Late 1800s

[dknelson]

The magazines that focus on that era are those of the various railroad historical societies.   Too many to list!

If it is prototype photos and information you seek, there are some classic old rail books that were popular enough that copies are pretty easy to track down.

Two are by George B Abdill: This Was Railroading, and A Locomotive Engineer's Album.  His book on Civil War railroading is also very entertaining

John H. White:  The American Railroad Passenger Car, and The Great Yellow Fleet, A History of American Railroad Refrigerator Cars.   White has also written on locomotive development 1930 to 1880 and those books might be of interest.

Edwin P. Alexander: Down at the Depot, American Railroad Stations 1831 to 1920.  Some wonderfully atmospheric old photos.   On The Main Line is a look at the Pennsylvania Railroad and its infrastructure in the time period you are concernd with.  Again lots of fascinating old photographs.

 

Dave Nelson

 

 

[dehusman]

Ron Hume

Are there any railroad magazines covering the late 1800s? There seems to be no coverage of this era in MR for rolling stock, locos, structures and the like. I'm in Aus and purchase all railroad needs on line from America because local model railroad stores here stock mostly Australian and European goods. It would be a great help to find a publication covering the era.

Short answer is no.  The major manufacturers think railroads were invented after WW1.  The first 100 years of railroads is pretty much ignored, with the exception of MDC/Roundhouse and Bachmann.  Roundhouse engines and cars run well and the last set of Roundhouse cars were very accurately painted (they seem to have used the same artwork as Clover House)  Sadly the same models were in production for about 40 years.  One can only use so many 36 ft 1920 era detailed boxcars and reefers. 

Bachmann has produced an excellent 1800's 4-4-0 with DCC and sound, so it is in production.  Their cars, while appropriate are train set quality and the same models have been in production for the last 40 years.  Lettering is minimal at best.

The best models in production are the craftsman kits: LaBelle, Westerfield, Alkem and other smaller manufacturers.

Decals are available from Westerfield, dry transfers from Clover House.

There was a cottage industry but it has taken hits due to illness and death.  There was a fellow production a huge variety of decals for the turn of the century, but he stopped production due to illness.  Another fellow produced a few limited edition resin kits, but he passed.  Silver Crash models ceased prouction.

Yahoo Groups has a very active "EarlyRail" group (pre-WW1).  There is a forum discussion for early rail on the Railroad Line Forum.

Tichy produces a lot of the parts needed for scratchbuilding (turnbuckles, queen posts, brake gear), Tahoe procues two excellent archbar trucks.  A lot of the modelers scratchbuild and do home resin casting.

[rrinker]

 There seemed to be more interest in that era in older issues or MR. There are a few people doing it today - Dave Husman who posts here, and you might be interested in Craig Bisgeier's 1892 Housatonic http://www.housatonicrr.com/

 Books are probably few and far between - at least specific to any one railroad for that era. The bigger railroads have had multiple histories published about them, which would contain info and photos from that era, but the various short lines and smaller railroads of the era, that's going to take some serious research. There are general books on locomotives  and freight cars that would help.

                        --Randy

 

[Ron Hume]

Are there any railroad magazines covering the late 1800s? There seems to be no coverage of this era in MR for rolling stock, locos, structures and the like. I'm in Aus and purchase all railroad needs on line from America because local model railroad stores here stock mostly Australian and European goods. It would be a great help to find a publication covering the era.

Ron from down under.