You Know you have too many Train Books when You ---

Yeah ... but you get to read the subject matter a second time.  

I missed Ponchatoula for the first time since I started going a few years ago. See - I missed all the excitement.

P'toula is a nearly 3 hour drive (but an easy one: I-10/I-12) for me from the east - barely within acceptable 1-day-show limits But, I felt less than perky, and, at my age, alone on the highway is getting less "comfortable" than it used to be.

I usually sell a few things there, even though it's a smallish affair. Smallish but vital.

BTW, just this week I was looking at some of my RR books and found - yes - 2 copies of one of them. Bought at different times, I guess. Second time I've done that. At least.

I have purchased duplicate books by mistake many times.  At least I continue to like the same thing.   NH Joe

I do have a second copy of a favorite book, picked up cheap..."Mixed Train Daily"..l think and hope, but am not sure, that is the only one.  I would buy more books of obscure railroads, if they were cheaper.

Duplicates become gifts for others.  And I think I've given the same book to the same person more than once.

Hate it when that happens.  But, oh well.  Take the second book to work - gives me something to read on the lunch hour when things are slow.  Keep the first one at home, so I'm never without it when I'm in the mood for some good reading!!!  

Hey, some of us of a certain age walk into a room twice.  The first time we couldn't remember why.  The second time we got it, but our brains were so taxed from all that thinking we need to lie down.  Maybe we will know what we are supposed to do with that thing from the room when we wake up......LOL

Well they are good books.  The first is " Yonder Comes the Train" by Lance Phillips and a is railroad picture book on the history of railroads in the USA.  The second is  "Portrait of the Rails" by Don Ball Jr. a picture book on the transition from Steam to Diesel.  I think Ball was one of the best photographer of trains in America.  I n defense I have hundreds of books including many on trains and model railroading.  I will now have a copy these two in the house and one up in the train room.

But buying doubles is also an issue with LPs, VCR tapes, CDs, cassette tapes and DVDs as I have hundreds of them too!  It is too much to make inventories and then carry them around with me.  Often I will by a double of an LP to get better condition and will buy a DVD of a good movie I have on VCR tape.  All these are used and purchased at garage sales or Salvation Army or Goodwill.

Charlie

I am glad it is not just me!  I reordered the same Santa Fe book twice from White River Productions.  OGR, I am not going to order a second subscription!  Lol.  

Consider it a blessing if these duplicate purchases are limited to books. I have purchased the same passenger set twice ending up with three sets lucky the store took back the third one I purchased. Who said you can't have to many trains?

...and it's not just limited to train books - I've done this more than once with a number of books over the years...and once or twice with trains. 

Choo Choo Charlie posted:

 The second is  "Portrait of the Rails" by Don Ball Jr. a picture book on the transition from Steam to Diesel.  I think Ball was one of the best photographer of trains in America.  I n defense I have hundreds of books including many on trains and model railroading.  I will now have a copy these two in the house and one up in the train room.   

Charlie

 

I may have told this story before, but what the h*ll...

When I first got a copy of the above mentioned book (late '70s, I'd guess) I was so taken with the forward, written by the master himself, David P. Morgan, that I wrote a letter to to him through Trains magazine and told him how much I enjoyed his writing in general, and that piece in particular. I then forgot about it.

A while later a letter arrived from Trains, and it was a thank you note, written by Mr. Morgan, thanking me for my letter! Why someone of his stature would take the time to do this says a lot about the man.

I guess it's safe to say that that letter is one of my most prized possessions...

Mark in Oregon

There is, of course, the corollary... 

https://www.amazon.com/TRAIN-W...idents/dp/B006NP6ZBY

I've gotten at least five copies of this over the years from friends and family who a) know I like trains and b) know my sense of humor... 

Mitch

I never have too many train books.  A few I have worn out over the years and broken the bindings so I need duplicates!

Some are not first editions so I need duplicates!

I don't have them all yet so there are so many more to buy.  Time to plan the library wing to my dream hobby room.

I have to slap my hand to keep me from buying a book on an obscure short line that l would not model but has intriguing photos of oddball gas electrics, tea kettle locos, or other "critters".

GG1 4877

Broken bindings has not been the reason for duplicates for me it is forgetfulness !

I have gotten handy with gluing book bindings by using Elmers Glue All glue, separating pages glued with wax paper and clamping the book with small boards under the clamps til dry.  My wife volunteers me to glue elderly lady church members old favorite bibles often. 

I will not turn down buying a broken down old book for bad bindings and recently bought and re-glued a falling apart Model Railroading 3rd ed. paper back.  I found the 3rd edition has many pages left out of the newer 5th ed.

Charlie

Being  afflicted with sub-clinical OCD, my books, like all my trains, are in pristine shape with proper dustjackets, which I always remove before reading. Also no drinks or food near my books ever for fear of a mishap! When finished reading or doing research, they go right back in their assigned spot in the bookcase. Also NO "dogeared" pages or folds. Works for me!  ☺

The only duplicates were gifts. I have a somewhat photographic memory, and to date, have never purchased a duplicate of any of my books.