There have got to be some good sources to search for plans for RR related subjects (besides MRR and MRC), in particular I’m thinking structures and nautical, since we still see a fair amount of freight car drawings in the mag.s. How about it scratch builders, where can one look? BTW, IMO good means you can at least see a small image of the plan before you buy it (if its not free). I know of at least one source that just lists the name of the plan, which to me is pretty worthless.
Historic American Building Survey and Historic American Engineering Record in the Library of Congress.
Search for HABS-HAER. Search for a industry or building type. Thousands of pictures, many plans, diagrams, descriptions of industries, histories, etc.
Thanks Dave, I will check it out.
In recent years the NMRA Scale Rails magazine has featured excellent structure plans by Pat Harriman. He has published a book of his structure drawings - I have not seen the book but have enjoyed the drawings in Scale Rails. An internet search shows that his self published book “Early Wood Frame and Stone Structures” is available from several sources and directly from him for $29.95 + $5 S/H. His address is Pat Harriman, 9331 Farley Lane, Overland Park, KS, 66212.
Dave Nelson
HABS/HAER can be very good, if somewhat spotty. Sometimes you get lucky and get plans, diagrams, and descriptions of processes or historical changes in addition to hundreds of photos and data pages. Other times you may get 2 or three general photos, and nothing else. Navigating the collection can sometimes be tricky as well, some railroad related subjects can bring up more than the maximum allowed number of results.
In terms of breadth of subjects covered, it can’t be beat. From Boats and bridges, to airplanes and entire industries. Sometimes I like to browse, just for fun. Some of the photographers made beautiful photos.
Another good place to look is actually Google books, depending on the era. They have a lot of the engineering and architecture magazines from the turn of the century into the 20’s, searchable and downloadable too. They even have a copy of the 1895 car builders’ cyclopedia.