Books, Maps and Atlases

Softcover, 62 pages, opens to 8.

5 x 11 in., B&W maps, index.Sonrisa Railroad Maps are laid out like a railroad employee timetable. Narrow to fit in a pocket and with a heavier paper cover for protection. The center fold will present an overall map of the state(s). Includes short lines and major highways to find railroad lines and locations.

These maps are updated periodically.Concise, clear maps of today's railroading presented by subdivision for ease in following your favorite line. These pocket-sized references include station index, locations of detectors, crossovers and tunnels, and major rivers and highways. Soft cover with saddle-stitched binding (except California and Illinois, which are coil bound)

Features:

• New Soft cover David J. Cooley Sonrisa Publications 2018

Softcover, 54 pages, opens to 8.

5 x 11 in., B&W maps, index.Sonrisa Railroad Maps are laid out like a railroad employee timetable. Narrow to fit in a pocket and with a heavier paper cover for protection. The center fold will present an overall map of the state(s). Includes short lines and major highways to find railroad lines and locations.

These maps are updated periodically.Concise, clear maps of today's railroading presented by subdivision for ease in following your favorite line. These pocket-sized references include station index, locations of detectors, crossovers and tunnels, and major rivers and highways. Soft cover with saddle-stitched binding (except California and Illinois, which are coil bound)

Features:

• New Soft cover David J. Cooley Sonrisa Publications 2016

Softcover, 46 pages, opens to 8.

5 x 11 in., B&W maps, index.Sonrisa Railroad Maps are laid out like a railroad employee timetable. Narrow to fit in a pocket and with a heavier paper cover for protection. The center fold will present an overall map of the state(s). Includes short lines and major highways to find railroad lines and locations.

These maps are updated periodically.Concise, clear maps of today's railroading presented by subdivision for ease in following your favorite line. These pocket-sized references include station index, locations of detectors, crossovers and tunnels, and major rivers and highways. Soft cover with saddle-stitched binding (except California and Illinois, which are coil bound)

Features:

• New Soft cover David J. Cooley Sonrisa Publications 2019

Softcover, 42 pages, opens to 8.

5 x 11 in., B&W maps, index.Sonrisa Railroad Maps are laid out like a railroad employee timetable. Narrow to fit in a pocket and with a heavier paper cover for protection. The center fold will present an overall map of the state(s). Includes short lines and major highways to find railroad lines and locations.

These maps are updated periodically.Concise, clear maps of today's railroading presented by subdivision for ease in following your favorite line. These pocket-sized references include station index, locations of detectors, crossovers and tunnels, and major rivers and highways. Soft cover with saddle-stitched binding (except California and Illinois, which are coil bound)

Features:

• New Soft cover David J. Cooley Sonrisa Publications 2018

Softcover, 126 pages, 8.

5 x 11 in., B&W illustrations.This title is a reproduction of the early days of D&H equipment made, purchased and used by the company during the dates of the title. Includes tables of statistical data.

Features:

• New Softcover Delaware & Hudson SilverLake Images 2024

Softcover, 60 pages, opens to 8.5 x 11 in., B&W maps, index.

Sonrisa Railroad Maps are laid out like a railroad employee timetable. Narrow to fit in a pocket and with a heavier paper cover for protection. The center fold will present an overall map of the state(s). Includes short lines and major highways to find railroad lines and locations.

These maps are updated periodically. Concise, clear maps of today's railroading presented by subdivision for ease in following your favorite line. These pocket-sized references include station index, locations of detectors, crossovers and tunnels, and major rivers and highways. Soft cover with saddle-stitched binding (except California and Illinois, which are coil bound).

Features:

• New Soft cover David J. Cooley Sonrisa Publications 2019

This Lehigh Valley Diesel Pictorial full-color soft-bound book contains hundreds of photographs of LV diesels in action, many never before published. Includes representative photographs of virtually every freight and passenger diesel the LV owned, from early Box-Cabs to later entries by EMC/EMD, Alco, Baldwin, General Electric, and more.

This book includes a detailed roster and brief history of the railroad as well as a bonus feature on the famous Sayre, Pennsylvania shops where these diesels were maintained until LV became part of Conrail in 1976. SilverLake Images, softcover, 112 pages, standard portrait book 8 x 10 in., Color photographs, captions and text.

Features:

• New Softcover SilverLake Images SilverLake Images

Softcover, 138 pages, 8.5 x 11 in., B&W illustrations, diagrams and statistics.

Various equipment is illustrated along with potential uses.

Contents:

• New
• Softcover
• SilverLake Images
• SilverLake Images
• 2023

Softcover, 150 pages, B&W photographs and illustrations. Examples of the cranes and the factory as it was where P&H cranes were manufactured.

Contents:

• New
• Softcover
• SilverLake Images
• SilverLake Images

Softcover, 156 pages, 5.5 x 8.5 in., B&W illustrations, printed on glossy paper.

True to the original catalog, this is a smaller format book. This company made many small cars for mining and other industrial operations including many side dump cars. There are no plans, but many illustrations of the cars, excavator buckets plus industrial trackwork they manufactured.

Contents:

• New
• Softcover
• SilverLake Images
• SilverLake Images

Softcover, 72 pages, B&W photographs and illustrations, locomotive data.

This is a collection of Lima Locomotive Works promotional material from the era with details on locomotive orders, super power advantages, details on advanced design and a sampling of railroad companies locomotive photographs (3 to a page) of Lima built power.

Contents:
Lima Super Power Steam 1926, pp. 4-21,
Lima Super Power Steam 1930, pp. 22-45,
Lima Locomotive Works: Bulletin No. 102, pp. 46-53,
Lima Locomotive Works: Bulletin No. R-2, pp. 54-72.

Softcover, 82 pages, 8.5 x 11 in., B&W illustrations.

Small locomotives powered by steam, diesel and straight electric. Tank Type Locomotives, pp. 5–28, Electric Haulage and Gathering Locomotives, pp. 29–32, Diesel Locomotives: 35-Ton Class HW-35, pp. 33–36, Fifty-Ton Diesel-Electric Locomotives, pp. 37–40, 65-Ton Diesel-Electric Locomotives, pp. 41–44, Improved Equipment for the Modern Sugar Factory, pp. 45–48, 25-Ton Diesel-Electric Locomotives, pp. 49–52, Storage Battery Locomotives, pp. 53–56, Diesel Locomotives, pp. 57–60, Modern Steam Locomotives, pp. 61–64, Vulcan Locomotives for the Mining Industry, pp. 65–68, Vulcan-Duplex Steam Locomotives, pp. 69–75, Vulcan Iron Works, pp. 76–81, Industry Turns to Vulcan Locomotives, p. 82.

Contents:

• New
• Softcover
• SilverLake Images
• SilverLake Images
• 2023

Softcover, 113 pages, 8.5 x 11 in., B&W illustrations and some basic statistics such as wheelbase, tractive effort, etc.

Baldwin Products, pp. 4–37, Decapod Locomotives, pp. 38–42, Steam Locomotive Performance, pp. 43–58, Baldwin Steam Turbine Electric Locomotive, pp. 59–62, Modern Locomotives, pp. 63–70, Locomotive Progress 1932, pp. 71–97, Baldwin, pp. 98–113.

Contents:

• New
• Softcover
• SilverLake Images
• SilverLake Images
• 2023

Softcover, 122 pages, 8.5 x 11 in., B&W and Color illustrations (about 10 percent color) printed on high-quality glossy paper.

This title is one of the gems of the Catalog Archives collection. This catalog has many illustrations of EMD's color artwork that was framed and given to their customers in the early diesel era. So, there are many color illustrations of E-units and F-units plus advertisements of freight units of later years in color. Also included are illustrations highlighting motors with some statistics of basic data.

Contents:
General Motors in Review, pp. 4-28,
Welcome to Electro-Motive Division of GM, pp. 29-36,
New Dimensions in Motive Power from Electro-Motive, pp. 37-49,
The Great New Line of GM Diesel Locomotives, pp. 50-58,
Now is the Time for a Giant Stride in Motive Power, pp. 59-70,
GM Diesel Freight Power, pp. 71-78,
Electro-Motive Presents the SD7 Six-Motor Road Switcher, pp. 79-82,
Electro-Motive Presents the F3, pp. 83-90,
The New General Motors F7 and E8 Locomotives, pp. 91-98,
GP-20 General Motors 2000 H.P. Turbo-charged General Purpose Locomotive, 99-106,
The Exciting New Train of Tomorrow Powered by GM Diesel, pp. 107-110,
Passenger Traffic is Profitable, pp. 111-118,
600 H.P. GM Switching Locomotive (SW1), pp. 119-124.

Contents:

• New
• Softcover
• SilverLake Images
• SilverLake Images

Softcover, 140 pages, 8.5 x 5.5 in., B&W illustrations, specifications but no plans. Printed on glossy paper.

True to the original catalog, this is a smaller size book. Davenport Locomotive Works made many small steam locomotives, and a few gasoline engines of various gauges presented here. The diesel locomotives produced will be in the second volume.

Contents:

• New
• Softcover
• SilverLake Images
• SilverLake Images
• 2022

Softcover, 84 pages, 8.5 x 11 in., B&W illustrations and statistical charts.

There's quite a selection of locomotives here from underground electric motors to mainline steam and industrial diesel locomotives.

Contents:

• New
• Softcover
• SilverLake Images
• SilverLake Images
• 2023

Contents:

• New
• Softcover
• SilverLake Images
• SilverLake Images

Softcover, 112 pages, standard portrait format, B&W illustrations and technical data.

Vulcan Iron Works: Locomotive Proposal, pp. 4–48, Worm Gear Drive Type, pp. 49–72, Spur Gear Drive Type, pp. 73–92, Vulcan Gasoline Locomotives, pp. 93–102, Vulcan Gasoline Locomotives: International Nickely Company, p. 103, Vulcan Gasoline-Electric Locomotive: The Super Haulage Power Unit, p. 104, Oil-Burning Locomotives: Equipment and Operation, pp. 105–112.

Contents:

• New
• Softcover
• SilverLake Images
• SilverLake Images

The Magor Car Corporation, located in northern New Jersey at Clifton, was a significant railcar builder throughout much of the twentieth century. It had its origins in a partnership founded in 1899 by Basil Magor and Robert Wonham, which led in 1902 to a manufacturing operation called the Wonham-Magor Engineering Works.

In the first part of the century, Magor concentrated on export railcars, aided by its proximity to the port of New York. Basil's brother, Robert Magor, also became associated with the company, and in 1910 it became the Magor Car Company. It was incorporated in 1917 as the Magor Car Corporation, among its major stockholders was J.P.

Morgan.In 1914, Magor's first freight cars for revenue use on an American railroad were built, and such sales grew steadily thereafter, though export cars continued as the company's mainstay for some years. In 1918, Magor was among the many firms which built cars for the United States Railroad Administration as part of its effort to construct 100,000 standard freight cars.

During World Wars I and II as well as during the Korean conflict, Magor was called on for thousands of export cars for military needs and was also a principal builder of cars for Europe under the Marshall Plan. In 1959, Magor built its first aluminum-bodied covered hopper cars, which were also the first to be placed in U.S. revenue service and went on to build more than 5000 aluminum cars.Magor's sale in 1964 to Fruehauf Corporation marked many changes in its activities, among which was the dissolution of the joint sales operation with National Steel Car Corp. of Canada, an arrangement in effect since Basil Magor founded that firm in 1911.

Declining railcar sales during the 1960s led to Magor's closure in 1973. Magor was an important builder of American freight cars, though not one of the larger builders. Its history is a significant part of United States railroad history.Car builder historian Ed Kaminski, author of American Car & Foundry Company, has assembled a broad and intriguing perspective on this New Jersey company's history, spanning its lifetime,1899-1973.

In addition to several hundred photographs, nearly all of them never before published, advertising materials and catalog information make this a fascinating presentation.Table of

Contents:

• Preface and Acknowledgments
• Introduction (by Richard Hendrickson)
• Ch. 1: The History of Magor Car Corporation
• Ch. 2: Export Railcars
• Ch. 3: Domestic Railcars
• Ch. 4: Dump Cars
• Ch. 5: Associated Railcar Parts
• Ch. 6: Complete Production List, 1925 to 1968
• Ch. 7: Selected Drawings
• Index. 237 photographs, extensive catalog pages, drawings and graphics, index.Signature Press, hardcover with jacket, 200 pages, 8.5 x 11.75 x .75 in
• B&W photographs and illustrations. One color reproduction of an advertisement. Features: New Hardcover Edward S. Kaminski Signature Press

Merchants Despatch traced its origins to a railroad express service begun in 1855, with a connection to the American Express Company. From its earliest years it operated over the lines of the New York Central, and by 1871 its stock was owned by Vanderbilt Lines railroads.

However, it was an independent part of the New York Central family. As such, it outlived the Central, and this book carries its history to the year 2000.Initially the rolling stock of Merchants Despatch was box cars to carry railroad "fast freight," but by 1878 refrigerator cars were included.

With the passage of years, the MDT fleet would become almost entirely refrigerator cars, maintained and many first built at the sprawling Despatch Shops in East Rochester, New York.Through much of its history, MDT leased cars to railroads other than New York Central, and to a variety of private shippers, as well as managing its own fleet of thousands of cars.

By the 1950s the fleet included bunkerless cars (insulated box cars) and would subsequently include auto-rack cars, a category of rolling stock which enabled MDT to survive the Penn Central and Conrail mergers.

But once Conrail went to CSX and Norfolk Southern in 1998, MDT reached the end of its line in 2000.Some 298 photographs, most previously unpublished, enrich this book, in addition to 44 drawings. More than 50 period documents and graphics enliven the text, accompanied by extensive rosters and tables of both car data and company information.

Thoroughly researched in company records, this is an authoritative, well illustrated and complete history of Merchants Despatch. It presents both the long and complex corporate history, and also much information and many details about the design, construction, maintenance and operation of the vast car fleet.Author Roger Hinman has published over 20 articles in model railroad and HS publications, and is a railfan of many years standing.

This is his first book.The book will appeal to those interested in the New York Central and in freight cars, as well as to enthusiasts of railroad history. Anyone interested in North American freight railroading from 1870 to 2000 will find it a valuable addition to their library.

ContentsAcknowledgementsPART ONE: COMPANY HISTORY1. Kasson's & American Express (1849-1870), pp. 9–16,2. Vanderbilt's Other Venture (1871-1877), pp. 17–24,3.

The James Wickes Era (1878-1892), pp. 25–32,4. Creating Despatch, New York (1893-1904), p. 33-40,5. The Progressive Era (1905-1922), pp. 41–52,6.

Merchants Despatch Incorporated (1923-1936), pp. 53–62,7. MDTC Incorporated (1937-1945), pp. 63–68,8. The Post-War Period (1946-1954), pp. 69–72,9.

New Markets (1955-1967), pp. 73–78,10. Penn Central and Conrail (1968-2000), pp. 79–86,PART TWO: ROLLING STOCK 11. 29-Foot Cars (1871-1896), pp. 87–92,12. 34-Foot Common & Refrigerator Cars (1882-1922), pp. 93–108,13. 36-Foot Standard Cars (1892-1945), pp. 109–126,14. 40-Foot Standard Cars (1908-1945), pp. 127–130,15. 41-Foot Standard Cars Before World War I (1911-1949), pp. 131–144,16. 41-Foot Standard Cars After World War I (1920-1966), pp. 145–162,17.

Milk and Express Cars (1902-1945), pp. 163–178,18. Steel Frame Standard Refrigerator Cars (1930-1970), pp. 179–192,19. Steel Sheathed Standard Refrigerator Cars (1946-1984), pp. 193–210,20.

Dry Ice Cars (1930-1970), pp. 211–220,21. Bunkerless and Ventilated Cars (1933-1984), pp. 221–234,22. Meat Cars (1886-1978), pp. 235–246,23.

Mechanical Cars, FLexi-Vans, and Trailers (1956-1999), pp. 247–256,24. Auto-Rack Cars (1961-1985), pp. 257–270,25. Miscellaneous Equipment (1938-2000), pp. 271–274,Appendix.

Reporting Marks, pp. 275–276,Bibliography, pp. 277–290,Index, pp. 291–300 Features: New Hardcover Roger C. Hinman Signature Press 2011

Shade Tree Books, softcover, 128 pages, standard portrait book 8 x 10 in., B&W photographs with captions and text.

Many California railroads were organized, not to become a large railroad, but to simply serve some local purpose. Hauling lumber or minerals or sugar beets required rail services best provided by a focused, local organization.

What is a short line' Basically a smaller railroad that operates limited mileage in a single region or state and perhaps is tied to a particular commodity or service. Whether private or common carrier, the styles of short line operation were similar.

The two types of carriers often sold locomotives between one another, and these engines can be found lettered for both. What is a short line steam locomotive' Generally, they were built first with cost as a primary consideration, followed by compatibility with existing infrastructure (bridge weight limits and track structure).

Most weighed 90 tons or less, with small-diameter driving wheels to operate at slow speeds. This book documents in B&W photographs with captions and text those non-geared short line steam locomotives which operated in California.

Contents:

• New
• Softcover
• Joseph A. Strapac
• Shade Tree Books

This Santa Fe Painting and Lettering Guide, vol. 10 of the Rolling Stock Reference Series, builds on the work of the late Richard Hendrickson and others as to the painting and lettering of Santa Fe Freight, passenger and maintenance of way equipment.

The original work, first published in 1990, and reprinted with additions and clarifications in 1991 and 1998, has been reorganized into a somewhat chronological format beginning in approximately 1910, and includes new information to bring it up to the date of the BNSF merger in 1996.

Softcover, 112 pages, coil bound, color photographs throughout.

Introduction, pp. 6–8,
Heavyweight Passenger Equipment 1910-1960, pp. 9–16,
Lightweight Passenger Equipment 1936-1996, pp. 17–22,
Freight Service Equipment 1910-1939, pp. 23–34,
Freight Service Equipment 1940-1947, pp. 35–44,
Freight Service Equipment 1947-1958, pp. 45–59,
Freight Service Equipment 1958-1980, pp. 60–83,
Freight Service Equipment 1980-1996, pp. 84–95,
Maintenance of Way Equipment 1910-1996, 96-101,
Tabular Data, pp. 102–111.

Features: New Spiral Bound John R. Signor Santa Fe Railway H&M Society

Santa Fe Railway Historical & MS, hardcover with jacket, 256 pages, 8.5 x 11 x 1 in., 369 photographs (26 in color), 41 diagrams, 6 maps, Notes, Bibliography and Index.

This book brings to print the late Robert Pounds' work on the Gulf Lines depots. Published in the same style as his Western Lines Depots book of 1984, it includes sections on Station Name Sources, a basic history of 'The GC,' Depot Construction and Evolution, Depot Operations and Services, and is then broken into chapters on the Main Line, covering the 1st District of the Galveston Division, 1st and 2nd Districts of the Southern Division, and 1st and 2nd Districts of the Northern Division.

The Galveston Division sections covers the Galveston Terminal, Houston, Matagorda, Garwood, Bonus, Hall and Nash Dome Districts and the Texas City Terminal Railway Co. The Southern Division section covers the Lampasas, Sweetwater, San Saba, San Angelo, Paint Rock, Sterling City, Dublin, Menard, and Waco Districts.

The Beaumont Division section covers the Somerville, Conroe, San Augustine, Longview, Port Bolivar, Silsbee, Saratoga, Grigsby, Oakdale and Ore City Districts. The Northern Division section covers the Pauls Valley, Dallas, Paris, Sherman, Honey Grove, Weatherford, Cresson, Ringling, Sulphur, Lindsay and Ada Districts.

Contents:

• Introduction, Abbreviations, Station Name Sources
• The GC, pp. 1–4
• Depot Construction and Evolution, pp. 5–12
• Depot Operations and Services, pp. 13–24
• The Main Line, pp. 25–86
• The Galveston Division, pp. 87–106
• The Southern Division, pp. 107–142
• The Beaumont Division, pp. 143–178
• The Northern Division, pp. 179–208
• Depot Color Gallery, pp. 209–220
• Depot Diagram Gallery, pp. 221–234
• Notes, Bibliography, Index, pp. 235–240. Publisher: Santa Fe Railway H&MS

Santa Fe Railway H&MS, hardcover with jacket, 344 pages, 11 x 8.5 x 1.5 in., 313 black & white and 39 color photographs, 36 maps and diagrams, richly illustrated, index.

The dream of promoter Arthur Edward Stilwell, the Kansas City, Mexico & Orient Railway never made it to Kansas City and never made connections with the Oriental trade. Financed without the aide of Wall Street 'money trusts', the railroad was constructed in many disconnected sections in Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas and the states of Sinaloa and Chihuahua in Mexico.

Attempts to link the already-built line from the Mexican seaport of Topolobampo, Sinaloa, and the rest of the system were halted by the formidable Sierra Madre and revolutionary activities in Mexico. And in the United States, progress was slow, due to lack of funds.

In fact, Stilwell lost control of the railway in 1912 and it was in the hands of receivers more than once. Were it not for the discovery of oil in west Texas in the 1920s, the KCM&O might not have survived to the Depression.

As it was, the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway bought it in 1928, completed some of the lines in Texas, and waited for improving business conditions that never came. Authors Pounds and McCall cover the story of the Orient in rich detail- of the birth, growth tribulations and, finally, the denouement of Arthur Stilwell's grand idea - the Orient Railway - which for over sixty years after remained a quaint, backwater operation of the great Santa Fe Railway system.. a railroad that, as the old cowboy said, 'didn't start nowheres, didn't end up nowheres and there weren't nothing in between.'

Contents:

• Introduction, Preface, Stilwell Comes to Kansas City, pp. 5–14
• The Orient is Born, pp. 15–22
• Building the Orient, The First Ten Years, pp. 23–110
• Building the Orient, Through Revolution and Bankruptcy, pp. 111–190
• Federal Control and Texas Oil, pp. 191–236
• Kemper Finds a Buyer, pp. 237–276
• Epilogue, pp. 277–282
• A Look Back, pp. 283–284
• Station List, pp. 285–298
• Rosters, pp. 299–340
• Index, pp. 341–344.

Laminated cover, coil bound, 398 coated pages.

The 1950 System-wide Employee Time Tables for all active divisions of the Santa Fe Railway is bound together in this title. The effective date is April 2, 1950, when many divisions issued new time tables.

Divisions are listed in Grand Division order and the complete time table is presented - including blanks where blanks were found in the original. This ensures that you will see them as the appeared to the original user.The complete timetable is presented including covers, maps, special instruction and other data.

Many passenger trains and motor cars were still running and it is interesting to see their times over the districts.Features: New Softcover Santa Fe Railway Santa Fe Railway H&M Society

Santa Fe Railway H&MS, spiral bound softcover, 240 pages, B&W and Color photographs, illustrations and plans. Printed on heavy, glossy paper stock.

This 240 page book provides an in-depth look at the humble beginnings, development, and modifications to the many paint schemes worn by Santa Fe's diesel fleet, ranging from the first locomotives delivered in 1934 to the last SD75M to arrive on the property in 1995.

This book features many never-before-published images covering most types of Santa Fe motive power. Included are 274 color and 80 black and white photographs, 76 renderings, three painting timelines, and image and drawing indices.

Contents:

• Introduction, pp. 6–8
• Basic Black, Before the Zebra Stripes, pp. 9–11
• Solid Sill Stripes, pp. 12–21
• Tiger Stripes, p. 22
• Interim Stripes, Pre-Zebra, pp. 23–27
• Zebra Stripes, pp. 28–63
• Paint Designed for Speed, pp. 64–67
• The Unmistakable Warbonnet, pp. 68–140
• Pre-1960 Blue and Yellow Freight Schemes, pp 141-155
• 1960 Paint Redesign, Pinstripe, pp. 156–176
• Warbonnets of a Different Color, the Yellowbonnet, pp. 177–217
• Colorful Kodachromes, pp. 218–225
• Bicenntennials, pp. 226–233
• Colorful Case Studies, pp. 234–235
• Paint Timelines, pp. 236–237
• DuPont Paint Schemes, p. 238
• Image Index, p. 239
• Drawing Index, p. 240.

From 1974, this long out-of-print and widely sought book has been digitized into Adobe PDF form, with bookmarking, into CD form. The book is based on 19 passenger train consist books issued between 1946 and 1971 by the Santa Fe for the use of its officials.

It tells what cars would have made up the standard company passenger trains at any given point and date on the railroad. It shows where cars would have been dropped and where picked up along their journey.

When the book was originally published, some of the floor plans did not reproduce well. In digitizing this book an attempt has been made to make the diagrams more clear. An index of photographs and drawings has been added to this publication.

SFRH&MS (originally RPC Publications), CD-Rom.

The contents page of this book is missing page numbers for some of the chapters. A corrected, but separate, title page is included which shows the page numbers.Hardcover, 132 pages, 8.5 x 11 in., B&W photographsThere haven't been too many books published regarding the hard-working men of the railroad maintenance-of-way work and life.

This is a good title regarding the life and times from a southwest US and Santa Fe experience.Naylor, a track maintenance and construction supervisor for the Santa Fe Railway in New Mexico from 1921 to 1961, upon his death left a fascinating story of his time with the railway. He was an on-the-ground eyewitness to many of the changes on the Santa Fe, making this book a time capsule for both early railroading and life in New Mexico.

His narrative provides rare glimpses into the hard life of a railroad track gang working as well as his difficulties as a supervisor and married man with family responsibilities.Naylor is humorous, fair, helpful to others, and always candid, revealing both his greatest fears (snakes) and personal pleasures, which ranged from fishing to gardening.

Naylor's book adds descriptions of places that are now railroad ghost towns as well as the effort involved in getting to and from such locations prior to convenient, more modern transport. Forty Years on the Santa Fe Railroad will transport the reader to a refreshing different time and place. The book concludes with an afterword by Bob Walz on modeling maintenance of way operations.

Features:

• New Hardcover Fred Friedman
• John Taylor
• Bob Wiltz Santa Fe Railway H&M Society 2022

How I wish this detailed look at Santa Fe Railway's Live Stock service was done about other railroads which operated in Santa Fe's territory. Much research went into this book with equipment rosters, many pictures in Black and White and Color, facility locations and capacity, and modeler's notes plus more.

Included are interior photographs of a drover's car from 1931.Before The Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe drove its first spike, it was understood that the shipping of live stock would be critical to its success. One of the first actions was to intercept the Chisholm Trail, 65 miles south of Abilene near Newton, Kansas where over 40,000 head were shipped in 1871.

By the end of the 1872 the majority of the rail cars owned by Santa Fe were stock cars. As the Santa Fe continued to expand west, it loaded more cattle at Great Bend and Dodge City, Kansas and Granada, Colorado. In 1884, Santa Fe shipped 800,000 head of cattle from Dodge City alone.The railroad maintained a Live Stock Department catering to cattlemen, ranchers and packers.

But live animals were troublesome to ship. Damage and Loss claims were higher than any other commodity, and government regulations were more extensive. The shipping of live stock peaked in the 1920s, but by 1930 things had begun to change. Trucks proved to be more convenient and often faster transportation for small shippers and for short distances.

In the end, Santa Fe loaded just 62 cars of stock in 1972, the last year of live stock operations. But for over a century, live stock, birds, fish, and a myriad of other animals went on Santa Fe - all the way.Painstakingly researched and liberally illustrated, this is the story of Santa Fe's live stock operations, from its history, to equipment, to infrastructure-such as stock yards and feeding stations required to maintain the business.

Along the way this volume touches on the rules and regulations governing the traffic, rodeo and circus trains, Railway Express shipping, as well as modeling this fascinating part of Santa Fe's legacy. This book combines features of both the rolling stock reference series and the commodity series.

Contents:

• A History of Live Stock and the Santa Fe, pp. 7–8
• Operations, pp. 9–14
• The Rules, pp. 15–34
• Damage Claims, pp. 35–52
• Santa Fe Stock Car Overview, pp. 53–58
• Various Classes of Santa Fe Stock Cars, pp. 59–140
• Cleaning and Bedding, pp. 141–146
• Drover Cars, pp. 147–156
• Not Just for Live Stock, pp. 157–170
• Horses
• Railway Express and Other Critters, pp. 171–190
• Company Stock Yards on the Santa Fe, pp. 191–214
• Santa Fe Breeding Stations, pp. 215–230
• Union Stock Yards, pp. 231–238
• Modeler's Notes, pp. 239–245
• Appendix, pp. 246–253
• Bibliography, pp. 254–256Santa Fe Railway Historical and Modeling Society, softcover, 256 pages, standard landscape format, 8.5 x 11 x 1 in., over 300 Black and White photographs and diagrams and over 140 Color photographs, appendix, roster, plus modelers notes.

  Features:
  New
  Softcover
  Stephen Sandifer
  Santa Fe Railway H&M Society

The tenth book from R.D. Publications continues the publisher's coverage of narrow gauge railroads in Colorado and New Mexico. The book tells the story of the narrow gauge routes of the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad from Durango, Colorado, to Chama, New Mexico, and on to Antonito, Alamosa, and Salida Colorado.

RD Publications, hardcover with jacket, 176 pages, 8.5 x 11 in., B&W photographs and text.

Simmons-Boardman, softcover, 32 pages, 11 x 8.5, B&W illustrations and text.

For only being a 32-page book, there is a lot of information on railroad wheels presented. Keep your cars rolling with The Basics of Railroad Wheels, 2nd Edition. It provides a solid foundation of wheels and a discussion of basic inspection techniques.

The first portion of the book presents the history of the wheel, a synopsis of the AAR's role with the design and engineering of today's wheels, a quick glimpse of the two main manufacturing methods used on modern wheels, and an introductory study of AAR wheel classes and their respective service life.

The later section of the book will help with identifying wheels and performing basic inspection techniques for railroad wheels.

Contents:

• New
• Softcover
• Simmons-Boardman