operations - books

[gregc]

 I have John Armstrong's book, Track Planning for Realistic Operation and am wondering if Realistic Model Railroad Design or Realistic Model Railroad Operation by Tony Koester adds any significant new information.

[odave]

I've read Koester's operations book and felt that it complements Armstrong's book well, and I think it's probably worth having both in your library. I've never read the design book, so I can't help there.

[ClinchValleySD40]

Dave - Next time you come over, remind me.   I have plenty of books you are welcome to borrow and I believe these might be there.

See ya.
Larry

[tgindy]

gregc

I have John Armstrong's book, Track Planning for Realistic Operation and am wondering if Realistic Model Railroad Design or Realistic Model Railroad Operation by Tony Koester adds any significant new information.

Agreed:  All three operations books do compliment each other in my library.  The Model Railroaders Guide to Passenger Equipment and Operations by Andy Sperando will add a significant dimension if passenger trains are included in your layout.

[markpierce]

Although not as "slick" as the Kalmbach Publications, Carsten's Operation Handbook for Model Railroads by Paul Mallory is worthwhile too.  I have all these books (Mallory, Armstrong, Koester, Chubb) and wouldn't give up any of them.

Mark

[JSperan]

 I think Allen McClelland's book, "The V&O Story" deserves mention here too.

 I too have the books by Koester and Armstrong but I also like Sperandeo's "Model Railroaders Guide To Freight Yards".  All the books noted here so far are worth having in your personal library, IMO.

[IRONROOSTER]

markpierce

Although not as "slick" as the Kalmbach Publications, Carsten's Operation Handbook for Model Railroads by Paul Mallory is worthwhile too.  I have all these books (Mallory, Armstrong, Koester, Chubb) and wouldn't give up any of them.

Mark

 

Yep I have all of them except Koesters Realistic Model Railroad Operation.  I find they are all helpful and give you different perspectives on operation.  You should also get a copy of Frank Ellison's The Art of Model Railroading http://www.trains.com/mrr/default.aspx?c=a&id=2540

Enjoy

Paul

[nbrodar]

gregc

 I have John Armstrong's book, Track Planning for Realistic Operation and am wondering if Realistic Model Railroad Design or Realistic Model Railroad Operation by Tony Koester adds any significant new information.

 

I have all three...

Armstrong's Track Planning for Realistic Operation is a great nuts and bolts track planning bible.  

TK's Realistic Model Railroad Design is more of a concept book. Determining: what to model; where to model; when to model.  Developing paint schemes, graphics.   Building your rolling stock fleet.  Stuff like that.

Realistic Model Railroad Operation is a soup to nuts operations guide.  Car forwarding, yard operation, train movements, train control, etc.

Ellison's Art of Model Railroading is another excellent resource.   I don't have a copy of Mallory's book yet, and unfortunately Chubb's book is out of print.   One of these day's I'll find a copy.

 Nick

[dehusman]

Also look  for Armstrong's "A railroad, what it is, what it does."

http://www.transalert.com/cgi-bin/search.cgi?query=armstrong&mh=25&bool=and&substring=0

[ChrisNH]

I found Andy's book on frieght yards a good starting point on that aspect of operations ("The Model Railroader's Guide to Freight Yards"). I mention it here because what happens in the yards can have a dramatic impact on what happens elsewhere even if you don't include on on your layout. I think its a good follow up read to some of the more general books. Plus, its well written!

Regards

Chris

Btw- i highly recommend "The Railroad, What it Is, What it Does" mentioned above as well if you are interested in detailed information about real railroads. I found some aspects of it very enlightening.

[markpierce]

dehusman

Also look  for Armstrong's "A railroad, what it is, what it does."

http://www.transalert.com/cgi-bin/search.cgi?query=armstrong&mh=25&bool=and&substring=0

I have the current (5th, 2008) edition of the book, but I was disappointed as it focuses on contemporary railroading, a period I'm not modeling.  I'd rather have the first (1978) edition as it would be three decades more relevant.  Railroads have changed a lot in the last 60 years.  Imagine the evolution resulting from changes in rules, regulations, technology, economic structure, etcetera!  For instance, LCL traffic is covered with only 4.5 lines of text.

I'd be happy if someone came out with a book "A railroad, what it was, what it did, in 1950."

Mark

[IRONROOSTER]

markpierce

dehusman

Also look  for Armstrong's "A railroad, what it is, what it does."

http://www.transalert.com/cgi-bin/search.cgi?query=armstrong&mh=25&bool=and&substring=0

I have the current (5th, 2008) edition of the book, but I was disappointed as it focuses on contemporary railroading, a period I'm not modeling.  I'd rather have the first (1978) edition as it would be three decades more relevant.  Railroads have changed a lot in the last 60 years.  Imagine the evolution resulting from changes in rules, regulations, technology, economic structure, etcetera!  For instance, LCL traffic is covered with only 4.5 lines of text.

I'd be happy if someone came out with a book "A railroad, what it was, what it did, in 1950."

Mark

 

I bought the book when it first came out in 1978.  It's a great book, but only has a short section (less than a page) on lcl.  Check out Freight Terminals and Trains by John Droege if you come across a copy.  The NMRA did a reprint about 10 years ago of the 1925, 2nd edition (now sold out).

Enjoy

Paul

[ChrisNH]

 

Freight Terminals & Trains by John Droege is available as a free download from Google Books

 http://books.google.com/books?id=3bEpAAAAYAAJ

 Also his book on Passenger stuff, "Passenger Terminals & Trains"

 http://books.google.com/books?id=Au5_AAAAMAAJ

Lots of good free railroad books available now..

 Other books I have used at least in part:

Loree, Railroad Freight Transportation

http://books.google.com/books?id=nMkTauhOtHwC&

Camp, Notes on Track

http://books.google.com/books?id=gFY5AAAAMAAJ

Willard, Maintenance of Way and Structures

http://books.google.com/books?id=v1k5AAAAMAAJ

Raymond, The Elements of Railroad Engineering

http://books.google.com/books?id=XtXCm4RgYIMC

Johnson, American Railway Transportation,

http://books.google.com/books?id=Ntg0AAAAIAAJ

A book I found very interesting about the Eastern Railroad of Massachusetts, an eventual part of the B&M
Bradlee, The Eastern Railroad http://books.google.com/books?id=jKEpAAAAYAAJ

[Steve_F]

I have bought every book that I have come across on operations & design etc and rather than recommending any of them I would like to say that I have been able to take bits from each to compile my ‘picture’ and must say it is still a work in progress. To summarize for me there is no one book that will answer all of my questions and that a broader approach is required to for fill my appetite in this regard. My advice is to not rely on one source of information to meet your demands and / or expectations. 

[ATLANTIC CENTRAL]

markpierce

Although not as "slick" as the Kalmbach Publications, Carsten's Operation Handbook for Model Railroads by Paul Mallory is worthwhile too.  I have all these books (Mallory, Armstrong, Koester, Chubb) and wouldn't give up any of them.

Mark

While I have many of the books mentioned by others, on the topic of operation, and on most other topics, I find Paul Mallory to a much more scientific and independent thinker. He presents facts clearly, explains advantages and disadvantages, makes recommendations, but never says or implies that "you must do it this way". Some may not care for his type of "technical" writing, but his logic and information are top notch.

He often presents very good arguments for NOT doing stuff that has always been done or promotes fresh ideas about bring "standards" to new levels.

Even though all his stuff is older, and he is no longer with us, his professional and reasoned approaches always seem fresh and clear to me.

All the books and aurthors mentioned are great, but in my opinion, Paul Mallory is the benchmark of modeling I strive for.

Sheldon 

[jamnest]

gregc

 I have John Armstrong's book, Track Planning for Realistic Operation and am wondering if Realistic Model Railroad Design or Realistic Model Railroad Operation by Tony Koester adds any significant new information.

I have all of them in my library.  Very good investment.