Pennsy power iii (3)

@paigetrain posted:

since i can't get any more model trains until i graduate from ECU my main wish for christmas is a book called Pennsy power iii

i have the first vol and its one of my favorite books

the 3rd edition covers absolutely everything the pennsy had from 1846 to 1968

but the description is confusing - trucks? planes and boats?

did the PRR have other transport modes?

anyone on here familiar with this book and can share some insight? without breaking rules of course

plus i'm worried that i might not get this book as i've only found 2 spots online selling it between 45 and 75 bucks and i'm trying to find a good copy that's completely intact or new if at all possible

First, the correct title of the book is "Pennsy Power III".  Note the capital numerals III.

Second, a quick Google search revealed lots of information, plus availability of the book on Amazon.

My opinion is that Pennsy Power III is not the best of the series.    Pennsy Power I focuses on steam power and has some decent descriptions from the information available at the time.   There are introductions to each class describing development and concepts.   

Pennsy Power II has more information on diesels while including some steam photos.     I think it is pretty good also.

Pennsy Power III seems to me to be more of a collection of photos  without a lot of information tying them together and  tying the whole book together.

This is just my opinion based on owning all 3 books.

Another good source of information on Pennsy locomotives are the two books by Paul Carlson.   The first is "Pennsy Steam: A to T".   The second is "Pennsy Steam: A Second Look".    These obvious focus on steam locos and have background on each class in  addition to photos.     If you like Diesels, The book by Ken Douglas and Peter Weiglin "Pennsy Diesels 1924 - 1968" sub title "A-6 to EF-36".   

For diesels there is also a series of 11 magazine size books by Withers Publishing describing Pennsy Diesels with each one focused on individual classes and builders.

I too have all 3 Pennsy Power books and agree that I and II are superior to III.

@paigetrain posted:

but the description is confusing - trucks? planes and boats?

did the PRR have other transport modes?

Yep!  The Pennsy had their own trailer-on-flat-car fleet, as well as freight car floats, the tugboats to move them and ferryboats (used in Philadelphia, NYC and so on).  Also, most railroads dabbled in air transport between WWI and WWII...

Mitch

You may want to look for the book "The Pennsylvania Railroad 1940's - 1950's" by Don Ball. Mostly photos, but, there are discussions about testing the N&W Class J and Class A. And, at the prices that I am seeing through Alibris, it is very affordable!

@Big Jim posted:

You may want to look for the book "The Pennsylvania Railroad 1940's - 1950's" by Don Ball. Mostly photos, but, there are discussions about testing the N&W Class J and Class A. And, at the prices that I am seeing through Alibris, it is very affordable!

This is one of my favorite overall Pennsy books as well.  Don Ball's writing is excellent, and the photos are superb. 

Pennsy Power I, II, & III are nice books for a collection when the price is right.  I picked up a first edition Pennsy Power I for only $20 at a used book sale.  Online they are very pricey.  I personally like II the best only because it has more info on the electrics which is my area of interest, but that is just me.

I believe in the early days of air travel the PRR and an airline did a coast to coast where you flew during the day and traveled in a sleeper at night traveling for NYC to LA in two days. First trip was on July 7, 1929. More info here  http://www.cprr.org/Museum/Ephemera/PRR_TAT_1929.html

Well, here we have another case of this same poster, putting something on the Real Trains Forum, and not returning to participate in the discussion that he asked information about. Sad.

@Hot Water posted:

Well, here we have another case of this same poster, putting something on the Real Trains Forum, and not returning to participate in the discussion that he asked information about. Sad.

Give the student a break! Maybe he just hasn't had the time to reply.