I am going to be modeling the UP system from Cheyenne to Laramie Wy. during the early to mid 50’s and I’m curious if anyone can direct me to some decent book information for this time frame?
I want to capture and create as much accuracy as possible for the UP system during those last days of the Big Boys and Challengers. Also, what diesel units were being introduced on the UP system at that time.
Thanks
Mike[?]
A few that come to mind.
Best of the Best and brutally expensive. History of the Union Pacific in Cheyenne. There was a second printing, which last year could be had for about $185.
The UP Official color photography books have lots of pictures generally in the mid and late '50s.
Out of print, in black and which, Smoke over the Divide.
Stagner’s Union Pacific Motive Power in Transition is both good and educational.
Most of this stuff shows up on ebay from time to time.
The UP web site has some useful pictures, but careful of the copyright.
And finally, browse the website for the UP historical society. They list lot’s more.
Hope this helps a little.
Two that I have:
The Overland Route by Ross Grenard and John Krause available from Carstens Publishing.
http://www.carstens-publications.com/depot/c00060.html
The Overland Limited by Lucius Beebe, available from a number of sources including Amazon. You might want to Google it to find the best price.
The former has lots of pictures of the Sherman Hill area between Cheyene and Laramie, primarily steam but also diesels and turbines.
The latter focuses on the premier passenger train from Chicago to San Francisco of which UP handled the middle leg. It has a few pictures of the area you want to model but not as much as The Overland Route, which I think you definitely want to get.
If it is still of interest,
The book “Union Pacific’s Sherman Hill in the Diesel Era” by A.J. Wolff should still be available. The entire book is filled with helpful photographs of the location at witch you are interested. The trains on the pictures have diesel locomotives at the point, but the landscape and the right of way are unchanged. The book “Sherman Hill” by Ehernberger and Gschwind covers the same location in the steam age but it is out of print.
My own layout is also based on the Sherman Hill.
Have fun
Rene.
Good choice!! Big modern frieght engines, psgr engines in two tone grey, Streamliners and heavywieghts. The best of both worlds. You already know about the steam engines. Diesels would be f-3 and early F-7s on frt. I think the Alcos were pretty much confined to the LA&SL between, where else, Los Angeles and Salt lake City. The psgr diesels would range from E-2s (available only in used brass…Good luck!) to E-6s and E-7s, with some Alco PAs and the occasional FM Erie-built… The early 50s “unit trains” tended to be reefer blocks and occasionally stock trains, everything else tended to be mixed frt.
An added advantage? Scenery without having to buy or make a single tree!
Your interests match mine almost exactly. I have Motive Power of the Union Pacific published in 1960; I’m emailing you separately with more information.
All of the books listed above are good and many can be purchased at local train shows as used books. Caboose Hobbies also has used books and you can find out of print copies on their lists.
I belong to the UPHS and the Streamliner over the years has printed some of the greatest articles and pictures of what you want.
By the way, many of us have and are modeling the same era and space.