Book Nuts

[ironhorseman]

Personally I never really cared for book nuts. My 3 favorite types of nuts are walnuts, chestnuts, and forgetmenuts.

Most of the train books in my small collection are coffee table picture books. The remaining balance is general reference/history/encyclopedia type books, and again, most of my collection has been gifts from well-meaning relatives.

These books have come in handy whenever I play one of my p.c. train games such as train simulator or railroad tycoon. I’m somewhat a stickler for authenticity and historical accuracy. A riveter you might ask? Just half a rivet, for I don’t throw the tantrums other riveters have been notorious for. As Paul Harvey might say, I’m just looking for the rest of the story. After all, one doesn’t do research solely on one source.

But for all these new books (those printed in the last 10-15 years) I find something more intriguing in those older, dustier volumes one might find at the library or in older bookstores, antique shops, flea markets and yard sales (though yard sales are becoming a stretch anymore as everyone is selling their old clothes there and saving their “good stuff” for eBay).

One of my favorite old books in my collection came from a library sale. Railroads: The Great American Adventure by Charlton Ogburn. It’s a National Geographic Society edition, 1977. It has history from the beginnings to what was modern at that time. It makes for good reading. My favorite book at the library that I’ve not found anywhere else, not even for sale on the internet, is A Treasury of Railroad Folklore edited by B. A. Botkin and Alvin F. Harlow, 1956. This has become my favorite subject on railroading. It has stories, tall tales, humor, songs, legends, and history. What’s fascinating is that this think little book, 500 pages, was compiled from mostly interviews and oral histories as well as written documents. And even more so incredible is that this is a whole series of books American, New England, Southern, and Western folklores.

Other books I’ve found have been The Pikes Peak Cog Road, The Missabe Road, Snowplow: Clearing Mountain Railroads, and numerous other histories of railroad companies all published 25-50+ years ago. You can’t find books like these in a modern bookstore anymore. It’s all glitz and glamour anymore, what little train books I am able to find. No, my whole intent and purpose of going into a bookstore is solely to make an author poor. Thanks to Groucho (there I go again referencing Marx again [;)] ) I’ve learned how to casually sneak into a bookstore and skim through a new book and quietly slip out without having to make a purchase.

Of course these browsers are probably a little bolder today than in his day, for what I’ve observed in these coffee clubs masquerading as bookstores is people walking in, grabbing the newest release, pulling up a chair, and maybe a cappuccino, and sit for hours reading and wearing out the pages and spine, staining it with coffee and returning it to the display and then leaving. I guess these browsers don’t have to use the guerilla tactics the way they once did decades ago because the stores are now encouraging this type of activity. And not only do they let the public read all the books for free they set up music stations so when your eyes get tired you can go listen to 5-10 of the latest CDs, also without paying a single cent. The only thing that’s lacking in a modern bookstore are free arcade games and free movie screens. And if they want to go that far they might as well put in some cots and pass out free soup and bread in the evening and free pancakes in the morning. Of course you’ll still have to pay $7 for a coffee.

Wow, talk about getting off track. I bet Groucho is spinning in his grave if such a thing were possible. I know I’d be spinning in my grave if I had a copy of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue. [;)] “OooooKAY, Mr. Moscowitz!”

That concludes today’s editorial. Following the editorial there will be a cartoon and a preview for next week’s coming attraction…

So many books, so little time.

[Murphy Siding]

[(-D] Thanks. I enjoyed that.[:)]

[MP173]

I was at a used book store in Chicago yesterday and after I checked out, I saw a book on top of a shelf...out of reach for most folks. Being that I am 6'7" I stretched and retrieved it.

It was entitled Chicago's Railroad Stations, or something similar to that. I leafed thru it and proceeded to purchase it...til I opened it and discovered it was $250!

I very carefully replaced it and said a quick prayer of thanks I hadnt dropped it or somehow damaged it.

The clerk laughed when I commented about the price and said it is very rare.

Anyone heard of it?

Lots of photos of you guessed it, rail stations in the Chicagoland area, including a few in Wisconsin and Indiana.

ed

[jockellis]

G'day, Y'all,
Turning around from the railroad section (385 in the Dewey Decimal System) I noticed a section on automobiles and roads. Looking through it, I found the most important railroad book I've ever read, "Getting There" . It was written in 1994 and details the way the states and the federal government pushed roads to the detriment of the railroads and General Motors and Firestone conspiring to eliminate the trolleys. Whether you love the Erie or BNSF, you need to read this book. Unfortunately, I don't remember the author but he did a great job.
Jock Ellis
Cumming, GA US of A

[Murphy Siding]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jockellis

G'day, Y'all,
Turning around from the railroad section (385 in the Dewey Decimal System) I noticed a section on automobiles and roads. Looking through it, I found the most important railroad book I've ever read, "Getting There" . It was written in 1994 and details the way the states and the federal government pushed roads to the detriment of the railroads and General Motors and Firestone conspiring to eliminate the trolleys. Whether you love the Erie or BNSF, you need to read this book. Unfortunately, I don't remember the author but he did a great job.
Jock Ellis
Cumming, GA US of A

I've read that book too. It does give you a pretty good perspective on the fall of railroads in our country.

[MP173]

Ed's Amateur Book Review

Erie Lackawanna, Death of an American Railroad, 1938-1992
by H. Roger Grant
Stanford Press
ISBN 0-8047-2357-5 (cl)

I previously stated that Fred Frailey's Blue Streak Merchandise was the best railroad book I have ever read. I come before you with a amended statement. Grant pieced together from hundreds of sources the final story of the Erie Lackawanna. It is not a story of luxurious streamliners (Erie took 24 hours between Chicago and New York vs PRR and NYC's 16+ hours). Nor is it a "those were the days of railroading greatness" which makes the reader wish for steam, passenger trains, and depots every few miles. Rather, Grant examines how a railroad died.

After the obligatory first chapter outlining the corporate history in the 19th century, Grant discusses the 1938 bankruptcy and the reorganization. The war years bring prosperity and then in the 1950's the Erie faces a serious of problems, mostly those it could not avoid.

The merger with the Lackawanna never results in savings that were forecast, the dominos were already beginning to fall in the east. Great management such as William White, Gregory Maxwell, and Jack Fishwick keep the EL afloat in the midst of dangerous currents until Hurricane Agnes delivered the final blow with a 1972 storm which severed the mainline in a number of locations. It is doubtful that EL would have escaped bankruptcy, they were already hand to mouth when Agnes arrived.

The real surprise in the book is the final chapter. Who would have thought that "The Estate1977-1992" would be so enjoyable? Following the tradition of strong managers, the estate had excellent trustees and a judge who oversaw the final liquidation of the assets. Bondholders received full payment, plus 8% interest. Unsecured debtors also fared well thru issuance of Erie Lackawanna, Inc stock.

Grant asks one of the most often asked questions in our hobby..."what if the EL could have survived?" We will never know, but Grant gives us the ability to wonder, based on insight he so brilliantly provides.

As an aside, as a college student in 1976, it was my goal to venture from Hanover College in Southern Indiana to Huntington, Indiana during a winter break in late February to observe the EL in its final days. Basketball season had ended, thankfully (9-19 record) and I had always been intrigued by the EL. My mother called just a couple of days before the break was to begin and expressed how excited she was that I would be home an entire week. I drove west, instead of north, and spent a week at home, instead of a couple of days in Huntington and then the rest of time at home.

Looking back, I made the right decision. How could I ever have explained to mom that I would rather be watching a dying railroad than to be home?

Looking back at the pictures from that week of L&N ex Monon, B&O at Vincennes, Illinois Central and Penn Central at Effingham and IC, BN, Southern, and MoPac in Southern Illinois I guess I did ok that week.

ed

[Murphy Siding]

Amateur Book Review # 31
Union Pacific Salt Lake Route
by Mark W. Hemphill
ISBN# 1-55046-138-9 175

Here is a book so good, that I feel guilty writing about it. This is everything you always wanted to know about this section of UP, but were afraid to ask. As if all the info in the text weren't enough, there are 260 COLOR pictures, and 9 maps drawn by MWH! Here is the history of the rail lines,the geography,industry,traffic, and the trains of the lines, all told in explicit detail. To top it off, there is a full page of "Further Readings" at the back, for those that can't get enough. Even the book jacket description of the author is a good read.
I could only find two *minor* flaws with this book: #1) In order to get all this info in the book, it was written in small type. Have a heart! Some of wear progressive bifocals. Reading the fine print got to be a challenge at times. #2) This book seems to be somewhat rare. My library got this on an inter-library loan from Salt Lake City!
You'll like this book, if you're into: UP,western railroads, railroad history, photography,history,trains, locomotives,railroad personalities,or yellow & gray locomotives[:)]. I can't picture anybody on this forum not finding something they liked in this book.

Remember, I'm a lumber salesman, not a writer

[MP173]

Murph:

Has Mark written other books? My next read is going to shift gears to a Harlan Coban novel, The Innocent, then I will return to railroad stuff.

The Salt Lake City line doesnt necessarily intrigue me, but good railroading books do, so I think I will order it from the library. The inter-library loan is a great feature!

BTW...Harlan Coban is a great mystery writer. He has a series of novels featuring a sports agent that "cleans up" some clients problems. I have only read one, called Back Spin and it was good. His really great books are the whodunits such as One Last Look. With Michael Connolly and John Sandiford, I consider him the best mystery writer out there.

ed

[Murphy Siding]

QUOTE: Originally posted by MP173

Murph:

Has Mark written other books? My next read is going to shift gears to a Harlan Coban novel, The Innocent, then I will return to railroad stuff.

The Salt Lake City line doesnt necessarily intrigue me, but good railroading books do, so I think I will order it from the library. The inter-library loan is a great feature!

BTW...Harlan Coban is a great mystery writer. He has a series of novels featuring a sports agent that "cleans up" some clients problems. I have only read one, called Back Spin and it was good. His really great books are the whodunits such as One Last Look. With Michael Connolly and John Sandiford, I consider him the best mystery writer out there.

ed

As far as I can tell, this is his only book. (?) I don't know a thing about the Salt Lake Route, but it was worth reading about. I'll take this book back to the library soon, as it seems to be one of the few in existence.[:)]

[UPTRAIN]

I have way too many diesel spotters guides, lol. I do have a great book with almost every steam locomotive ever built or surviving, quite a story.

[Murphy Siding]

Amateur Book Review #32
Caboose
by Brian Solomon and John Gruber
ISBN# 0-7603-0895-0 156 pages

You'll never guess what this book is about![:D]. Here is the entire history of cabooses in the USA. It's a wonderfull read, chock full of information, and has probably 200 color photos. From the first cabooses, through every major prolific type, and right up to end of their use, every page is interesting. There's a lot of info on the lives of the people who worked in the cabooses too. You'll like this book, if you're into: cabooses (!), freight trains, railroad history, fallen flags, color train photography, or railroad reading.

Remember, I'm a lumber salesman, not a writer.

Cabooses? or cabeese?

[Murphy Siding]

QUOTE: Originally posted by UPTRAIN

I have way too many diesel spotters guides, lol. I do have a great book with almost every steam locomotive ever built or surviving, quite a story.

What is the most recent diesel spotters guide you have? Also, I've tried to find a more current Train Watchers Guide or Shortline Guide, but most seem to be late 80's, early 90's. Do they publish any *new* ones?

[Murphy Siding]

Amateur Book Review # 33

Diesels west! / the evolution of power on the Burlington
by David P. Morgan
ISBN # none? copyright 1963, by Kalmbach 164 pages

I thought from the color picture of a Chinese Red GP 30 on the cover, that this would be a book only about diesels. I was wrong. Here is the story of all motive power on CBQ up until 1963. You also get a history of the railroad, some background on the transition from steam to diesel, and some of the people involved, such as Ralph Budd of CBQ, and Charles Kettering of GM. I came away with a respect of how far-sighted the men of CBQ were 75 years ago. A couple of maps, some locomotive drawings, and a couple dozen B&W pictures round out a very interesting and well told story. You'll like this book, if you're into: CBQ, BNSF, diesel engines, railroad history or the CBQ Zephyr.

Remember, I'm a lumber salesman, not a writer.

[Murphy Siding]

Amateur Book Review #34
The Dilworth Story / The bioghraphy of Richard Dilworth, pioneer of the diesel locomotive
by Franklin M. Reck
no ISBN #, because it's old-copyright 1954 105 pages.

This book is somewhat of a dissappointment. I was looking for a book about the early development of diesel locomotives in the US. What I got, was a hero worship type bio, written on about the 8th grade level.You get the basics of the life of a very smart guy, and his accomplishments, written in the form of a PR release. Nevertheless, it is probably worth the $3 I paid for it- the same price it cost in 1954! If you want this book, e-mail me, and I'll mail it to you!
Can anybody recommend a book about the development of early American diesel locomotives?

Remember, I'm a lumber salesman, not a writer.

[Murphy Siding]

Amateur Book Review #35
America's Railroads / The second Generation
by Don Ball, Jr.
ISBN# 0-393-01416-9 216 pages

Here is a wonderful, general interest railroad book. This is a railfan book. Covering 100's of railroads in the1960's and 1970's, there is info about the railroads that the author railfanned, maps of his travels and 285 COLOR pictures! This is a book that is good to read one chapter at a time, or just browse through a chapter, and read the photo captions. You'll like this book, if you're into: Second generation diesels, railroad history, railroad photography, or general railroad reading.

Remember, I'm a lumber salesman, not a writer.

[MP173]

Ed's Amateur Book Review

Follow the Flag, A History of the Wabash Railroad Company
by H. Roger Grant
ISBN 0-87580-328-8

I read and very much enjoyed Grant's discussion of the Erie Lackawanna (The Death of an American Railroad) and have followed that up with his discussion of the Wabash.

Grant's formula on EL worked. He explored what caused the EL to disappear, by examining the recent history of the railroad and the industry in general. He couldnt really use the same format with the Wabash as it didnt die. In this book he covers the history of the Wabash.

I have an admission to offer...I didnt read the entire book. I cannot sink myself into the details of the history of railroading in the 19th century. What interests me is the recent history and that is what I read in this book. I read chapters 7 (Depression, Rebirth, and WW2) chapter 8 (The New Wabash), Chapter 9 (A Fallen Flag) and the Epilog.

Grant does another good job of sifting thru mountains of sources including Annual Reports, Trains, Railway Age, board of director minutes, newspapers, and personal interviews to deliver a readable yet complete history. For example, chapter 8 contains 93 footnotes in the 38 pages.

Photographs and illustrations are carefully used to supplement the written word. Grant taps into the talented portfolio of J. Parker Lamb to visually document the Wabash in Illinois. Nice touch.

One of the most intriguing operations, which was not really discussed was the use of mixed trains from Columbia to Centralia, Mo. to tap into the University of Missouri. What an experience it must have been to ride those mixed trains 21.7 miles in order to tap into the Wabash system. Two photos do appear of the Columbia operation, both taken in 1953. The first shows a 4-6-2 steam locomotive, the second shows a mixed train with a new GP7.

One must wonder what Grant and Richard Saunders discuss over lunch at Clemson University. It certainly would be interesting to join them.

ed

[jeaton]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Murphy Siding

QUOTE: Originally posted by MP173

Murph:

Has Mark written other books? My next read is going to shift gears to a Harlan Coban novel, The Innocent, then I will return to railroad stuff.

The Salt Lake City line doesnt necessarily intrigue me, but good railroading books do, so I think I will order it from the library. The inter-library loan is a great feature!

BTW...Harlan Coban is a great mystery writer. He has a series of novels featuring a sports agent that "cleans up" some clients problems. I have only read one, called Back Spin and it was good. His really great books are the whodunits such as One Last Look. With Michael Connolly and John Sandiford, I consider him the best mystery writer out there.

ed

As far as I can tell, this is his only book. (?) I don't know a thing about the Salt Lake Route, but it was worth reading about. I'll take this book back to the library soon, as it seems to be one of the few in existence.[:)]

Fellow forum member and former Trains Editor Hemphill's book is available on Amazon. Murphy's review is dead on.

My copy is signed. If you go to Baghdad, he may also sign yours.

Jay

[Murphy Siding]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jeaton

QUOTE: Originally posted by Murphy Siding

QUOTE: Originally posted by MP173

Murph:

Has Mark written other books? My next read is going to shift gears to a Harlan Coban novel, The Innocent, then I will return to railroad stuff.

The Salt Lake City line doesnt necessarily intrigue me, but good railroading books do, so I think I will order it from the library. The inter-library loan is a great feature!

BTW...Harlan Coban is a great mystery writer. He has a series of novels featuring a sports agent that "cleans up" some clients problems. I have only read one, called Back Spin and it was good. His really great books are the whodunits such as One Last Look. With Michael Connolly and John Sandiford, I consider him the best mystery writer out there.

ed

As far as I can tell, this is his only book. (?) I don't know a thing about the Salt Lake Route, but it was worth reading about. I'll take this book back to the library soon, as it seems to be one of the few in existence.[:)]

Fellow forum member and former Trains Editor Hemphill's book is available on Amazon. Murphy's review is dead on.

My copy is signed. If you go to Baghdad, he may also sign yours.

Jay

Show off![;)]

[Anonymous]

I'm still waiting to see if the new "End of the Line" is out yet. Anyone get it or see it yet?

[jeaton]

If you like pictures as well as the printed word, Richard Steinheimer's A Passion for Trains may well be the best of the best. The composition of his photos...? If I were to accidently get just one as good as his, I would burn all the rest.

Jay

[Murphy Siding]

QUOTE: Originally posted by futuremodal

I'm still waiting to see if the new "End of the Line" is out yet. Anyone get it or see it yet?

Ok You got me that time. What is the "End of the Line"?

[jeaton]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Murphy Siding

Show off![;)]

The Steinheimer book is signed, too.[:D]

[Murphy Siding]

Amateur Book Review # 36
An American Journey / Images of Railroading During the Depression
by Mark S. Vandercook
ISBN # 0-970-35444-4 164 pages.

Here is an interesting, sort of off-the-wall railroad book. The entire book consists of black and white photos, with captions taken during the depression. What's most striking, is the detail, and clarity of the subjects, while not all trains, they are all are train related. I found the best way to look at this book was to study each page, and notice what details I could pick out of the background. The photography is out of this world. It should be-the jacket makes it sound as if these photos were picked out of 270,000 photos, taken during the depression.

Remember- I'm a lumber salesman, not a writer.

[Murphy Siding]

Amateur Book Review #37
The History of the New York Central
by Aaron E. Klein
ISBN # 0-517-46085 8 128 pages

Here we have a somewhat superficial book about one of the "biggies" in American railroads. A general overview of the NYC is given, from the early days, up to Conrail. One hundred, or so, B&W photos, and a few maps accompany the basic, simple text. After reading this book, I felt like the NYC wasn't perhaps the *big deal* I thought it once was. What I did feel, is that I'd like to read more about the likes of Robert Young, and Alfred Perlman, two figures that stand tall in the history of NYC. You'll like this book, if you are into: NYC, or railroad history.

Remember, I'm a lumber salesman, not a writer.

[Murphy Siding]

    I revived this thread from over a year ago- ( so sue me )                                   Amateur book review #38

    I keep collecting book recommendations from other posters, and I do appreciate that greatly.  1435mm, one of my favorite posters, recommended the folowing 3 books on a thread about Railroad Titans.

 The North American Railroad, its origin,evolution and geography

     By James E. Vance Jr. ISBN #0-8018-4573-4

     348 pages, with a couple dozen b&w photos and maps

      This book, I already had in my collection, and hadn't read it in a long time.  It is a very detailed explanation of how the American railroads developed how they did, and where they did.  I came got a good understanding of why a lot of decisions were made early on, that still affect railroading today.  Most interesting, to me, is the explanation of how and why American and British railroads *grew up* so differently, even thogh they were/are so similar. You'l like this book, if you're into railroad historyand  geoghraphy.

[Murphy Siding]

     #39  Unfinished Business The Railroad in American Life  copyright 1994

     by Maury Klein  ISBN #0-87451-657-9  226 pages, appprox 12 pages of b&w photos.

     This is a collection of 25 short essays and articles by a railroad historian.  Each covers a segment of railroad history.  Subjects range from early railroad development to high speed trains.  Even though it's written by a college professor type historian, it is in a style that is quite entertaining.  For some reason, I especially liked the 27 pages of notes to pages in the back. (Call me weird.)  You'll like this book if you're into railroad history.

[Murphy Siding]

     #40 Working for the Railroad by Walter Licht   ISBN# 0-691-04700-6  329 pages.

     This book is a good, historical look at railroad occupations from the beginning of American railroading up to about 1900.  It's not like the feature in the back of Trains Magazine, that tells personal stories about working on the railroad.  It's more of an over view of the work, the people, and the experiences of 19th century railroading.  You'll get an appreciation of just what a rough and tumble job railroading was in the early days.  You'll like this book, if you're into early Americacan railroading, history,labor history,and to some extent, nostalgia.

[Murphy Siding]

     #41 The Fallen Colossus by Robert Sobel ISBN#0-679-40138-5  370 pages.

     This is an interesting book about the bankruptsy of the PennCentral, written in 1977.  Actually, it seems like only the last chapter or two is really about PC.  The major part of the book is a good history lesson about railroading in America, starting 150 or so years before PC.  I came away with a better understanding of the railroad financial problems that lead up to PC, as well as a better understanding of eastern railroads. 

     The chapters about the PC bankruptsy were mostly a re-telling of a story I've read several times, yet was interesting nonetheless.  While this is not written as thriller by any means, I couldn't help but imagine this was a movie.  During the PC part, I kept wanting to shout "Run for your life, Mr. Pearlman!

     You'll like this book if you're into: railroading, eastern railroading, history, PRR, PC, railroad history, or corporate history.  You might not like it, if you belong to the Stuart Saunders fan club.

     Many thanks to whoever it was, some time back, that recommended this book.

    ( Ed (MP173): I think you'd like this book)

[egmurphy]

Kind of freaky that you posted about "The Fallen Colossus" today, and it's the first time I've opened this thread.  I read that about 3 years ago, and really enjoyed it.  I knew very little about either the background of the NYC or the PRR (other than in the most general terms), and while I was aware of PC, I knew nothing about the history behind it.

So, for what little it's worth, let me add my recommendation of this book as a decent read.

Regards

Ed

[devils]

From a British Perspective:

"I tried to run a Railway". G. F. Fiennes. Mr Fiennes was a member of the acting/ exploring/ everything family (now passed away) but wrote this - a very useful reference for any would be manager on Britains Railways.

"Broken Rails" by C. Wolmar. A sometimes confused, obscurantist rant about the Privatisation of British Railways.

Cogload (masquerading.....)