Single-best book on model railroading

[PA&ERR]

I have three "Bibles" that I use for model railroading:

How To Operate Your Model Railroad by Bruce Chubb

Track Planning for Realistic Operation, by John Armstrong

and

Realistic Model Railroad Scenery by Dave Frary

-George

[IRONROOSTER]

I would agree with those who picked Track Planning for Realistic Operation. I find this book to be very inspirational as well as practical about designing a layout that works well.  Even if your want a railfan type of layout, this book is good for avoiding pitfalls such as S curves, etc. It also helps you to develop scenes that look more realistic.  While other books are very good (and I have many have been mentioned  plus many others), this is the one to have if you only have one.  I consider John Armstrong on Creative Layout Design to be volume 2 of track planning, unfortunately, it's out of print.

Enjoy

Paul

 

[ClinchValleySD40]

wjstix

Since Kalmbach/MR has wider coverage than Carstens/RMC I suspect more people know John Armstrong's "Track Planning for Realistic Operations" which as it happens is the book that popped into my mind when I read the original post...although Bruce Chubb's "How to Operate Your Model Railroad" is a book I refer to a lot, covers a lot of topics. Nice section on signalling, I often refer people asking questions about signalling to it.

 

Yep Stix, have to agree.    These are my two favorites also.    I can't tell you how many times I've gone through them and keep finding new things.   Two must have books.

 Larry

[on30francisco]

vsmith

Well now, isn't the title BEST SINGLE BOOK IN MODEL RAILROADING really a moving target?

For me its Model Railroading with John Allen which includes planning, layout building, kitbashing and operations all on one of the best model railroads of all time ( IMHO )

I second that. I also think the book "Narrow Gauge Railroad You Can Build" by Malcolm Furlow is also up there.

[steinjr]

markpierce

The single best book, dollar for dollar, on railroads and how we can make our layouts operate more like them, is Paul Mallery's Operation Handbook for Model Railroads published by Carstens Publications.  It is a relatively inexpensive softbound book, 5x8" inches in size containing 193 pages of invaluable, encyclopedic information.  It is readable, practical, and totally useful for the model railroader interested in the subject.  It explains how real railroads work, provides the necessary vocabulary, and shows how we can emulate the real thing.  I can't for the life of me understand why this book hasn't gained the widespread recognition it deserves.  No color and few photographs, but lots of drawings and great text.

Mark

 Haven't read it, but I did a quick google search.

 Here is a table of contents for the book you recommend (courtesy of index.mrmag.com);

 http://index.mrmag.com/tm.exe?opt=I&MAG=BOOK&MO=6&YR=1991&output=3

 Here is a list of some other books which in some way cover model railroad operations, in the judement of the MR people who compiled the lists at index.mrmag.com:

 http://index.mrmag.com/tm.exe?opt=s&cmdtext=book+operation&sort=2

 I have no idea what is the "best" book. To me, there is usually something worth reading in most books I read

 Grin,
 Stein

 

[trainfan1221]

I have looked through a lot of books but only own a handful, such as ones that show a layout being built, to give me inspiration.  In all honesty I started realising that you can at least try to do realistic operations, even with a small layout like I have, as long as you have a basic plan as to what your railroad does and what it's about in mind.   I actually learned this from reading MR, which I didn't the first many years of my hobby.

  I personally think the best book for anyone is whatever one helps them at the time with their particular layout, or helps to give them more ways to enjoy our hobby.

[markpierce]

I hope you all recognized my use of hyperbole to spark interest.  Mallery's book is excellent on the subjects it covers, and it has not received any recognition that I'm aware of.  Thus, I wanted to introduce this book to those who might be interested. 

It is always Armstrong this, Koester that, Frary there, etc. I've got almost all of their books and many others that increase my interest in and knowledge of the hobby. I definitely don't recommend anyone limit themselves to a single book, and I am interested in hearing what books you all like.

Mark

[selector]

Presumably, the more such books one has read, the more "qualified" one should be to offer an opinion...which is all that one could offer.  I haven't read any except for John Armstrong's Track Planning for Realistic Operation, and found it to be useful.  Not "more" useful since there is nothing to which I am able to compare it.

I would guess that there must be one book on "operations" that would be first pass the post on a wide vote, but only if it were known by a large enough sample of knowledgeable model railroaders.  I doubt we'll settle it here.

I agree that the title of the thread is unfortunate in view of the qualification that followed in the text.  But, I am glad for the thread because the various titles you fellas mention are probably something I should seek out.

-Crandell

[R. T. POTEET]

The problem here does not lie in the body of his posting text but in the topic title: "BEST"=QUALIFIER="WEASEL WORD"

I don't know whether this book is "best" or not. Perhaps if I read it I might draw the same conclusions as the post author but "best" would still be only a reflection of opinion hence a "qualitative expression!"

[Cox 47]

I couldn't pick one..but  my  vote would go for Lin Westcott's G&d and Carsten's V&O..both great...Cox 47

[tomikawaTT]

If the object is to operate like a real railroad in the transition era, the single best book doesn't even mention models.  It's Peter Josserand's Rights of Trains, the prototype's bible on all things TTTO.

Trying to define a, "Single best book on model railroading," is, IMHO, like trying to define the single woman (out of three billion) who would be the best wife for all three billion men...

Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)

[vsmith]

Well now, isn't the title BEST SINGLE BOOK IN MODEL RAILROADING really a moving target?

For me its Model Railroading with John Allen which includes planning, layout building, kitbashing and operations all on one of the best model railroads of all time ( IMHO )

[blownout cylinder]

I can't believe it!!! I have every book mentioned and then some. I don't have to worry about TOO much heeheehee

[wedudler]

markpierce

The single best book, dollar for dollar, on railroads and how we can make our layouts operate more like them, is Paul Mallery's Operation Handbook for Model Railroads published by Carstens Publications.

 

Yes, I like it and use it often for reference. But there're others to name, V&O from McClelland, John Allen and books from Armstrong. But don't forget Peter Josserand's book for more insight.

Wolfgang

[dknelson]

You mean it's better than How To Run a Model Railroad by Boomer Pete (a/k/a Al Kalmbach?).  Or Frank Ellison on Model Railroading?  

Dave Nelson

[galaxy]

Midnight Railroader

Bob, you didn't read his premise correctly. Try again: 

markpierce

The single best book, dollar for dollar, on railroads and how we can make our layouts operate more like them, is Paul Mallery's Operation Handbook for Model Railroads published by Carstens Publications.

He may very well be might about this.  (Although I agree the post title is not the same premise.)

True. but perhaps the title to his post should have really been more like "Single-best book on model railroading operations" instead.

I, too, read the title of "Single-best book on model railroading" as being the best book of any part of the model railroading subject.

[Midnight Railroader]

Bob, you didn't read his premise correctly. Try again: 

markpierce

The single best book, dollar for dollar, on railroads and how we can make our layouts operate more like them, is Paul Mallery's Operation Handbook for Model Railroads published by Carstens Publications.

He may very well be might about this.  (Although I agree the post title is not the same premise.)

 

[wjstix]

Since Kalmbach/MR has wider coverage than Carstens/RMC I suspect more people know John Armstrong's "Track Planning for Realistic Operations" which as it happens is the book that popped into my mind when I read the original post...although Bruce Chubb's "How to Operate Your Model Railroad" is a book I refer to a lot, covers a lot of topics. Nice section on signalling, I often refer people asking questions about signalling to it.

[oldline1]

Hi, Mark.

Well...this topic should really garner a lot of attention! I agree that this is a great book. My opinion is that being mostly on the topic of operations of real and model railroads it only gets a portion of the attention from modelers. Many modelers really aren't "in to" operation and find it tedious and stressful. Many of us enjoy the challanges afforded and prefer to try to do it the way the real roads did.

Your subject was the "single-best book on model railroading" which, I think, covers a greater amount of books and areas than operation. Paul Scoles or Frary & Hayden books on scenery would rank near the top on that subject. Chubb's book on operations has to be #1 or close to it. Many would pick Westcott's book on the G&D as the best. The V&O Story is one of my favorite books as I loved the original railroad.

Who's to say? I think to have the single best book it would be so thick and heavy you couldn't carry it or afford to buy it! LOL

I think the MR How To Do It series is a very valuable bunch of books for the money even though they are starting to get a little pricey and tend to repeat the same photos, articles and topics......more so recently!

Roger Huber

[Railphotog]

You seem to assume that all model railroaders and potential ones are interested in prototypical operations.  Most modelers start out small, and many discover the fun of operating, but many are just statisfied to be able to make their trains run.  And of course this assumes all those interested in model railroading actually do have a working layout.

I've seen posts by many modelers on different forums who just like to see the trains go round and round and have no interest in serious operating.  I'm personally more interested in model building and photography, I would never want a layout that required many operators to run.   I have a few friends with large operational layouts and get to operate on them once in a while, but I'm still not overly interested like some of them are.   My modules operate with our club layout, but then it's mostly keeping trains running for the train show visitors.

I have an 8 foot long shelf in my hobby room of model railroad related books, and others in another room.  I don't have any on operations because it does not interest me.

So Paul Mallery's book may be the "single best book" for YOU, but apparently not everyone thinks the same as you do!

 

[markpierce]

The single best book, dollar for dollar, on railroads and how we can make our layouts operate more like them, is Paul Mallery's Operation Handbook for Model Railroads published by Carstens Publications.  It is a relatively inexpensive softbound book, 5x8" inches in size containing 193 pages of invaluable, encyclopedic information.  It is readable, practical, and totally useful for the model railroader interested in the subject.  It explains how real railroads work, provides the necessary vocabulary, and shows how we can emulate the real thing.  I can't for the life of me understand why this book hasn't gained the widespread recognition it deserves.  No color and few photographs, but lots of drawings and great text.

Mark