Best Railroad Books For Christmas Presents?

For fiction, I recommend Clive Cussler's THE WRECKER. Good action read, and the author (or co-author) did his homework!

Just a couple of minor discrepancies:
1. Omits use of reverse lever to control cutoff when operating a steam locomotive.
2. Did SP have stone-ballasted track in the early 20th century?

If you can find a copy of James McCagues "The Big Ivy" it'd make a fine gift.

It's a paperback, but it's a crackerjack novel about railroading circa 1900, and McCague knows his stuff.

Great read.

EdKing

If you have an interest in electrification, William D. Middleton's "When the Steam Railroads Electrified" is a favorite of mine. Originally published by Kalmbach in 1974, a revised edition which updates the story of electric railroading to Amtrak's Acela has been released by Indiana University Press:

http://www.iupress.indiana.edu...72&products_id=21939

At almost 500 pages, this one will keep you busy for awhile.

Regards,

Bob

I've been reading "Railroads of the Civil War" lately, and have found it fascinating. It's well researched, has lots of photos you'll never see anywhere else, and has lots of stories/facts I've never heard. I highly recommend.

http://www.amazon.com/Railroad...id=1324247090&sr=1-2


Kent in SD

"This Train is Bound for Glory" The story of Chapel Cars in America.

"Set Up Running" The life of a PRR engineer.

Both good reads when you want something different.

Another excellent book is "By The El - Third Avenue and it's El at mid-century". A 1950's color journey on the NYC Third Avenue El from City hall uptown to 125th st (The Bronx in the latest reprint). Spetacular LIFE magazine quality color photography of the circa 1878 Third Avenue El in it's final year. Period cars, ads and people at their finest. Ejoyable even by country folk like me.

Hi Ginsaw:

IF you like reading early railroading anecdotal experiences, I would recommend "Little Engines and Big Men" by Gilbert Lathrop and published by Caxton Printers Ltd. (Out of print. Will need to hit the resale market.)

Therein will be told the experiences of the brothers Lathrop as they railroaded (Engineers) on narrow gauge rails in Colorado while the narrow gauge lines were being built. One of the brothers, Carl Lathrop, ran engines on the Colorado Midland for spell, also. It's a very entertaining read and gives an insight into the things railroaders faced in the 1880's on up through the 1900's and 20's-30's.

Andre

I'd recommend a book that no serious railfan should be without; "All Aboard with E.M. Frimbo" by Rogers E.M. Whitaker and Tony Hiss. I picked up my copy on Amazon about three years ago.

E.M. Frimbo (the self styled World's Greatest Railroad Buff) was the alter-ego of longtime The New Yorker writer, Rogers E. M. Whitaker. It is a series of short stories drawn from his New Yorker columns about railroads and train travel both in the United States and internationally. The stories share some interesting history and a number of them are also quite humorous. All in all, it is a great book for anyone who likes trains and can be read again and again.

Curt

I heartily second Curt's suggestion!

I had the opportunity to meet Mr. Whitaker on a Southern Railway excursion in 1976, pulled by SP 4449 in Freedom Train livery. He was seated across the aisle from my wife and I, and we chatted quite a bit. We are long-time subscribers to the New Yorker.

In 1980, when we had some rare mileage trips over the NC&StL, I personally invited him to be our guest, but unfortunately, his cancer had advanced whereas he was unable to travel to Tennessee.

I also recommend Linda Niemann's Boomer: Railroad Memoirs, now in paperback!

quote:

Originally posted by juniata guy:
I'd recommend a book that no serious railfan should be without; "All Aboard with E.M. Frimbo" by Rogers E.M. Whitaker and Tony Hiss. I picked up my copy on Amazon about three years ago.

E.M. Frimbo (the self styled World's Greatest Railroad Buff) was the alter-ego of longtime The New Yorker writer, Rogers E. M. Whitaker. It is a series of short stories drawn from his New Yorker columns about railroads and train travel both in the United States and internationally. The stories share some interesting history and a number of them are also quite humorous. All in all, it is a great book for anyone who likes trains and can be read again and again.

Curt

Curt,

Now that book sounds fantastic. I'll be sticking that one on my shopping list for sure. Thanks for the tip!

Nothing Like it in the World by Stephen Ambrose. An extremely detailed story of the building of the first transcontinental railroad after the Civil War. Not only the actual building, but in depth profiles of the persons involved and the political story leading up to decisions made, including then President Lincoln. Very engaging read.

I just read ... Set Up Running: The Life of a Pennsylvania Railroad Engineman

Excellent read and highly recommended especially for fans of the steam era Pennsy.

Bob

Autobiographical account of railroading from the 1870s through dieselization--light, enjoyable reading that really rings true. "Clear the Tracks!" by Joseph Bromley. Check abebooks.com, since it's been long out of print.

quote:

"Set Up Running" The life of a PRR engineer.

For nonfiction, I second on this one. The man's son has an amazing memory for the details of his life growing up in a Pennsylvania helper station town.

Oh boy, so many books so little time

Travel on Southern Antebellum Railroads 1828-1860 Alvarez - great discussion and collection of first person accounts of rail travel.

Singing Rails - Pease - first person account of being a brass pounder and later a railroad agent

We took the Train - Grant - collection of first person accounts of train travel from the first days to Amtrak

Little Engines and Big Men - Lathrop - first person account of working on the D&RG narrow gauge

Forty years a Locomotive Engineer - Thrilling tales of the Rail - Reeve first person account from the 19th century.

I'd recommend any of these as a great read and I see all can be found listed over on Bookfinder.

quote:

Originally posted by PRR Man:
Nothing Like it in the World by Stephen Ambrose. An extremely detailed story of the building of the first transcontinental railroad after the Civil War. Not only the actual building, but in depth profiles of the persons involved and the political story leading up to decisions made, including then President Lincoln. Very engaging read.

agreed. Ironically I read this on a plane going coast to coast to coast.

add this

If you are into Southern railroads, try "Speedway to Sunshine" the story of the Florida East Coast Railroad by Seth Bramson. I don't know for sure, but it's probably out of print--- so you may need to do a bit of searching--

An older fiction classic that is now often ignored is "The Octopus" by Frank Norris. About the power of SP in turn of the century Central CA.

On another thread here there is discussion about the "rails to trails" development of recent years. Just today at the LHS I found an interesting book containing the opposite thesis. It's called "Rural Railroads - Trails To Rails". The book is very old and only $5 (good railroad books are an under appreciated commodity). It's by Carlton Corliss and was put out by the IC Railroad and is a 1956 reprint.

Very interesting reading. It takes you from the original game trails to the railroads and all stops in between. You know, game trails became Indian trails, which became pioneer trails, which became railroads, then led to highways. The drawings in it are ancient, but very well done and fascinating.

One thing interesting it contains is a help wanted poster from 1853 for construction workers. They were looking for 3,000 workers and offering $1.25 a day wages plus fare by railroad or steamboat from New York to Illinois. The recruitment was done in Eastern and Southern cities, and described as "a rare chance for persons to go West, being sure of permanent employment in a healthy climate, where land can be bought cheap..."

Sounds like hard, dirty, dangerous work, but at the same time an opportunity to get in on the ground floor of something good...the building of a country.

Anyway, our LHS is like a library of such old works. There are probably a couple hundred books. Enough to spend all day sorting thru for a hidden jewel. However, so far I've not fround any of those already mentioned here. But I'm on the trail...

I received for Cristmas a copy of "Diesels of the Reading Company-Volume 1" by Paul K. Withers the publisher of Diesel Era magazine. So far,it is very comprehensive and loaded with excellent photography.
Brad

Santa brought me "The Science of Railways - Air Brake Construction and Working," "The Science of Railways, Operating Trains," and "The Science of Railways - Engineers' and Fireman's Handbook." All from about 100 years ago. Good stuff!

[/QUOTE]

Curt,

I found a used, but nice condition, copy of this through one of the Amazon third-party re-sellers. Wow! A great read. Have already plowed through about 6-7 chapters and it is everything you said.

Thanks for mentioning it and Happy New Year![/QUOTE]

John:

Glad to hear you are enjoying it! You have a Happy New Year too!

Curt

For Christmas, I gave myself a copy of Electric Traction on the Pennsylvania Railroad 1895-1968 by Michael Bezilla. Written for his doctoral thesis, this tome is a very in-depth examination of the railroad's approach and execution of electric motive power and infrastructure from beginning to end.

One of the best Railroad books I have ever read was "Set Up Running, Life of a Pennsylvania Railroad Engineer" by I believe John Orr. The author was the son of Oscar P Orr who hired out of Sunbury, Pa. at the beginning of the 20th Century. John Orr's claim of a photographic memory made it possible to recall the story's his father told him and also his own real life experiences growing up in a Railroad enviroment. The story starts with O.P. Orrs hiring and procceeds to his time of being Setup as an enginner. Once Set up he was never set back to fireman and had an outstanding career with the railroad. At one time early on OP's crew worked 7 days straight without any time off. Insane to even thing about these kind of hours today. He explains the different locomotives they used and which ones performed well the shortfalls of others. Back in the day there were also shananigans going on as well and a few of them are brought up. One was how they stole coal from their own train so they would not have to stop at Williamsport to refuel. He worked until after WWII. There were many changes to the railroad during his time. This is truely an outstanding book. You will not be disapointed.