Is there a book out there that talks about short times/terminal railways from about 1970's up? I'm looking at modeling such a line in HO (for sound), shelf style, running train lengths in the 6' long area, single locomotive, and caboose. For now i'm concentrating on switching cars since we live in a 2 bed apart. and the spare room is a mutual place between the wife and I, so I am not left with much room. I do want some scenery space though. My goal is to have a realistic looking layout where I can operate my model trains.
I have been stuck between N scale and HO, but I am really thinking of HO because it's a little bigger and would be easier to model finer, more realistic details. And also because of the aforementioned, DCC/sound.
I also accept any other suggestions about modeling.
What region are you thinking of? There are probably too many to have in one book.
If the west coast there are many choices to consider. A couple of my favorites are the McCloud River http://www.trainweb.org/mccloudrails/index.html
and the Camas Prairie http://www.wwvrailway.com/camas.htm
There is this list of west coast shortlinesworth looking at
http://www.trainweb.org/westernrails/shortline.html
There is always Great Shortlines West DVD worthy of your time
Great Shortlines West
We visit ten shortlines with scenes spanning from 1970 to 1998. Two of our visits include cab rides and access in two, truly great shortlines - the A&NR of Texas and CORP in Oregon.See the Amador Central in its prime and up to the last day of operation. The Amador's blue Baldwins and the Baldwins of the Trona bring you back to an earlier era of diesels.The ALCO diesels of many roads are in this video. Early GE power is brought to you on the Modesto & Empire Traction Co.The most dramatic chapter is on the CORP and its 3.6% grades with up to 6 units over the Siskiyou Mountains.Visit the people on several of these lines for an insider's look at the business of running shortline railroads.
Even if you don't go west coast there should be some good ideas in there somewhere for you
ratled
Modeling the Klamath River area in HO on a proto-lanced sub of the SP “The State of Jefferson Line”
There is such a book that covers short lines.
http://www.kalmbachstore.com/modeltrains-railroading-railroading-books.html
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
The in-depth website, A Shortline Railroad Guide to U.S. Class III Railroad Carriers, outlines dozens upon dozens of short lines serving USA industry spurs to this day.
Conemaugh Road & Traction circa 1956
I know the OP specified from the '70's up, but it would be a disservice not to mention Mallory Hope Ferrell's "Slow Trains Down South" Volumes 1 & 2. They focus on shortline railroads in the south toward the end of steam... railroads that just ooze character and personality. For that matter, there is the classic from Beebe & Clegg - "Mixed Train Daily." Not exactly what the OP is looking for, but just the ticket for the shortline steam junkies out there.
- James