Good Railroad Books

[Anonymous]

I am a rank beginner. Would like to find a book with diagrams and easy to understand descriptions of major types of steam locomotives 1830 to 1900. Have exhausted the local library. What do you suggest?

[Overmod]

Actually, there is a fairly quick 'one-stop shop' answer to this question, provided at Hugh Odom's excellent "Ultimate Steam Page." With specific reference to your question (which concerns steam locomotives from 1830 to 1900), see the following:

The Development of the Locomotive 1803-1896, Clement Stretton, published 1896, reprinted 1989 by Bracken Books,      ISBN 1 85170 247 4, 251 pages.British history.

Development of the Locomotive Engine, Angus Sinclair, published 1907, reprinted 1970 by MIT Press and annotated by John H. White, ISBN 0 262 19068 0, 707 pages. American history, but with photos and drawings of many foreign engines.  The annotations make it very worthwhile.

Modern Locomotive Construction, J. G. A. Meyer, published 1892, reprinted 1994 by Lindsay, ISBN 1-55918-144-3, 658 pages. Worth the price just for the hundreds of exquisite drawings.

Of these, in my opinion Sinclair's is the most valuable. There is a copy in the New York Library's Technical Library (on 34th St.) which your library may be able to obtain via interlibrary loan if you can't find an affordable one for sale.

[gbrewer]

Here is a good one on American locomotives of the early 19th century:
A History of the American Locomotive: Its Development, 1830-1880 (Trains)
by John H. White

[n2mopac]

I found a good coffee table-sized book on sale at Waldenbooks a few years ago titled "The History of North Americal Railroads." I don't know if it is still in print, but it is a great all around reference. The fact that I found it on a $5 sale table (originally $50) didn't hurt either.
Ron

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Woowy22

I am a rank beginner. Would like to find a book with diagrams and easy to understand descriptions of major types of steam locomotives 1830 to 1900. Have exhausted the local library. What do you suggest?

I am a member of the CNWHS and we have a book called The CNW Steam Locomotive Diagram Book, by Joe Pierson,the book covers alot of steam locomotives,in diagrams from 1907-the last days of steam.The book is a good reference for steam buffs,at a cost of $35.00, or I can make copies of what you are looking for and send them to you,if you like. But if you basically just want to see a book and make a couple of photo copies from it (like I have done with many), I would like to suggest trying an "Inter-library Loan" search at your library. You'd be surprised as to what you may get. I wanted a book on the Rock Island freight cars,and one was found and sent to my library .The book came from the University of St.Louis of all places!Good luck in your search.[:)]
Andrew