Railroad / Trains Reference Book (s)

[Anonymous]

OK, I need a Railroad and Trains reference book. I love history and knowledge. If someone asks me a question I want to be able to help them find an answer to their question. I also have questions myself.

YOU are taking me shopping for this book. We go into the bookstore. You pick up a book and say, "This is the best Railroad and Trains Reference Book I have ever seen". Now tell me what the name of this book is and why it is SOOOOO Good. Remember money doesn't grow on trees, at least not in my yard. So your recommended book can't cost an arm and a leg. It doesn't have to sell for 99 cents but it shouldn't cost 999.99 either.

Questions I might have would be, who made the first diesel locomotive? Which railroad bought it? How much did it cost? How many GP 9 s were ever sold. Who ran the most famous passenger train? What was the longest freight train ever ran? Where did it go? How many people paid to ride passenger trains in 1929? What year was the record set for the fastest passenger train run? OK, you get an idea of what I am looking for. So what book did you recommend?

Tell me about it and why? If you feel the need to recommend more than one please do. Just tell me why and all about it.

Thanks.

[kevarc]

There is no answer to your question. A single book like that has not been made and I shudder at how much it would cost. I have over 35 years worth of Trains mags, a large froup of Pacific Rail News (I wish someone would put them in the Index of Mags), and many other trains magazines. I also have a fair amout of books. It is a matter of hoping you have the right one to answer a question. A good place to look would be books from Kalmbach and http://www.transalert.com/bookstore/Rail/Locomotive/.

Good luck

[AltonFan]

Right before he died (early 1980s?), Freeman Hubbard published an Encyclopedia of Railroading. I didn't buy one, and have regretted it ever since.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jhhtrainsplanes
Questions I might have would be, who made the first diesel locomotive? Which railroad bought it? How much did it cost? How many GP 9 s were ever sold. Who ran the most famous passenger train? What was the longest freight train ever ran? Where did it go? How many people paid to ride passenger trains in 1929? What year was the record set for the fastest passenger train run? OK, you get an idea of what I am looking for. So what book did you recommend?

Regardless if you can find a book which covers all of the above, you're always welcome to post these questions on the forums. I bet you'd get more facts and information from other members than you would find in a book. Best of all, it's free. [;)]

Seriously, one of the best things with the Internet is that whatever you're looking for, chances are someone somewhere has built a site for it. [8D]

[Anonymous]

Thanks guys for your comments thus far. [:)]

Gee, I guess nobody wanted to take me shopping. [:(] Listen, I took a shower today AND used deodorant.

I know there are good reference books out there. Surely someone has a good one they would recommend. It doesn't have to answer every question ever asked, but it would be nice if it could answer a majority of question people might ask.

Can we go shopping now? I'll drive and buy lunch. How about it?

Which book is that you are holding up?

[Anonymous]

I'm sorry, I didn't hear you, speak up please. Now what is that book?

[Trainnut484]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jhhtrainsplanes


Gee, I guess nobody wanted to take me shopping. [:(] Listen, I took a shower today AND used deodorant.

I

Hi Jim,

I'll take you out shopping for a book [;)].......if you'll take me out shopping for a real put-put[:D]....NOT a scale model of one....A real one that actually runs. I'll even take you for a ride.[:D][:D]

Take care[:)]

Russell

[Trainnut484]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jhhtrainsplanes

Can we go shopping now? I'll drive and buy lunch. How about it?

Can I bring my wife??? Our favorite restaurant is Chili's.

Take care[:)]

Russell

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Trainnut484

QUOTE: Originally posted by jhhtrainsplanes

Can we go shopping now? I'll drive and buy lunch. How about it?

Can I bring my wife??? Our favorite restaurant is Chili's.

Take care[:)]

Russell [:p]

I did some internet shopping today and found some info for you on speeders.

http://www.pagehost.com/rrstuff/fbanks.htm

I didn't know there were so many types. I also didn't know there were so many manufacturers of speeders.

Unless you can get "track and time" I will have to pass on the speeder ride. It would be fun. Also I once witnessed a speeder accident, it wasn't pretty either. I was the one who called the ambulance. Here is the quick story. It was a 2 seater headed down the tracks. There were 2 men on it. Just a few day before, the railroad had come through with a machine that cut the brush by the tracks. It would take out a small tree. The rr guys would have to help me with the technical stuff but there is a small arm by the wheels of the speeder. One of the arms came down caught a tie or the rail and flipped the speeder. Man oh man the noise it made. Anyway one guy was bruised and the other man was seriously hurt. The mower machine had cut a small tree and it left a staub sticking up in the air. Yeah you guessed it the poor railroader landed on the staub. The amublance carried him to the hospital. Later I heard from other railroaders that he almost died from it. He only had one kidney and it almost got it. Come to think of it I will definately pass on the ride.

[joseph2]

Hmmm.I can't think of a single book with all that information.But "The Second Diesel Spotter's Guide" By Jerry Pinkepank has a lot of useful information up to the year 1972,like spotting features , production numbers and years produced.

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

Jane's World Railways is an excellent reference. A current edition can be expensive but there are booksellers who sell two or three year old editions for a much more reasonable price. Many of the Kalmbach publications are also very good references. After that, it gets more specialized and it depends on where your interests lie.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by CSSHEGEWISCH

Jane's World Railways is an excellent reference. A current edition can be expensive but there are booksellers who sell two or three year old editions for a much more reasonable price. Many of the Kalmbach publications are also very good references. After that, it gets more specialized and it depends on where your interests lie.

CSSHEGEWISCH [:)]

THANK YOU , suggestions such as yours are exactly what I am after. [;)]

In the future I really am going to buy such a book, so I really am interested in suggestions that fit the bill. I have "specialized" railroad books and a few that are generalized but they do skip many railroads. Any good suggestions are appriciated and will be stored "in the attic" so when the times comes and can bring them down and get that special book.

THANKS AGAIN EVERYONE [:)]

[locomutt]

Methinks a crystal ball would be the ideal thing!

If there is anyone out there with knowledge of such
a book(or other) Please step forward.

locomutt

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by CSSHEGEWISCH

Jane's World Railways is an excellent reference. A current edition can be expensive but there are booksellers who sell two or three year old editions for a much more reasonable price. Many of the Kalmbach publications are also very good references. After that, it gets more specialized and it depends on where your interests lie.

Since crystal balls are not much of a reference I will stick to legitimate suggestions by people who honestly want to make a worthwhile contribution and recommend a valid reference book. Such a post like the one above are honest, helpful and appreciated. Others along this line would also be appreciated.

[dehusman]

John Armstrong's "A Railroad, What it is, What it Does". www.transalert.com