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Railroad / Trains Reference Book (s)

  • I believe that book is called "the internet"

  • Sometimes you can find some good info on the internet but many times you can't--websites moved or shut down, out of date info, or just not what you are looking for in the first place. Also all the trouble the internet has, many problems such as being slow, error messages when you shouldn't get an error message and hackers doing their dirty deed. Then there is also many times a problem on the users end--such a problem was just posted about in another thread.

    Yes, sometimes you can find good stuff on the internet, but I am really looking for a book. At night when I can't sleep then I pick up a book and start reading. I enjoy reading and especially when it is history or trains.

    So if you have or know of a good reference book please share it with us here. That info can not only help me but others might also be interested in some new reference books. But on the other hand if you just want to be a clown then take that to the humor thread where it might be appreciated. (Not talking about you Russell.) This thread is looking for serious comments about valid reference books so if you can help please do, but then again if you can't then don't.

    I do consider the internet idea trying to help. I have used it alot and have many websites saved in my favorites. Any comment made that is made with a sincere desire to help is appreciated.

    I am enclosing a link for the humor thread, enjoy it.

    http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=7594

  • My post was not meant to be funny...
    That aside, my #1 favourite (found on the internet) is the "1922 Locomotive Cyclopedia of American Practice "
    http://raildriver.com/cyclsoft.htm
    It's on CD rom though so I guess we are just as far then.
    But it is the puplication coming closest to fulfilling your question.

    The one I am reading (actual book) these days is "Allied military locomotives of the second world war" by R. Tourret


    So it was no malicious humour intended, forums like this is a well of information.
    If it was taken that way I am sorry, but that was not the intent.

    The only thing that will answer all the questions in you first post is not one book, it is several OR the internet.

  • QUOTE: Originally posted by jhhtrainsplanes

    Yes, sometimes you can find good stuff on the internet, but I am really looking for a book.

    I do consider the internet idea trying to help. I have used it alot and have many websites saved in my favorites. Any comment made that is made with a sincere desire to help is appreciated.



    I didn't take it as funny but honestly trying to help. I spend much time doing research on the computer. Like I said you can find some good stuff on the internet. You can also run into dead ends. But it is a valid source of info about trains. I am not sure I would trust it with health questions or other important things but I have no problem using it for train research.

  • QUOTE: Originally posted by Hagen75

    The one I am reading (actual book) these days is "Allied military locomotives of the second world war" by R. Tourret



    I have the book "Military Railway Service". It give a short history of military railroading pryor to WWII then covers WWII pretty well. Unfortunately it ends there and doesn't include anything after WWII.

    I would love to see the same type of book picking up after WWII and continuing to the present time. The Arkansas Railroad Museum at one time had an Army Alco RSD. Several of the members bought it from the arsenal down by Texarkana. It went to the White River Railroad but I am not sure what happened to the rr or the engine. I have not found it recently doing internet searches for it.

    I have seen many trains pulled by the regular railroad's own engines. Someone recently posted they saw a couple of Army units. Don't remember who or where they made the post.

  • Since it is colder now I was hoping people would be spending some time reading and looking for good train reference books. I was wondering if anyone has ran across anything recently that they would recommend.

    I bought Richard T. Steinbrenner's book, The American Locomotive Company A Centennial Remembrance. It is a good book and I would recommend it to anyone interesting in the early diesels or late steam era. There are alot of black and white pictures and some really good reading in it. I wish some of the pictures could have been color (especially the Alton & Southern RS-2 number 29--I would love to see a color pic of this unit). It is worth the money.

    Let's hear from other people who have a good reference book to recommend.
  • jhhtrainsplanes
    I was not trying to be funny,and am glad you didn't
    seem to take it that way[^] Your question is very,very
    valid[:)] I wish I had more books than I have[:)]
    I still don't know,I really don't think such a book exists,but
    you just have to take everything you've read,heard and seen
    and put them in your memory banks[:)]
    Crystal ball would be nice,but I don't think it is totally
    appropriate for this forum[V]
    Please let "me" know if you find an answer.

    Later
    locomutt[8]

    Being Crazy,keeps you from going "INSANE" !! "The light at the end of the tunnel,has been turned off due to budget cuts" NOT AFRAID A Vet., and PROUD OF IT!!

  • Just a helpful reminder for all the Santas out there . . . .

    . . . . . . . . . Railroad reference books make GOOD Christmas presents. [:)] [;)] [:D]
  • Here is a wonderful book, my copy is actually starting to fall apart from ware. [:D][;)] The Encyclopedia of Trains & Locomotives by C.J. Riley, ©1995 Michael Friedman Publishing Group, Inc.
    I would reccomend this book to anybody looking for a thorough reference book.[:)][8D]
  • Thanks John for the book title. I will take a look around and see if I can find it. [:)]


    OK, Did anyone get any good reference books for Christmas [?]

    If so, what did you get [?]


    I am always looking for good reference books. [;)]