searching for a pictorial book on steam engines

[JITO]

Hi,

We're working on our Christmas lists already and need some help. Where could one find a book on steam engines that would outline some history and such and contain photos? It shouldn't be overly complicated in style and content. Some basic searches haven't turned up anything of interest. Is there a particular publisher or source for such things? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

thanks,

michael

 

 

 

[cabbage]

Personally I have always enjoyed reading the book "Steam, Steel and Stars" by O.Winston Link. It details the last days of the steam trains on the Norfolk and Western Railroad and it has what I can only describe as "art house" quality shots of locomotives at work.

Recommended!

regards

ralph

[altterrain]

I recently also picked up an O. Winston Link book "The Last Steam Railroad in America" also about the N&W. You won't find better photography anywhere, though its probably not exactly what you are looking for. I picked this up in a regular chain book store.

I have also been reading "Appalachian Conquest" by Dr. Eugene Huddleston covering the Virginian, the C&O, Clinchfield and N&W railroads. Lots of great history and pictures of these mostly coal carrying railroads. I found this at a book seller at a model train show.

-Brian 

[grandpopswalt]

Brian,

I highly recommend "The Baldwin Locomotive Works Catalogue of Locomotives" ISBN 0-913556-03-3. It's been my train "bible" for many years. I bought it at the Smithsonian Institution Museum Store many years ago. I don't know if it's still in print.

Walt 

[hoofe116]

Jito:

Here's a partial list from my library. I have no idea if any are still in print. I doubt it. At least one goes back 30-plus years.

The Encylopedia of Trains and Locomotives. Various authors. (Not much recommended, it's about an inch thick,hardly up to the subject).

Railway Country--Across Canada by Train, Text by Brian D. Johnson, Photos by Dudley Witney. Pretty fair, for the subject.

The Iron Horse (Henry B. Comstock) Recommended. Subtitled 'America's Steam Locomotives: A Pictorial History'.

The Locomotives that Baldwin Built by Fred Westing. A good one.

Iron Horse, subtitled, (American Locomotives 1829-1900) E.P. Alexander. Eh.

Portrait of the Rails by Don Ball Jr. Okay.

And, my all-time, hands-down, walking-away favorite: Yonder Comes the Train, subtitled 'The Story of the Iron Horse and Some of the Roads It Travelled' by Lance Phillips.

Feel free to email me off post for Dewey numbers or other data; t's 2000+hrs CDT, gettin' past my bedtime, let alone detail.

Les W.