Recently, while doing some research online, I came across a mention of Train Shed Cyclopedia, which I vaguely remember on sale at the LHS when I was younger (1960s-70s). I pursued the title and found that it was a magazine that came out in numerical editions (?). I think I have seen this at my local flea markets periodically. Could some learned railroader fill me in on what this magazine was all about and if it is worth getting ahold of old copies?
Thanks,
Cedarwoodron
Basically, the Train Shed Cyclopedias were a series of reprints from various editions of The Locomotive Cyclopedia, The Car Builder's Cyclopedia, and other similar handbooks published for the reference of railroad mechanics, shop foremen, etc.. The Cyclopedias originated as glossaries to standardize terminology between various shop forces when repairing railroad equipment. The original Cyclopedias were published by Simmons-Boardman, a firm that still specializes in publications for the railroad industry. Specific editions represented the "latest and greatest" railroad technology at the time.
The Train Shed Cyclopedias were published by Newton K. Gregg. They featured facsimile reprints, mostly of sections of the Cyclopedias of interest to railroad hobbyists. Gregg published a few complete editions of The Locomotive Cyclopedia and the Car Builder's Cyclopedia, but mostly published sections in a kind of serial format. They were relatively inexpensive, and contained a wealth of information. Gregg kept the cost low by having the printing done overseas.
The original Cyclopedias were limited publications for the railroad industry. I don't know what an original Locomotive Cyclopedia sold for, but it was probably expensive for the time, and most copies probably went to persons working in the railroad industry, or else to libraries of universities which had extensive mechanical engineering departments. Many shop copies got worn out by use, and were likely discarded when their subject matter became outdated. Original copies, in decent shape, of the Cyclopedias from the steam era can command significant prices on the collectors' market, when they can be found at all.
( I was generally able to borrow original copies of the various Cyclopedias through my local library's interlibrary loan program. I think every book I borrowed came from the Mechanical Engineering library of the University of Illinois, Champagne-Urbana. In the steam era, UofI had its own locomotive test plant, and a dynamometer car.)
I believe Newton K. Gregg passed away in the late 1980s, and his family continued to sell the remaining stock for some time thereafter. They did manage a reprint of the complete 1930 Locomotive Cyclopedia around that time.
Kalmbach also published a reprint of the 1941 Locomotive Cyclopedia in the 1970s.
Dan
I have seen these at train shows and transportation shows. The Newton Gregg reprints of complete cyclopedias/dictionaries can run $100 or more. Originals are $200 and up. The numbered editions, which are extracts go for around $20 and up.
Older complete cyclopedias/dictionaries are available on line at places like Google books. Free for the download.
Enjoy
Paul
Some of the Train Shed Cyclopedias reproduced materials that went beyond freight car and locomotive "cycs" and the originals of those more rare cycs are hardly ever seen even at railroadiana swap meets. If you model vintage stuff the information can be quite valuable. And while the book dealers at train shows sell them for about $20 if not more, at swap meets you might find a better deal on this or that issue.
Not exactly a similar product but these days the Railroad Prototype Cyclopedias are what I look for at train shows. They really go into depth and also include useful text; they are not reprints of previously published material but newly developed research with obviously exceptional sources for photos.
There are usually multiple topics per issue, and some topics are multi-part articles.
http://rpcycpub.com/
For example Vol 16 has a fascinating article on freight car running boards ("roof walks" in model train vocabulary) that really clarifies things that I was unable to research anywhere else.
http://www.rpcycpub.com/v16.html
Dave Nelson
I'm having a boogie of a time searching for blueprint/plans for the Budd, blunt end Tavern Observation cars used on the Atlantic Coast Line RR and Florida East Coast RR. I've been Googling for info, including the "Cyclopedia" series but run into a stub end.
By chance does anyone have this a book or magazine containing this particular plan?
"I like my Pullman Standards & Budds in Stainless Steel flavors, thank you!"
Check the below site. I have bought from him.
http://www.railroadtreasures.com/
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.