Books/Materials to understand how to model freight yards/engine facilities?

[jjdamnit]

Hello All,

The National Model Railroad Association (NMRA.org) offers a hardcover version of Freight Terminals & Trains, by John Droege. The member price is $20.00 less than the non-member price plus S/H.

As has been posted this is a very dry read compared to some of the Kalmbach books.

However, it does have lots of historic photos and drawings.

In my train library, I also have a copy of The Model Railroader's Guide To Locomotive servicing Terminals; Marty Mcguirk, 2002 Kalmbach Publishing Co.

Unfortunately, it is out of print. I did find a copy on Amazon for a reasonable price.

And as has also been mentioned Tony Koester's book.

Hope this helps.

[The Milwaukee Road Warrior]

Steam & Diesel Locomotive Servicing Terminals, by Tony Koester.

https://kalmbachhobbystore.com/product/book/12502

And the aforementioned Sperandeo book.

[tstage]

I thought the one by Kalmbach was very good.  It's called The Model Railroader's Guide to Freight Yards:

I think you're correct about the hardcopy being discontinued.  However, you can purchase a digital (eBook) version of it from Kalmbach Digital Books - i.e. if you like reading on a tablet.

Tom

[gmpullman]

This one's free:

https://mrv.trains.com/-/media/Files/PDF/Marketing/Freight%20Yard%20Design.pdf

 

Sure, just a summary but it might have something of use.

Regards, Ed

[ChrisVA]

 

dknelson

 

 

ChrisVA

I see one book out there - The Model Railroaders guide to freight yards, but it looks like that has been discontinued, and very expensive where I do see it?

 

 

 

I think you refer to Andy Sperandeo's book on freight yards and yes I looked for it for a long time at swap meets until I finally found a copy that was reasonably priced enough for me to consider buying it (close to the original retail price which is unusual for a model train book but still cheaper than I've seen it online).

But from a purely modeling perspective I'd say Sperandeo is still THE resource to look for.  

Sperandeo also wrote a few MR articles on the topic, and Kalmbach had a booklet that was one of their freebies that they'd dangle in front of you to get you to subscribe, so keep looking.

Dave Nelson

PS I see from a 2020 forum thread on the Sperandeo book that I posted this information which might be useful if you have old issues or have popped for the access to the online back issues:

 

First Andy Sperandeo himself wrote two good if similar articles on yard design in MR itself: 13 Tips in June 2010 and 10 Tips in December 2004.

Two excellent John Armstrong articles in June 1955 MR and August 1955 MR.

Gordon Odegard in June 1975 MR.

And a classic yard that gets close attention in the Sperandeo book, Whit Towers's Alturas & Lone Pine, which Towers wrote up in July 1961 MR.

 

 

Dave,

Thanks for the very detailed reply. Yes, I am referring to the Sperandeo book. It looks like it has become a collector's item. I also have John Armstrong's book, Track Planning for Realistic Operation. It is very good; I only wish they had used better fonts and colors for the diagrams!  It can be difficult to read with the small font and blue/back color combo.  

Regards

 

[dknelson]

ChrisVA

I see one book out there - The Model Railroaders guide to freight yards, but it looks like that has been discontinued, and very expensive where I do see it?

I think you refer to Andy Sperandeo's book on freight yards and yes I looked for it for a long time at swap meets until I finally found a copy that was reasonably priced enough for me to consider buying it (close to the original retail price which is unusual for a model train book but still cheaper than I've seen it online).

But from a purely modeling perspective I'd say Sperandeo is still THE resource to look for.  

Sperandeo also wrote a few MR articles on the topic, and Kalmbach had a booklet that was one of their freebies that they'd dangle in front of you to get you to subscribe, so keep looking.

Dave Nelson

PS I see from a 2020 forum thread on the Sperandeo book that I posted this information which might be useful if you have old issues or have popped for the access to the online back issues:

 

First Andy Sperandeo himself wrote two good if similar articles on yard design in MR itself: 13 Tips in June 2010 and 10 Tips in December 2004.

Two excellent John Armstrong articles in June 1955 MR and August 1955 MR.

Gordon Odegard in June 1975 MR.

And a classic yard that gets close attention in the Sperandeo book, Whit Towers's Alturas & Lone Pine, which Towers wrote up in July 1961 MR.

[dehusman]

A really dry volume on prototype operation is available free on Google Books :  John Droege's "Freight Terminals and Trains", 1925 edition.  He also published a book on passenger terminals and trains.

[nealknows]

Most of the ones Kalmbach has put out as of late are previous versions. Try watching when they run their sales or check Amazon or Ebay for those titles. Some of their books are pretty good for starters....

[ChrisVA]

Any recommendations for a good book to better understand how to model a freight yard and engine facilities, especially for transition period. Basic principles, structures/equipment that would be present, etc. I want to design a yard that is reasonably protypically accurate RE: track and structures.

I see one book out there - The Model Railroaders guide to freight yards, but it looks like that has been discontinued, and very expensive where I do see it?