenant hung on for years. Noted for running early 1900’s steam into the 50’s.
“Maine Two Footers” by Linwood Moody, edited by Robert C. Jones. Again part history and part the author reminiscing.
The last two are in print in 3rd and 2nd editions. The first is out of print but available through used railroad book dealers.
Enjoy
Paul