I'm a fan of Jeff Wilson's books.  One, F-Units: The Diesels that Did It, is probably as much as you'd need to know about EMD F units.  It includes line drawings and decriptions of the model changes from F2 through FP-9's, or so.  Very friendly to the reader with many, many b&w photos.

His second book, on E units, is very similar in format and covers EMD E units:  line drawings demonstrating the basic units, descriptions of the differences of the various models (E-2 through E-9), and their evolution; and, lots of b&w photos.

Also, Classic Trains featured articles in the current issue on "all you ever wanted to know about EMD F units" that is highly regarded.

Hokie:

I have numerous diesel reference books but many focus on specific builders or models. For the purpose you've indicated, I believe the McDonnell book would meet your needs nicely. Another suggestion I might offer is Louis Marre's "The Diesels First 50 Years: A Guide to Diesels Built Before 1972". As indicated by the title, coverage is up to 1972 only; however, it is very thorough and offers many fine photos of models built during that time period. It's a fine book which I recommend highly.

http://www.arizonahobbies.com/...-Years-p/prrp018.htm

Bob

   The Second Diesel Spotter's Guide  and Diesel Locomotives:THe First 50 Years(both published by Kalmbach)- cover diesel locomotives before 1972.   The Comtemporary Diesel Spotter's Guides-both Kalmbach and Diesel Era-cover diesel locomotives built after 1972.  North American Locomotive Production 1968-1989, compiled and written by James T. Bradley and published by Bradley Enterprises of Irving Texas, covers not only diesels, but some electrics as well.  Finally, Locomotives:The Modern Diesel and Electric Reference by Greg McDonnell, covers locos built up to about 2008.  I have all of these in my library, many I purchased used in secondhand book stores..  Hope this helps.   

Thanks to everyone for the great ideas, I am looking them all up right now.  that recent Marre book is holding its value (Diesel Locomotives: The First 50 Years: A Guide to Diesels Built Before 1972), cheapest I found is $44 for the 1996 edition.

One quick question on the contemporary diesel spotters guides by Marres and pinkpank.  there is a 1990 edition and a 1995 edition, are these the same?

Marres and pinkpandk 2nd edition

Contemporary diesel spotters guide

Hokie:

The 1995 book is an updated edition of the other and therefore would be the most current of those two books; however, Withers has published an even more recent version of the spotter's guide as part of its "Diesel Era" line of titles. Compiled in 2008, the content is current up to that point in time using 1972 as a starting point. It would be an excellent book for you to acquire as Withers is recognized as a leader in diesel books. I own many books published by Withers and can attest to their consistently high quality.

http://www.dieselera.com/#!pro...orary-diesel-spotter's-guide---year-200

Good luck,

Bob

Hokie:

Curious regarding an update: Did you end up getting any of these books?

Bob

I had an initial budget of $50 and went for quality (per suggestions) and not quantity.  I bought three books to start me off:

1) The first (McDonnell)  just arrived Friday (through the big river site).   As people mentioned, it is  very good - love the color and it is a paperback.

2) The second one has not arrived yet, it is the withers and Marre book Bob mentions,  I ordered through their web site. 

3) a member of the forum offered me a deal on this one Loco 1 The Diesel and I took it.  Very neat early stuff.

So my plan is to get these three digested and see what I think I am missing. (the book from arizona hobbies looks great for example) Thanks again to all for the suggestions.   They guided me well.

are your interests diesels past or present? kalmbach puts out an once a year mag on current loco happenings. imo,excellent for the money.-jim

Hokie71, sprechen sie deutsche?

Pingman, Nicht verstain! (I guess that is how it is spelled?)

I can count to ten and ask where is the bathroom but not much more... I thought that was funny too.  The forum member who sent that to me had a German last name and I asked him the same question.  the book was in English, heaven knows why the big river site has it listed as being  in German.... I would not guess there was sufficient interest there to merit a translation but..... who is to say? 

Mixerman,

thanks for the tip, as you guessed from the books, a bit of both at this point. Spotting for the current and the evolution of the technology for the older ones.   I will check out the Kalmbach site and see if I can find it.  

Mixerman,

Is this one of the special editions you mean