"The Complete Book of Model Railroading" by David Sutton

I have a copy in my train book collection.  I agree - great book.  NH Joe

Too funny, me and my best friend must have checked that book out in high school about 30 times each as well. High school grad class of ‘77!

I have a copy of that book around here somewhere, but not in my currently overcrowded bookcases. Bought it in Honolulu back in the mid- to late-70s from a "50%-off sale" table at a store in the Ala Moana shopping center. One of the first model railroading books I bought as an adult (just getting back into the hobby), although I still have several model railroading books I purchased as a young teen, or even before becoming a teen, back in the late 50s.

JDFonz posted:

Too funny, me and my best friend must have checked that book out in high school about 30 times each as well. High school grad class of ‘77!

I discovered the book during the mid-60's at my local library when I was in grade school.  It was a good excuse to go to the library to do my *ahem* "homework" rather than do it at home. 

A relative gave me a copy for Christmas some years later.  I still have it but haven't looked at it in decades.

The section that fascinated me most was the early cast iron and pull toy trains.

Rusty

I also have it,and a second copy if anyone wants one...ex library 2nd edition..joe

Now, I am going to have to go home tonight and get mine off the shelf and wax nostalgic.

Likewise. I received this book for Christmas back in the early 70s. It's time to pull it off the shelf and take another look through it.

Thanks for rekindling the memories.

Bob

I also had that book, back in the early '70s. If I remember correctly, it was almost all HO scale.

Not to "rain on anyone's parade" here, but even then I thought it was too "general" in scope to be of much interest; similar to the Louis Hertz books. Just my opinion, of course. 

BTW, the forward (as you can see) was written by David Rose; he composed that (in)famous hit song from the early '60s, "The Stripper". I think Noxema used it in one of their shaving cream TV ads; "Take it off: take it all off"... 

Mark in Oregon

Ah, "Mile Post" books of our lives! A favorite subject of mine!

Even though I had just started my HO journey (after Christmas 1962), as a youngster THIS is the book that tripped my trigger:

After receiving my Lindberg Lines HO set for Christmas '62, one day shortly thereafter I was walking through Macy's with my mother, and there on one of those wire, rotating paperback stands, was this book. I snatched it up, purchased it, and once home, devoured it.

I almost had that book memorized as a lad! I even tried my hand at making structures using hard board as described in the book. (Not too successfully, I might add!) For years and years I had my original copy... but somewhere during one of our (wife and I) moves in the 70s, it was never seen again.

Many years later, I found the above copy by happenstance at a train meet back before the internet days. Picked it up for a buck. It was SO great to be reunited with a version of the Bantam Book I owned back when. Many, many of the pictures therein triggered certain memories. One such trigger pic was this one:

My imagination ran wild with that one! I just couldn't believe how wonderful it must be to have an entire basement devoted to model railroading! 

To this day, I will periodically pull out my little Bantam Book of "Model Railroading" and enjoy the memories it activates.

"Mile Post" books are great!

Andre

I am with Andre on an earlier edition of that Bantam book. It was my go-to guide and pleasant reading in the 1950's. I still recall in my mind's eye the photos of that great PAL Lionel layout with the four seasons.

Good stuff. I love nostalgic threads like this. This was my go-to book in grade school, Harry Zarchy's Book of Model Railroading. Fifty years on I read in the paper where the school was closing and went back to visit one last time. I even got to see one of the nuns who had taught me, she was still there and still tough as nails. She invited me to look around for a memento so I took the old Westclox clock off the wall of my old classroom and then headed to the library to find this book. Still there !  Those check-out dates from 1966-1972 were probably all mine.

Yea. A few years back I ended up buying a lot of my childhood train books from Amazon. 3 of them written by Raymond F Yates.

Yup, still have mine!  I got it for Christmas when it was first published.

bobotech

Sutton's book is a good book and a good read.  It is easily found now.  There are dozens copies of the Sutton's ''The Complete Book of Model Railroading" on eBay 10-21-2022 one for less than $5 free shipping.

I agree with Andre and others that "Model Railroading" by the Lionel staff is a great book, both editions, and was the most useful when I started my post war 027 layout in 1977.  It has lots of 1950s style, do it yourself ways to build an inexpensive layout.  There is only one copy of "Model Railroading" by the Lionel staff on the eBay.  The fifth edition is easier to find.  I had an earlier edition in the 1950s that had real blue prints in it, but it is long gone.  I found one in poor shape at a train show a few years ago.  If one is a post war model train buff, any edition of  "Modeling Railroading" is worth hunting for.

Charlie

Ah, great nostalgia! 😃

Yes, I have my original copy somewhere, too.

Another favorite of mine that I still have is the Linn Westcott book:

Tom

Those Lionel sponsored paperbacks were my favorites along with Toy Trains magazine back in the day (early 1950's).