The Elevated Railways of Manhattan Book

I find it hard to believe that anyone interested in the elevated lines in Manhattan book with it's hundred of b&w and colors pictures has not expressed interest in purchasing this book unless you are already an ERA member. I believe the cost is around $50.00. Just contact me and I can find out how to get it to you.

Hello Ed ----

Hello Ben !

the E R A Treasurer Mike Gliken provided me his phone number on his email to me - and I called him and we spoke for about 1/2 hour on the phone Saturday early afternoon and I ordered the book directly thru him - as he is handling all the "public" sales to non-era-member people.  He later told me that ERA Webmaster Sandy Campbell had, thanks to us finding the glitch,  found the cause of the "code" problem on the site and had it corrected, repaired, some time on Saturday,  so the site is now working, as you related.

Regards - Joe F

Actually book's cost if $40.00. See above for ordering instructions. It's the best book on this subject with hundreds of photos.

Hello ED

I just now (Sunday 3:10 PM) spoke on the phone directly to the ERA Treasurer Glikin, and he stated that your posted (just above)  $40.00 price  for the book is absolutely INCORRECT --

-- that it is and has been $49.00 + 9.50 Shipping/Handling via FED EX delivery in a Fex Ex book 'mailer box"....total $ 58.50 if delivered thru Fed Ex.  Since the website has been "repaired" per the order "quantity number" glitch,  new orders are successfully and very steadily coming in via that said website. 

He also confirmed that at this time, there are NO plans for dealer discounts of any kind for any book retail-re-sellers. There is only a relatively small amount of the books for "public" sale remaining after the thousands that were produced were already mailed directly to ERA Members, who have already received their copies.  He stated there is a very slight chance this policy may change sometime in the future, but he suggests for a guarantee of getting one of the limited remaining book copies,  they should order the book now from the E.R.A. website, in the event of, and before, the small remainder of available copies may be sold out.

Regards - Joe F

I stand corrected. The price is $49.00. I should have had my reading glasses on. The price is listed on the back cover. If Ron R. offers to buy a large number because other than ERA members how will the ERA let others know about this book. Ron has partnered with other publishers via his website and magazines ads to advertise their books. Members such as myself and other ERA members can pass the word on but this is not enough. What about the rest of the county and the world. Ron has sold books on Subways systems of counties in Europe and Asia, books that might not be known outside of those counties.

Hello again Ed

I had assumed it was a typo by you -- but it needed to be correctly quickly. 

Word of this book has rapidly spread thru many internet forums and venues already, including my own NYCTMG Forum board. At least 10 of my members in 1 day quickly ordered this book thru its announcement on the NYCTMG website.  Also I was told that orders are coming in steadily to the ERA website from all over.  Mike G gave me the actual small number figure of remaining books for sale... its a small fraction remaining of the total many thousands printed copies already sent out to ERA members.  ERA wants and needs the entire cover price per book to fully recoup its printing costs as fully as possible....those costs I was informed were already fully prepaid by ERA before the mass-printing was completed.

Based on the above -  it should not take long for the remaining small amount of books to sell out over the next few months or so, without ERA resorting to 20% to 25% markdowns to "secondary resellers" for their book-resales to the public.

Some of these books already purchased "may", heh, eventually show up in ebay or other places in the distant future for higher "collectible" re-sales amounts, just like vintage model trains and ie: MTH NY Subway sets commonly do after 6 months or longer after production is "sold out".

My suggestion... anyone - if really interested, do order the book NOW from ERA direct, or ERA's  Webpage for ordering the book...and don't delay. 

regards - Joe F

I ordered mine yesterday.  Thanks for the heads up!!!

Got my book today  Its an awesome book

Hello Ben F and All

I also just got mine also today (Thursday) via FED EX.  A thick book and treasure trove of photos - and as far as the 3rd Ave EL line and Polo Shuttle lines (covered within) -- a new source of refreshed and rekindled 1950's memories of mine when I was riding and experiencing those lines and rolling stock.

Regards - Joe F

Oedered mine today and looking forward. Hoping for some good info and photos for 6th ave, 9th ave and 2nd ave lines. They were all before my time so its about learning the history.

Hello Guys

Anyone here who recently ordered their Manhattan Elevated Railways book,  get their delivered to them already ??  

If so, are you enjoying it and its great photos ?  For those very  few of us who DO model the earlier era EL system of NYC - and their wooden (IRT and BMT) rolling stock, that book explains the uniqueness, wonder, and mystique - and grandness of those old 4 Manhattan EL's, especially the last surviving one (my  home  line) on 3rd Avenue, Manhattan & Bronx.  I am enjoying my book very much !

regards - Joe F

I just ordered a copy...looking forward to receiving it.

Bob

The more I look at this book the more I like it  I can tell its one of those wear out the pages book

Hello Ben !

Well, when buyers read that book,  they then can see and comprehend the huge SCOPE and sheer EXPANSE of the four Manhattan EL's, and all of that interesting interlocking, branches, Hump Express stations and rising express tracks. Those up and down tracks remind me of the IRT Flushing Line center track rising up and eventually coming back down as it passes over the 111th  Street Station -- just like 9th Ave EL center track fly-over the 6th Ave EL W.53rd St junction to 9th Ave.

Can you imagine ALL that structure, track and construction - bought & paid for and fully reliable and functional - being scrapped for partial replacements by in some cases, busses only !  Imaging how much it would cost to replace all 4 EL lines completely, in todays dollars and as SLOW as things get done today (ie: the infamous and very short new Second Avenue (heh) subway )

Regards - Joe F

I'll be at the monthly ERA meeting tomorrow evening. Several friends of mine asked me to get the books from them. If there are none for sale there maybe there are order forms that I can pass on to them.

Hello Ed

I don't know what is wrong with your friends that you have to get their books for them at the ERA meeting ?  Why don't they go to the meeting themselves.  OR, if they are not living in the NYC region, and can't get to the ERA Meeting,  why didn't you provide them with the information I originally posted here nearly 2 WEEKS AGO for OGR forum readers so, like many of us viewing here did, they themselves can CONTACT Mr. GLIKEN directly by US MAIL,  EMAIL or PHONE -  to place their orders !! And receive it quickly like we did, via FED EX shipped package !  They could have had their books in hand nearly 2 week ago by now !

The ORDER DIRECT CONTACT INFO  AGAIN is listed below:  Give it to your friends !

=========================================================

I received my copy yesterday. Thus far, I have just leafed through the book but it appears to be truly superb. The opportunity to acquire a book of this quality does not come along often so I would strongly suggest to anyone who is even just thinking of getting a copy to make the move and order it NOW. I am confident when I say you will not see this book having to be sold on a marked down basis.

Bob 

I just received my copy today. Simply an amazing book.

Thank you, Ed, for calling it to my attention.

Jim

I am glad that I brought this book to the attention of these who are not ERA members who would not have known about this interesting book. If you want to purchase another copy or two you can contact Ron's Books @ 914 967 7541 and also go to the ERA web site as well, as long as they both have copies to sell since there are not many left. A similar book on The Els of Brooklyn will follow sometime in the future.

And - as Ed neglected to also include above - PURCHASE that book directly BY PHONE or EMAIL contact to the publisher, ERA, via its Treasurer - who handles the sales - from whom most of us here ordered already via -

SOLD THRU:   Michael Glicken - TREASURER - Electric Railroad Assn.

HOME PHONE: (917) 714-7087   ......  and/or via HIS EMAIL:  Trnsper@aol.com

Here's the current ERA website order page. So far, so good,

http://www.erausa.org/books/

I ordered this and the new CERA  book on Chicago PCC cars.   Seems that both will be superb.