I just started a year ago.  I found "Wiring Your Toy Train Layout" by Peter Riddle to be helpful and I still refer to it.  ISBN: 9780897785433.

Interesting question, Arnold. Although I have built two model railroads in the past 21 years, I have no books on model railroading per se. I get most of my model train and layout-building information (on benchwork, track, structures, scenery) from manufacturers catalogs, model railroad magazines (I read virtually all that are published in the US) and the OGR Forum. My book reading tends to be about real railroads - which gives me ideas for what I want to do in modeling. I have many books about the railroads that interest me most - the New Haven, Boston & Maine, Boston & Albany, New York Central, Long Island, Metro-North and Amtrak. I also find the Maine narrow gauge railroads fascinating. The reference that I turn to most frequently is "New Haven Power 1838-1968" by J. W. Swanberg, a tome of some 592 pages. Another favorite is "Connecticut Railroads ...An Illustrated History" by Gregg M. Turner and Melancthon W. Jacobus. I have also read and reread many times "The Maine Two-Footers: The Story of the Two-Foot Gauge Railroads of Maine" by Linwood W. Moody.

MELGAR

"Greenberg's Repair Guide".

Mark in Oregon 

Inspiration since I was 10 years old to build the RR of my dreams! And still have today!

It's "Playing With Trains," by former NASCAR racer Sam Posey.  Also, the famous 1950's Bantam Books' "Model Railroading."

Pete

For me my favorite O Gauge book is the one which ignited my interest in maintaining and repairing my post-war trains and that would be Greenberg's Model Railroading with Lionel Trains by the late Roland LaVoie which was published in 1989.  I purchased it in 1989 and over the last thirty years my involvement in the maintenance and repair of toy/model trains has immensely increased my love and appreciation of this hobby.  I had the privilege of thanking Mr. LaVoie for the publication of his book while attending a Greenberg's show  in southeastern Pennsylvania shortly before he passed on.    I still have this book to this day. 

I have enjoyed "The Complete Handbook of Model Railroad Operations"  by Paul Mallery, 1979, Tab Books (Summit, PA).

To quote from the preface: "This Handbook provides information of the methods used by the prototype railroads for transporting freight and passengers and the means which have been successfully used to duplicate such prototype activities on a model railroad."

Bill

Buckingham Great Central 

by Rev. Peter Denny

 (it’s OO gauge)

Arnold....great topic......

Here are my four #1s:

....but then I have four honorable mentions......

Sorry, can't choose just one....

Peter

dk122trains posted:

 

 

 

Definitely one of the best books on scenery! Taught me a lot about hard shell mountains.

I also have the same scenery book by Bill McClanahan and benchwork book by Linn Westcott, both of which were very helpful to me when I built my current layout 25 years ago (how time flies). I think they are both essential books for a model railroader.

The All Aboard book by Ron Hollander was the most enjoyable book for me to read because I love the history of Lionel and the author's superb writing style. 

I greatly appreciate the other books mentioned above, which I plan to check out.

I can't think of a better way to help a newcomer to the hobby and this Forum than to provide the information we have shared about our favorite books on model railroading.

Arnold

The fist 2 for reference...the second 2 for pure nostalgic purposes.

This are my favourite 0 (and other) gauge model railroad books: 

Free to download here: http://sncf231e.nl/my-e-books/

Regards

Fred

Aside from a plethora of model railroading books, and new and old magazines, that help me on the model railroading side, Greenberg's Guides to Marx Trains, I, II, III help me track down what l did not have as a kid.