Reading and model railroading

[Anonymous]

I like the Book " When Oklahoma took the trolley " Greta pictures and maps. i learned about little railroads that I never knew even exsisited. I also like the book " Railroads in Oklahoma "

[andrechapelon]

QUOTE: Originally posted by twhite

ANYTHING by Lucius Beebe. He was a raconteur, gentleman, epicure, INSATIABLE railroad buff, and some of the books he wrote on railroads--HEAR THE TRAIN BLOW, THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN PACIFIC, THE TRAINS WE RODE, are among the most wonderful and personal books ever written about trains. His partner Charlie Clegg was one of the first GREAT railroad photographers, and together they published at least ten books on railroading during the Golden Age (1930-60) that I can think of. Met him one time in Berkeley CA, told him I was a great fan of his and had grown up around the Nevada County Narrow Gauge. He eyed me up and down, raised a very patrician eyebrow and smiled and said, "But dear boy, of course you were too YOUNG to have ever ridden that delightfully quaint train, were you not?" Never did figure out what he meant, but his writing is wonderful!

I like Beebe's stuff too. However, his penchant for florid prose often overwhelmed his actual knowledge of the railroad scene. One of my favorite howlers is one in The Central Pacific And Southern Pacific where he refers to a 2-8-2 as a "rara avis" ('rare bird' for the Latin challenged) on any railroad's roster.

'Course, there's the fact that Lucius Beebe and Charles Clegg were also often referred to as "Lucy and Charlie". After having seen the interior of the "Virginia City", I can see why. It looked like a bordello on 6 wheel trucks. Beebe and Clegg were as about as close to being out of the closet as it was possible to be 50 years ago.

Andre

[Anonymous]

Some great RR books I've got.........

Union Pacific Railroad- Brian Soloman

Southern Pacific Railroad- Brian Soloman

Santa Fe Railway- Steve Glischinski

The American Steam Locomotive- Brian Soloman

The American Diesel Locomotive- Brian Soloman

Modern Locomotives, High Horsepower Diesels 1966-2000- Brian Soloman

Brian Soloman is an excellent railroad author. His books are packed full of information and photos. Truely a great aset to the railroad world.

[BRAKIE]

Sure as far as research and to read how things are done.But,I found experience in railfanning and model building is far better..
Look you can read how to make scenery.However there are two great teachers to show you what its suppose to look like.One is Mother Nature.You just can't beat real life when its comes to scenery.The second is close observation of the ground in which you wi***o model.Is that cut Lime stone? Hard rock? Slate? see what I mean? What type of trees?
Railfanning will teach you how railroads do things by close observation..Even walking a abandon right of way will show you things that you may need to know in modeling that line.
Guys,we can build a GOOD layout by reading..We can build a GREAT layout by studying the prototype and Mother Nature.So yes reading plays a part as does observation and hands on experience.[:D]

[twhite]

ANYTHING by Lucius Beebe. He was a raconteur, gentleman, epicure, INSATIABLE railroad buff, and some of the books he wrote on railroads--HEAR THE TRAIN BLOW, THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN PACIFIC, THE TRAINS WE RODE, are among the most wonderful and personal books ever written about trains. His partner Charlie Clegg was one of the first GREAT railroad photographers, and together they published at least ten books on railroading during the Golden Age (1930-60) that I can think of. Met him one time in Berkeley CA, told him I was a great fan of his and had grown up around the Nevada County Narrow Gauge. He eyed me up and down, raised a very patrician eyebrow and smiled and said, "But dear boy, of course you were too YOUNG to have ever ridden that delightfully quaint train, were you not?" Never did figure out what he meant, but his writing is wonderful!

[Fergmiester]

Those who fail to learn by their mistakes of the past, are doomed to repeat them.

better yet

Let those step in what the dog laid before you before you, lay in what the dog presents beneath you.

When reading history, you cannot write history, therefore reading will keep you from harms way.

You can quote me on the last two as the first was written by someone who was already famous

As always

Fergie

[fec153]

The r.r. that went to sea. {F.E.C.}
also a book by Seth Bramson- history of the FEC. don't remember the name.
Phil

[Anonymous]

All my reading is stuff for school these days. I'd love to be able to read something for pleasure, but its a long way til Winter Break.

[randybc2003]

Reading & MRing is synergistic. I might suggest the following:
Fiction:
The Iron Trail - Rex Beach (building RRs in Alaska)[C):-)]
Union Pacific - Zane Gray (Building the UP - what else!)[C):-)]
Breakheart Pass - Alester McLean (Gold Shipments, Gun running, etc.)[C):-)][C):-)]
Certainly Agatha Cristy's Murder on the Orient Express, [zzz] , Ian Flemming's 007 From Russia with Love [8D], and A. Landsbury as J.B. Fletcher has one out "Destination Murder" - taking place in British Columbia. [:)], haven't read it, but liked J.B.F. in the TV series.
.Non Fiction -
Michael Henny - Alaska's Railroad Builder (non F. of 1st. above)
Moguls & Iron Men, Nothing Like it in the World, etc. (Building of the UP)
Anything by L. Beebe & C. Clegg: Mr. Pullman's elegant Palace Car, Mansions on Rails, Steamcars to the Comstock, History of the Virginia & Truckee, Narrow Gage in the Rockies. [:D]
Virginia & Truckee - the BONANZA Road. - by Mallory Hope Farrel[:D]
Railroads in Alaska & the Yukon, Rails Across the Tundra. (Can't think of the Authors off hand)[:D]
And any history of building of the old RRs!!![^][^][^]

& Check out some old Kalmbach books & mag re SCRATCHBUILDING!!!

No excuses now!
Randy

[on30francisco]

I get almost 100% of my knowledge about model railroading from reading posts and other model railroad sites on the internet. I also read old model railroading magazines (available for free at the public library) and make copies of useful articles for future reference. Those old magazines have a lot to offer in terms of modeling ideas and techniques; even the ones over 40 years old. Besides model railroading books I also enjoy reading books on cosmology, astronomy, particle physics, nature, and other cultures. Reading and model railroading go hand in hand.

[Anonymous]

If you like reading and well-reasearched historical fiction, you can't do much better than Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey-Maturan series, the books the Russell Crowe movie, "Master and Commander, the Far Side of the World" was based on.
There's a Web site of nautically afflicted cybernauts called hmssurprise.org you can check out to get a glimpse into the world of early 19th century sailing terminology.
After you've read a few of the books, you may even want to build yourself a ship model or two[:D]
Eric

[Jetrock]

I do a fairly huge amount of reading, albeit mostly nonfiction, about railroads. Much of this has been local history and research on my prototype--largely from Ira Swett's INTERURBANS SPECIAL series' three books on the Sacramento Northern, plenty of old copies of MODEL RAILROADER and TRACTION & MODELS, various local histories and biographies (like Ernesto Galarza's "Barrio Boy", which includes descriptions of train travel in California, as well as almost impossible to find details of life in Sacramento's West End, the "wrong side of the tracks" near the railyards), and assorted other reference works.

But then, I'm something of an authenticity buff and like doing research--so much that I plan on going back to grad school.

[Anonymous]

I enjoy reading alot. I actually buy books faster than I can read them. Besides books about trains, my other preferences are generally mysteries and historical books. As for finding old the old railroad pulp stories that CBQ_Guy mentioned, try finding old issues of Railroad magazine. They often have such stories in them and they are quite good.

[Anonymous]

Reading has always been a hobby of mine. I got 99% of my knowledge about railroading from reading.

[Anonymous]

hhmmmmmmmmmmm, I think I have read all the train books in the Oklahoma City Library system, but I will check again. Thanks fo the suggestions !

[Anonymous]

Lately I've been quenching my railroad thirst with some UP books. Really cool pictures, locomotives I didn't know about, etc. If you want to get some prototype info, Railroad books are great places to start.

[Anonymous]

Reading and model railroading go together great personaly I prefer airwar

[CBQ_Guy]

Just wanted to suggest that when you read, read GOOD stuff, even if it's fiction. The reason being that an author of quality literature will research heavily and as a result, us, as reader, get accurate information along with our enjoyment of the topic or story.

Since you like to read I would of course suggest reading as much as you are interested in on the hobby or on your prototype or era, or anything related. I think you might enjoy some of the old pulp railroad stories I've heard about, but have no idea where one can get a hold of these nowadays.

[dknelson]

If you can tolerate a somewhat antiquated writing style try reading "Whispering Smith" by Frank Spearman. It is a story of a railroad detective in the glory years of steam. The railroad related scenes are very interestingly written. The less said about the love/romantic parts of the book the better.
There is also a rather corny movie made of the book but it had some great locomotive shots.
Dave Nelson

[Anonymous]

As I work my way through Robert D.Turner's magnificent 'Logging by Rail - The British Columbia Story' I am awed and amazed at what these railroaders managed to accomplish. Quite the book of adventure stories.

My piles of old MR's and other MR mags move from living room to reading room to bedroom and back again to the living room. Nothing is sorted and I can never find any articles but often get answers or inspiration from issues from bygone years.

Maybe it takes a few reads for stuff to sink and then again I may have lost a few memory cells back in the '60's but I can't remember.

[CP5415]

Reading & Model Railroading go hand in hand!!
Why else would Model Railroad magazine exist? [;)]

Gordon

[Anonymous]

Here latley I have I have not done much with model railroading ( due to lack of funds ) so I have vigourusly launched myself into my other hobby, reading. I always like good adventure and some older books such as the Three Musketeers or somthing modern like the " Will to Conquer " trilogy. I would like to know if anyone had some good ideas for incorperating reading into model railroading ? Any thoughts ? By the way, has anyone read the " Will to Conquer " trilogy? I have to say I like it better than Lord of the Rings ! Thanks !