Recommended books for the library?

[081552]

You have to include several books about electric railroads in any library.

 

When Steam Roads Electrified 

 William Middleton-available through I.U. Press or other outlets

The Electric Interurban Railway in America

George Hilton and John Due-This book was published over 47 years ago and remains the standard book on the Interurban area.

Anything by Middleton

Not a book but a recommendation. 

[gvdobler]

I read one by John Signor (sp) about the RR from Salt Lake City to San Pedro California through the Cajon Pass, and found it very interesting.  Very detailed information and lots of good pictures. I found it at the local library.

[FloridaPanhandler]

If you're interested in the big picture of economics and politics of the American rail industry in the 20th century, I highly recommend both "Merging Lines" and "Main Lines" by Richard Saunders.  The first covers American railroads from the early 1900s up to about 1970.  The second covers the resurgence of American railroads from the 1970s to 2002.  Both are fascinating reads.

[passengerfan]

You asked about the heavyweight Lounge and Observations. If they were minus any sleeping car space they were generally RR owned and operated. Much like the heavyweight coaches and Dining cars. Pullman owned a few dining cars and lounge cars but these were generally operated in special service. An example was the first two cars in the June 1937 FORTY NINER.

The first car was a baggage Dormitory Kitchen Car named DONNER LAKE originally built in 1928 as the K-100 for Special Service. The second car in the FORTY NINER was ANGEL'S CAMP a dining room car originally D-100 built for the same Special service in 1928. For the FORTY NINER all heavyweight cars were remodeled giving them a streamlined roof line and skirting was added. The FORTY NINER began service July 8, 1937 and ended service July 26, 1941 when replaced by a new CITY OF SAN FRANCISCO consist.

Hope this helps.

[BigJim]

Some books that have to be a little more readable than those Pullman books;
Set Up Running: Orr
Story of a PRR engineer

N&W Giant of Steam: Jeffries
N&W history

Rails Remembered Vol.3: Newton (not to take away from Vol.1, 2 or 4, I just like 3 best)
N&W history

Classic Power 3A USRA 2-8-8-2: King & Dressler
History of the 2-8-8-2

In The Traces: Rose
The watercolor paintings of Ted Rose.

[JanOlov]

I have to admit that I sometimes get confused with all the numbers that Pullman used with their sleepers. How was it with the Lounge and Lounge/Observation cars back then?

[passengerfan]

JanOlov Hope the following helps.

A Century of Pullman Cars Volume one comes immediatly to mind. Surprisingly the heavyweights though numerous were not of that many configurations. Where they get confusing is cross referencing the conversions from 12-1 to the numerous other types shortly before WW 11 and those converted to Tourist sleepers. Pullman generally numbered the Tourist sleepers and when 12-1 were converted to other configurations the names were changed. In some cases when certain Pullman sleepers were transferred to another train they were renamed as well. There is quite a bit of reference material out their on the older Pullman cars but it takes lots of time to sort it out.

[JanOlov]

Thanks passengerfan . I've got most of the Pullman books (except 3 me thinks) but none of the Budd and ACF etc. I think that they're great as well. Is there any similar to these but for heavyweights?

[passengerfan]

The red ones are the ones. They are an excellent reference source and along with other books in my library I can find information including disposition of most cars.

My library specializes in passenger trains and cars pre Amtrak. I sold off about a hundred books a few years back that did not really fit into my primary interest and will probably sell a few more in the next couple of years.

I have my book collection in Legal bookcases as this protects them from dust and keeps them in excellent condition. 

[JanOlov]

Thanks alot passengerfan, much appreciated! This Milwaukee book is in good condition. The Official Pullman Standard Library, is that those red ones? I think that I've got most of them...need to find those that I've missed like the one for PRR.

[passengerfan]

First editions are always a good buy. But it depends on the condition. First additions are generally nice to have in your library and signed and numbered additions are even more valuable. Several books on Ebay have gone for far more than they are actually worth. Have noticed when people atrat bidding on some of these books it gets to be a feeding frenzy. That's to bad! I dare say I have overpaid for a few books in my own personal library but having collected for forty years I have done well for the most part.

Two other sets of books worth investing in are The Official Pullman Standard Library a 15 volume set and the seven volume set that covers the Budd, AC&F and other misc. manufacturers a 7 volume set. The early Pullman Standard volumes are getting very expensive and very hard to find. These books cover all of the streamlined passenger cars of the Railroads.

It is important to consider a rider to your home insurance policy to cover books that are valuable. And most important make sure it will cover present replacement costs of the books. Each year I supply my insurance agent with a complete up to date list of my books including any new acquisitions in the last year. 

[JanOlov]

Just managed to lay may hands on the first edition of Milwaukee Electrics by Noel Holley. Is that a good buy for $47 or should I've gotten the later edition from 1999 instead?

[AltonFan]

The Steam Locomotive in America, by Alfred W. Bruce.  Crown Publishers, Inc.

The American Steam Locomotive, Vol 1 Evolution, by F. M. Swingle. Midwest Rail Publications, Inc. (Note: there is no Vol 2 as the author died before it was prepared for publication.)

Bruce's book was probably one of the better accounts of steam locomotive operation and design.  And there it contains a wealth of information that can't be easily found elsewhere.  My copy is still packed up and I haven't looked at it in years.

The Swingle book was the first book (or anything else) that I bought via the internet.  It is very hard to find, and the bookseller advised me not to lend it out.  It's a pity someone doesn't reprint it, and perhaps index it as well.  (I don't recall there being much bibliographic information in this volume either.)

I have to wonder where Swingle was going to go with subsequent volumes.  Volume I pretty much covered the basic development of US steam locomotives from the later 19th century to the end. 

[BigJim]

Nothing Like It In The World, by Stephen E. Ambrose.  Simon & Schuster.

If this is his story about the Trans-Continental RR, I wasn't very impressed. I like Stephen Ambrose, but this story seemed to me to be just a glossed over view of what I already knew.

How Steam Locomotives Really Work, by P. W. B. Semmens and A. J. Goldfinch.  Oxford University Press.

Well, if you want a WHOLE bunch of stuff on British locomotives, this is the book for you! Otherwise, I'd look for something else. I'll gladly sell my copy if anyone wants it.

[Semper Vaporo]

What you want in your library depends on what the focus of your library is:  BUT, any library should begin with a good Dictionary and a Thesaurus.  Maybe a book on Grammer, too.

As for me, my interest is in Steam Locomotive design and operation, so I start with these

The Locomotive Up To Date
By Chas. McShane
Copyright 1899 by Chas. McShane
Revised by Chas. L. McShane
Copyright 1920 by Chas. McShane
GRIFFIN & WINTERS
New York Life Building,
Chicago, Ill.
1923

The previous edition of this book has been republished as the following two books and at least one is still available new someplace:

Classic American Locomotives
The 1909 Classic on Steam Locomotive Technology
By Charles McShane
Originally published in 1899 by Griffin & Winters.
The special contents of this edition are copyright 2003 by The Lyons Press
The Lyons Press
Guilford, Connecticut
An Imprint of The Globe Pequot Press
ISBN 1-59228-054-4

(Available from http://www.astragalpress.com/)

The Locomotive Up To Date (1906)
By Charles McShane
Copyright 1906, Griffin & Winters
New York Life Building, Chicago, Ill.
Republished by: Little River Locomotive Company
Townsend, Tennessee
1999

The above two books are actually the exact same text and illustrations, inspite of the differences indicated by the titles.  The only difference in the publications being that the second one includes 15 pages of period advertisements for other books by Charles McShane, other publications by Griffin & Winters, locomotives from various well and lesser-known locomotive builders, and artificial limbs from George R. Fuller.  (The latter possibly being witness to the danger of working on the railroad in the late 1800s.)

The second edition (first one listed above) is MUCH more inclusive of more modern things.

--

The Engine's Moan, American Steam Whistles, by Edward Fagan.  Astragal Press 2001

Nothing Like It In The World, by Stephen E. Ambrose.  Simon & Schuster.

The Story of American Railroads, by Stewart H. Holbrook.  Crown Publishers, Inc.

The Steam Locomotive in America, by Alfred W. Bruce.  Crown Publishers, Inc.

How Steam Locomotives Really Work, by P. W. B. Semmens and A. J. Goldfinch.  Oxford University Press.

Basic Steam Locomotive Maintenance, by D. C. Buell, Simmons - Boardman Books, Inc.

The American Steam Locomotive, Vol 1 Evolution, by F. M. Swingle. Midwest Rail Publications, Inc. (Note: there is no Vol 2 as the author died before it was prepared for publication.)

--

I got lots of more, but these are the "best" (subjective!) and should keep you busy for a while.

 

[Lost World]

The Northerns, The Mountains

They're OK, but seem to be a bit pricey these days.

Three Barrels of Steam is another pricey letdown! That is unless you just want a bunch of pictures of SP 4-10-2's.

Too true.  When I was young and none too scrupulous I used to borrow books from the local library and never bring them back (nasty habit, but at least I can come clean about it).  Three barrels of steam was one I left on the shelf.

[gbrewer]

I would add "American Narrow Gauge Railroads" by George W. Hilton.

Enjoy

Paul 

I second this one and would like to add anything railroad related by Albro Martin, Maury Klein or John White. Also David Howard Bain's Empire Express: Building the First Transcontinental Railroad.

[BigJim]

A fairly comprehensive collection - all in Japanese.

Which is great as long as you can read Japanese.
I have some stuff on Russian RR's sent to me from Russia. Of coarse, I can't read a lick of it.

[tomikawaTT]

Without trying very hard, it would be possible to invest a BUNCH in reference books, general and specific, about railroads in general or about one specific railroad.  The titles are out there!

So, what do I have?  A fairly comprehensive collection - all in Japanese.  I won't bother listing titles.

Chuck (modeling what I railfanned - Central Japan in September, 1964)

[BigJim]

The Northerns, The Mountains

They're OK, but seem to be a bit pricey these days.

Three Barrels of Steam is another pricey letdown! That is unless you just want a bunch of pictures of SP 4-10-2's.

[AltonFan]

J. Parker Lamb's Perfecting the American Steam Locomotive, probably the best account of the design and operation of steam locomotives available to the layman.  When I first read this book, I wished I had it when I had to write a paper for my high school physics class.

[JanOlov]

How about those North American Steam, The Northerns, The Mountains and The Berksire & Texas types, any good? 

[BigJim]

I'll be the first to admit that I am not a C&O Allegheny fan. They are just plain ugly, a pipefitters nightmare. That said, the absolute best monograph on a single locomotive that I have read is, "Allegheny, Lima's Finest" by Gene Huddleston. This is just a fabulous book!

both Locomotive Cyclopedias I & II, (I think both are out of print)they both feature nothing but engines and drawings of them during the classic era.

Wyoming,
To which Locomotive Cyclopedias are you refering to? Kalmbach, Hundman, Simmons-Boardman?

[Lost World]

Lost World:

How do you like the CD Rom edition?  Personally, I like the ability to take a look at a book.  Call me old school, but it is comforting to have a book in my hands.

Also, how is the quality?  I can see the benefits of being able to print out specific maps, timetables, equipment lists, etc.

ed

Ed:

Having never had an Official Guide in my hands, as they're hard to find, the CD rom edition is all I know.  But it is scanned page for page from the original, including timetables, the lists of officials and agents, and of course the maps.  All pages can be viewed as you would the originals (two pages spread before you), or page by page, with the ability to rotate the page, which comes in handy when viewing the maps, which you would flip horizontally to view in the actual book.  The CD version is also alphabetized in a toolbar on the left of the screen, so you can search for roads by name as you would in the original edition.  The scan quality is excellent, and I would recommend the CD rom edition to anyone as I am very satisfied with mine.  

[MP173]

Lost World:

How do you like the CD Rom edition?  Personally, I like the ability to take a look at a book.  Call me old school, but it is comforting to have a book in my hands.

Also, how is the quality?  I can see the benefits of being able to print out specific maps, timetables, equipment lists, etc.

ed

[Lost World]

I would strongly recommend, if you are interested in passenger trains, that you pickup an Official Guide for the 50's and also early 60's. 

As described in other posts here, the Guides are very valuable for historical looks at passenger trains and railroads during those periods.  The maps are very valuable references.

 

ed 

It's also possible to get the Official Guide on CD Rom.  I have the 1936 edition, purchased onliine from a company called Railway Station Productions.  When I bought it they only had this year available; don't know if they've added any other editions.

[arkansasrailfan]

both Locomotive Cyclopedias I & II, (I think both are out of print)they both feature nothing but engines and drawings of them during the classic era.

[JanOlov]

Fellas, here's another two that I have to recommend....

The Great Northern Railway

A Pictorial Study by Charles & Dorothy Wood

and

HIGHBALL

A Pageant of Trains

by Lucius Beebe

[MP173]

I would strongly recommend, if you are interested in passenger trains, that you pickup an Official Guide for the 50's and also early 60's. 

As described in other posts here, the Guides are very valuable for historical looks at passenger trains and railroads during those periods.  The maps are very valuable references.

 

ed