Best Book/Source on NY Subway and NYC Passenger Trains?

Hi George -

I can't speak specifically to NYC but I've been researching my local streetcar and railroad history and found a ton of great used stuff dirt cheap. Alibris, Amazon and Ebay mostly. I've picked up all sorts of stuff that way. 

Also great free stuff through the Library of Congress. http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/index.html They have loads of photographs and ephemera going way back and and you can put in all sorts of search parameters. The images are mostly high res and reproduce well into great posters. I've printed out more stuff than I know what to do with and most of it is suitable for framing. It's a lot of fun just snooping around though the site is really lousy and it takes some time to get traction.

Another source I sort of bumped into was a local university that inherited all the St. Louis Car Company archives. They have all the drawings, builders photos, etc. for I think everything they ever produced. I've not had time to get over there yet but in the past they've been pretty accommodating to anyone who's interested in their collections.

For me, half the fun is the hunt for this stuff. 

I would give these guys a call......they likely would have good suggestions

http://www.rails-n-shafts.com/Products.html

I would also search the site of the New York Central RR Historical Society.......lots of good info there.....but you will have to dig for it....

Peter

Thanks guys!

Hi, George.

I own quite a few books on the subway and New York Central. Is there specific information you want such as general history, equipment information, etc? If so, let me know as that would assist me in offering the best suggestions to you.

Bob 

For the subway book I enjoy both the history in NY and about how they were built in NY.

For the NYC book, one that has pictures of the Engine switch overs in Harmon and also about the famous trains, i.e. 20th century Limited etc.

For subway history, I'd recommend starting with Brian Cudahay's book "Under the Sidewalks of New York." The book has been updated from its original content and provides a good overview of the development and history of the system. It is readily available on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Under-Si...eatest/dp/0823216187

There are some excellent works covering the history of subway cars themselves. Two which I have and refer to frequently are Gene Sansone's "An Illustrated History of New York City's Transit Cars" and James Greller's "New York Subway Cars from R-1 to R-160." These books are marvelous reference works for equipment related information. The text is exhaustive and there are pictures aplenty.

http://www.amazon.com/New-York...02CZQ6YZ056MD4GX0PQM

http://www.amazon.com/York-Sub...-R-160/dp/0964576589

Keep in mind these are far from being your only options. I reference these specifically as I consider them some of the best available books on New York's subway system. I'll post separately about some New York Central books.

Bob 

For New York Central passenger service, I have several recommendations. TLC Publishing released several very fine books covering a variety of topics related to NYC passenger trains. Titles I highly recommend are four volumes by Geoffrey Doughty: "New York Central's Great Steel Fleet 1948-1967", "New York Central's Lightweight Passenger Cars, Trains and Travel", "New York Central and the Trains of the Future" and "New York Central's Stations and Terminals." Another fine book published by TLC is Richard Cook's "The Twentieth Century Limited 1938-1967." Revised editions of the Doughty great steel fleet and Cook 20th Century books are available so, when shopping, try to get those versions if you can.

Morning Sun has published two volumes of "New York Central Through Passenger Service In Color" which are well worth the money. MSB has released numerous other NYC titles as well although most of those will include freight as well as passenger coverage. There are also the numerous Staufer NYC books. Since you're interested in passenger service, you'll probably want to pick up a copy of his book "Thoroughbreds" which is about the Hudsons. Since you mentioned the engine change at Harmon, you'll find images of that exercise in many of the NYC books which are available.

This should keep you busy for awhile. Whatever I've recommended to you I have on my own shelves so I'm speaking from experience. When you are ready to buy, I second Peter's recommendation of contacting Rails 'N' Shafts. The Bernharts are the proprietors, they have a massive inventory and the pricing is more than fair. I've been dealing with them for years.

Good luck,

Bob 

Thanks Guys!

George, there is a book, not covered by copyright, published when the IRT was building the NYC subway.  I'm sure I have it on my computer somewhere, but can't find it.  Consider googling for it.  Much detail about the construction and design.

You mean this?

http://www.nycsubway.org/wiki/...Equipment_%281904%29

This work has also been reprinted in book form numerous times over the years. I have a copy published by Fordham.

Bob 

CNJ.  Your link didn't work, in its Forum-truncated form.  I found it at www.nycsubway.org.  I think that's the book.

That's the one. I can't get the direct link to work for some reason. It's good that you posted the subway.org website address as it's the most comprehensive online source for New York subway information. George will get good use of that.

Bob

The one about the IRT is titled The New York Subway - Interborough Rapid Transit, 1904. Republished by the ARNO Press, a publishing service of The New York Times.

As I mentioned above, the commemorative book issued by the IRT in 1904 has been reprinted quite a few times over the years. Below are images of a few editions which have been released.

Bob

Thanks guys I purchased this one!

This IRT book has some stunning photos of rolling stock, motors, electrical equipment, trackwork, etc. and is an amazing compendium of the early period subway technology! 

Another few reference books in my personal library:

"Uptown, Downtown" by Stan Fischler, 1976, Hawthorn

"The Subway - A Trip Through Time on New York's Rapid Transit" by Stan Fischler, 1997, H&M Productions.

"Unifying the Subways" by Frederick A. Kramer, 2001, RAE Publishing, Inc.

"New York City Subways in Color, Volume 1", Benjamin W. Schaeffer, 2011, Morning Sun Books, Inc.

"Under the Sidewalks of New York" by Brian J. Cudahy, 1979, The Stephen Greene Press.

All of the above volumes contain hundreds of photos and illustrations as well as a detailed history of the many aspects of the NYC subway & elevated system.

Ron's Books in Harrison, NY has many books on New York City Subways and railroads.

Contact: ronsbooks@aol.com, ronsbooks.com or phone 914 967 7541. Ron also runs the train show in Greenwich, CT. at the Civic Center. The next show is this Sunday, March 8, 2015.

I second the suggestion about checking with Ron's Books!