NorthWest Short Line

NorthWest Short Line, hardcover with jacket, 308 pages, 8.5 x 11 x 1 in., B&W photographs, maps and illustrations.

Logging Railroads in Skagit County: The First Comprehensive History of the Logging Railroads in Skagit County, Washington State, USA by Dennis Blake Thompson. This book is packed full of striking black and white photographs of early country logging camps, unique engines and the men who worked-and occasionally died-operating the huge machines.

Author Dennis Thompson spent more than 10 years painstakingly researching the fascinating and colorful early logging operations in Washington State's Skagit County. The result, 308 pages with 411 photographs and dozens of drawings, is an incredible portrayal of an important early industry in a rugged and untamed land.

Through a combination of personal experience, countless interviews, and scores of hours pouring over historical archives, Dennis presents a complete and very interesting account and a well-chronicled period of our history.

From the small operations that probably would have faded from memory forever to the area giants such as English Logging Company and Bloedel-Donovan Lumber Mills, you'll get complete details: How, why, where and when they started, what kind of equipment they used, what areas they worked, and ultimately what became of them.

Backing up the concise, interesting, and often amusing text are some outstanding photographs that complete the story. From life in a logging camp to the perils of a locomotive wreck, you'll see it all.

The first printing of this book sold out quickly after readers discovered exactly how interesting and unique this work truly is. This printing features the same high-quality 80# acid-free glossy stock and is hardcovered with a dust jacket.

Contents:

• English Lumber Company, pp. 1–50
• Scott Paper Company and Early Hamilton Loggers, pp. 51–96
• Heislers at Birdsview, pp. 97–112
• Salt Water and Inclines, pp. 113–126
• Rails From the North, pp. 127–142
• Steam Dummies and Disconnects, pp. 143–178
• The Heyday of Big Lake, pp. 179–190
• The Devil's Lake by Rail, pp. 191–198
• And Behind Every Tree: A Thumbnail Sketch of Thirty-eight Logging Railroads, pp. 199–242
• Appendices: List of Logging Railroads in Skagit County
• Blackman Locomotive and Car Patent Drawings
• Skagit Steel and Iron Works
• Scale Drawings of Pilchuck Creek Bridge, Fordson Locomotive Conversion, Sessoms Lowering System
• Rosters of Locomotives
• Foldout Map: English Lumber Company all-time railroad grades
• Logging Railroads of Skagit County, Map of abandoned railroads.

Hardcover with dust jacket, 296 pages, 300 B&W photographs.

Classic, sharp photographs of equipment and environment during the 1930-1955 period. From the Super-Steam Era from the 1930s through the 1950s! Warren McGee and Ronald Nixon, the finest photographers employed by the Northern Pacific Railway, took some of the best locomotive photographs ever.Author Richard Green, using an 11 by 8.5 inch horizontal format, presents a rich and vivid collection of 300 McGee and Nixon photographs that are an absolute delight to peruse.

There's truly something special about this book. Overall, the book is organized by locomotive type, with chapters on Mikados, Pacifics, and Northerns, as well as the mighty Yellowstones and Challengers. And there's a chapter devoted to the colorful and popular Yellowstone Park Line. Best of all, the composition skills of McGee and Nixon give the reader the added value of some wonderful locomotive settings, everything from passenger depots to mountain passes to rolling prairies.The accompanying captions provide detail that you simply won't find anywhere else.

Each photo and caption pair truly sparks the imagination! This book is of value both to the enthusiast and the researcher. An extensive Index, organized by locomotive type, leaves no guesswork to the railfan or modeler trying to isolate a particular piece of motive equipment. Beyond steam, the last chapters of the book take a look at some of the NP's early diesel locomotives, an endearing sight to people who were kids in the 50s and 60s.

A must have for all NP fans!

Contents:

• The Photographers, pp. 1–6
• Mikados (2-8-2), pp. 7–30
• Pacifics (4-6-2), pp. 31–54
• Northerns (4-8-4), pp. 55–110
• Early Articulateds, pp. 111–124
• Yellowstone (2-8-8-4), pp. 125–131
• Miscellaneous Engines, pp. 201–209
• Yellowstone Park Line, pp. 210–220
• Passenger Diesels, pp. 221–244
• Freight Diesels, pp. 245–255
• Locomotive Index
• Maps
• Line and Photograph Locations. Features: New Hardcover Richard Green NorthWest Short Line