Central Pennsylvania circa 1948

[Connoquenessing Valley Railroad]

Hello Folks

My CVRR is based in west central Pennsylvania circa 1948 and interchanges with the PRR at Hendershot (30 years in the planning, no track laid yet, one wooden caboose partially completed).

Can any of you nice folks out there recommend some books, possibly about the PRR of this period, with lots and lots of photographs, particularly of lineside details, power poles, stations, crossings, etc?

There are plenty of books available for this period with many photos of power and rolling stock for any number of railroads, but these don't do the job for me.

Thanks in advance.

[locoi1sa]

   Have you looked at the Black Gold Black Diamonds books. Maybe a little newer but great color shots. There is always the TKM series from the PRRT&HS. They did topography maps not too long ago.

     Pete
 

[ndbprr]

Get the original Pennsy Power book by Alvin Stauffer. It covers steam and electric on the PRR.  If you want diesel coverage also get Pennsy Power Two but the steam section will be very cursory.  The PRR in the 40's and 50's by Ball is all color and covers the entire system.  The PRRT&HS has a book on the Conemaugh division available through the web page.  Any of the Wither books are good also.

[RR Redneck]

I'd just get everything about the era that you are modeling. Even if you dont find something that helps with the modeling, you do have some good literature.

[nbrodar]

I recommend the following books from my liberary:

Don Ball Jr., Pennsylvania Railroad 1940s and 1950s.

Robert S. McGonigal, Heart of the Pennsylvania Railroad.

George H. Burgess & Miles C. Kennedy, Centennial History of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, 1846 - 1946.  This book was published by the Pennsy itself in 1949, and is long out of print.  But it's well worth tracking down.

Nick