I'll offer the following recommendations for a good library for understanding railroading:
1. The Railroad, What it is, What it Does
2. The Men Who Loved Trains
3. All About Railroading
4. Railroad Engineering
5. Railway Maintenance
6. Small Railroads
7. So You Want to Start A Small Railroad
8. The Official Railway Guide
9. The Official Railway Equipment Register
10. Steam Powered Atlases (various)
There's my start. What books do you think belong? I'll be adding more as I think of them.
LC
Not necessarily for understanding railroading, but The Art of Railroad Photogrpahy by Gary J. Benson has done more to improve my personal rail photography than all the rest of my books combined. It's not only a great source for general photographic information, it also specializes in Rail Photography and the challenges that rail photographers face. While the book is a bit dated now due to Benson's death, I still feel that it is THE starting point for any serious rail photographer.
It's truly a shame that Gary is no longer with us. I really can't name one other rail photographer with the same percentage of shots that make me say "Wow! That is spectacular!" as Gary. (Not even the greats like O. Winston Link or Richard Steiheimer meet the level of Mr. Benson IMHO). Easily a must have for any photographer of the rails
-ChrisWest Chicago, ILChristopher May Fine Art Photography"In wisdom gathered over time I have found that every experience is a form of exploration." ~Ansel Adams
It's been fun. But it isn't much fun anymore. Signing off for now.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any
You reminded me of one more:
11. Life and Times of a Locomotive Engineer by Steffes - an autobiographical book by a retired SP locomotive engineer
I'll nominate four books. Two by George W. Hilton.
a) American Narrow Gauge Railroads
b) The Electric Interurban Railways in America
They're both obviously "autopsies". But Hilton is a PhD economist. He explains why the railroads were built, how they were operated, their finances, the competitive environment, and why they failed. If you want to learn what makes a railroad function, and avoid mistakes, these are good 'autopsies'.
c) Organization and Traffic of the Illinois Central System. It explains how everything from LCL to livestock to perishables to suburban passenger service was orgainized and marketed circa 1936. To know where you are you have to know where you were. (Important note: "Don't run down the intercity bus company, sell the railroad's strengths")
d) Freight Terminals & Trains. Again, it's from the early part of the last century. But it's got track diagrams, rail to water terminals, British operations, etc. Again, it's old. But if you understand the problems moving this stuff (whatever stuff it is) you'll have a better understanding of today's problems. You'll understand what it takes to get trains past each other and run efficient terminals. The latter being the key to railroad success. The methods have changed, the principles haven't.
One more:
12. The Modern Locomotive Handbook Eck and Kissinger
Just about anything from Doug Ridell. From his columns in rail magazines to his own book.
CC
In my office I have a pretty darn complete set of the adventures of Thomas the tank engine. Nice little hard cover books keep those pesky EMD parts manuals from flopping over .
Randy
I just got done with a book about the Indiana Railroad. It was very well done.
I am starting The Men Who Loved Trains. Also, has anyone read "The Strategy of Great Railroads?" I have it; is it worth my time to read or is it too out dated?
Thanks for this great topic.
Gabe
The Strategy of Great Railroads is a good period piece. You might learn something new from it, but it's more a historical reference to its time--and its time was 1898. I love the beginning of the chapter on the C&NW.
All About Railroading is about to come out with a second edition. I bought the first (and I bought one for you, too, right, Mooks?). After the first one came out, I wrote Mr. Vantuono a long list of corrections and comments, I'm hoping they had some influence in the new edition.
Carl
Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)
CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)
Shoot, forgot one that was certainly interesting reading (at least to me) about railroading (as opposed to my collection of photographic books):
The Fallen Colossus by Robert Sobel
A piece about the build-up of the Pennsylvania and NYC railroads, their merger and subsequent bankruptcy. One of these days, I need to get into The Wreck of the Penn Central, so I can compare the two. So far, it looks like the latter might delve into the matter a little more, but the narrative style of the former was a lot easier for a non-railroader, non-businessman like yours truly.
gabe wrote: I just got done with a book about the Indiana Railroad. It was very well done. I am starting The Men Who Loved Trains. Also, has anyone read "The Strategy of Great Railroads?" I have it; is it worth my time to read or is it too out dated? Thanks for this great topic. Gabe
Gabe -
I'd definitely read "The Men..." first. Then, if you can get Doug Riddell's book From the Cab , you need to read that. I've had just about every lesson in that book and alsmost the same verbatim from old heads I worked with...even though we were on totally different railroads...
Various Kalmbach guides too:
American Shortline Guide 4th Ed.
Diesel Locomotives 1st Ed.
Diesel Spotters Guides various editions
Historical Guide to American Railroads
Limitedclear wrote: Various Kalmbach guides too: American Shortline Guide 4th Ed. Diesel Locomotives 1st Ed. Diesel Spotters Guides various editions Historical Guide to American Railroads LC
Why does it seem like the Shortline Guide and Trainwatchers Guide haven't been updated in forever?
Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.
Murphy Siding wrote: Why does it seem like the Shortline Guide and Trainwatchers Guide haven't been updated in forever?
The internet can take some blame for that. Almost every shortline should have a website, most have an unofficial one as well, and most rosters are on the net. Kalmbach probably wants to sell their old issues before coming out with a new one, if they think it would still be profitable.
nanaimo73 wrote: Murphy Siding wrote: Why does it seem like the Shortline Guide and Trainwatchers Guide haven't been updated in forever? The internet can take some blame for that. Almost every shortline should have a website, most have an unofficial one as well, and most rosters are on the net. Kalmbach probably wants to sell their old issues before coming out with a new one, if they think it would still be profitable.
Actually, it is more an issue of someone taking the time to sit down and do it. In talking to Ed it is very time consuming to track down the 600+/- short lines and all their data. There has been enough change since the fourth edition to make this a daunting task to say the least and I doubt whatever Kalmbach pays for it would be worth the time required to put it all together. What should be done is the maintenance of a short line database, and perhaps it will come to that, but for those in the industry it is sometimes difficult to reach the forest when cutting individual trees is more than a full time job already. The ASLRRA hasa pretty good group of the short lines, but even it omits many of the interesting smaller lines.
Rush Loving's The Men Who Loved Trains is a great continuation or companion to The Wreck of the Penn Central. Overlaps the beginning of Wreck and then brings it up to yesterday.
Because of those, I bought The Road of the Century by Alvin F. Harlow when I stumbled across it in an antique store in Maine. It add the front part to the two above, at least as far as the New York Central is concerned (up to 1947 that is). Enough stories and interesting facts to keep the history moving.
Also liked Robert Athearn's Union Pacific Country and The Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad are good for the same reason as Century. I like finding out about the personalities behind the development of the railroads almost as much as the railroads themselves.
Another good one that comes out occasionally:
Car and Locomotive Cyclopedia
Can't believe I forgot:
Brownie the Boomer
An autobiography of a man from the midwest who became a boomer trainman, and fireman all over the west in the early 20th Century and finally suffered a severe injury permanently disabling him after being dragged under a moving train. Great book of the times illustrating hardships we can only imagine in modern times
For those who want to see what goes on below the wheels without selling the farm to acquire an AREMA manual:
A Practical Guide to Railway Engineering - AREMA C-24
Railway Engineering - WW Hay
Red for Danger by LTC Rolt. A history of railway accidents in Britain and the safety procedures that were (or usually weren't) adopted as an outcome. Very compelling reading as you watch error pile upon error to produce a major disaster.
Lines of Country is an essential reference for Canadian railway historians. Shows all the rail lines showing the dates of construction and abandonment and traces the ownership. Also shows canals.
--David
CShaveRR wrote: The Strategy of Great Railroads is a good period piece. You might learn something new from it, but it's more a historical reference to its time--and its time was 1898. I love the beginning of the chapter on the C&NW. All About Railroading is about to come out with a second edition. I bought the first (and I bought one for you, too, right, Mooks?). After the first one came out, I wrote Mr. Vantuono a long list of corrections and comments, I'm hoping they had some influence in the new edition.
I would recommend Pacific Fruit Express. Carl, do you have any other recommendations?
"No soup for you!" - Yev Kassem (from Seinfeld)
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