"The Detroit, Toledo, and Ironton Railroad" (Henry Ford's Railroad), by Scott Trostel, can be bought, there autographed, from him at midwest train shows, for a LOT less than that fantasy land figure above. He also has written a number of other books, including one on the Lincoln Funeral train. As for low quantities, I think Scott's books are self-published. That book, mentioned above, "Waycars of the CB&Q" is the one on my list, wanted to add to the fantastic one on MoPac cabooses....these prairie roads had an interesting wide variety of cabooses. Good to know that prices may be coming down on it. I am always amazed at the minor, obscure, and unheard of railroads books exist for, that I spot just walking through a show. Like old O scale kits, I'd like a comprehensive list, but by railroad for which there is a book.
Way back when (1997, I believe), I bought the book, “The Toy Train Department: Electric Train Catalog Pages from the Legendary Sears Christmas Wishbooks of the 1950's and 1960's” edited by Thomas W. Holland.
What I didn’t realize was that subsequently (August 1998), a sequel was published: “The Toy Train Department - Volume 2: Electric Train Pages from the Great Montgomery Wards Christmas Catalogs of the 1950's and 1960's.” Very few copies must have been printed – the current price on Amazon for a used copy of this paperback is $446.99!
https://www.amazon.com/Toy-Tra...istmas/dp/1887790063
I’d love to get a copy but not at that price.
PGentieu posted:Way back when (1997, I believe), I bought the book, “The Toy Train Department: Electric Train Catalog Pages from the Legendary Sears Christmas Wishbooks of the 1950's and 1960's” edited by Thomas W. Holland.
What I didn’t realize was that subsequently (August 1998), a sequel was published: “The Toy Train Department - Volume 2: Electric Train Pages from the Great Montgomery Wards Christmas Catalogs of the 1950's and 1960's.” Very few copies must have been printed – the current price on Amazon for a used copy of this paperback is $446.99!
https://www.amazon.com/Toy-Tra...istmas/dp/1887790063
I’d love to get a copy but not at that price.
AbeBooks has it for $165.75.
Thanks, Arthur. That's a big improvement but still way too rich for my blood.
I also just realized this thread is on the "real trains" forum so I shouldn't have posted this title here anyhow.
My one stop shopping for hunting for books is Bookfinder.com. As near as I can tell it is linked to every book purchasing site I've seen - Alibris, Abebooks, Amazon, Biblio.com, An Independent Bookseller, IOBA, etc. I've had great success using this site to find out-of-print books in just about every venue you can imagine.
CNJ 3676 posted:A note to the original poster:
If you want the DT&I book, try The Model Railroad Shop in Piscataway, NJ at 732-968-5696. The store is one of Morning Sun's principal dealers and often still has titles which have sold at the publisher. I have met with success on a number of occasions in this manner. Even if Morning Sun has sold out, The Model Railroad still doesn't attempt to charge a premium like some others might. They mail order regularly so shipping the book to you won't be a problem for them.
Good luck,
Bob
Hi Bob - Thanks for a great tip. They have a first class web page, Yes: Books for model railroading is a big part of their business.
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Late memory...
I know it's not a 'book', per se, but for a while a copy of the premier edition of Classic Toy Trains magazine, featuring Richard Kughn's portrait photo on the cover, floated at tens of dollars...depending on condition, of course...on the secondary market. A friend commented that he sure would like to have a copy, but shied away from such prices. (My copy had been purchased when it first came out.)
Welllll,..... Not long after that exchange we were both at a local train show/sale. As I wandered the aisles, glancing under the tables at the 'less' saleable (?) items folks brought to peddle, I spied a box of magazines marked 'All magazines, 50 cents each!'. Sitting on top of the pile was....you guessed it!...THAT premier issue...in very, very good condition. My buddy was only a couple tables further down the aisle (he was selling, somewhat occupied, of course), but he wasted no time in making the purchase.....50 cents!!!
That's what I'm talking about.....a little patience, a huge success!!
KD
Why is it that the RR books I always want are big $$$ and they don't go down? Could it be my choice of RR lines (Midwestern and transcontinental?) or are just the east coast roads falling off in interest? I never see these "cheap books" that are talked about here, anywhere!
In the farm tractor book world (which I know ALLOT about, since I write them) we've done 10K print runs and sold them thru. The reprints are 2500 or less depending on backorders. The ones I help create a $50 books and there are special serial number editions that are $500 (only 100 made) and they sell thru fast!!
In todays gotta have it-know-it-all-now, e-world, eBooks may be the thing of the future.
The book that started this thread, was "SOLD" and not to train-room-gary. "WOW"
Click to enlarge, screenshot.
Gary
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I'd pay US$150 plus shipping to West Australia for Steel Railroads Volume one, if anyone out there has a spare copy.
Roo.
ROO:
Try contacting The Model Railroad Shop in New Jersey as I mentioned to Gary above. I got my copy of Steel Railroads Volume 1 there after Morning Sun sold through the press run. They may just still have it and they'd probably be willing to ship internationally.
Good luck,
Bob
MARKS: Your comment about the "Waycars of the CB&Q" reminded me I had been looking for a book on that subject, but a later one, published in 2012, similar title, "The Burlington Waycars" vs. that one in 1978. I did a search and came up with each, not cheap, and one in soft cover, but am following the advice above and waiting. If you, or anybody reading this, have both, how do they compare? I know from research I did on an article written pre-computer, vs. some articles others are writing with computer research, a lot more info may surface. Or not. Which book is best or do you need both? They have different pairs of authors so I assume they are unrelated. I was surprised there were two books on the subject. I would guess there are books on ATSF and UP cabooses....what other western roads?
CNJ 3676 posted:ROO:
Try contacting The Model Railroad Shop in New Jersey as I mentioned to Gary above. I got my copy of Steel Railroads Volume 1 there after Morning Sun sold through the press run. They may just still have it and they'd probably be willing to ship internationally.
Good luck,
Bob
I send them an e-mail yesterday about the book that I am looking for, hope to get a reply on Friday. The branch manager of my Public Library, did find a copy at a University in Missouri. He said he has one more place to look. I did give him the information about Morning Sun Books. He may purchase some for the library. He is a model railroader, HO Scale / Illinois Central Railroad.
http://www.icrrhistorical.org/
** I did purchase the "Madison Hardware Story" from Derek Thomas, Option 2 / Looking forward to delivery this fall.
Gary
Thanks, "645", but I restrict everything to 1940, so BN green has no place in my world.
Bob.
" try contacting The Model Railroad Shop in New Jersey"
I sent them an Email about the book thanks for your help much appreciated, even if they can't help it's a start.
Roo
Colorado Hi Railer: The new book on CB&Q/FW&D/C&S waycars is absolutely comprehensive and really incorporates the data in the prior, smaller softbound book. The softbound book has a few late CB&Q era waycar photos that do not appear in the new tome, but that's it. The soft bound book represented the first pass at researching the topic and was well-done, for the time.
The new book is 2"+ thick, has a full range of drawings, both by fans and railroad shop blue prints, interior photos and interior drawings, numerous in-service photos, and detailed truck drawings. A must for the "Q" enthusiast. I sincerely doubt much more information will surface - - - or be required --- on Burlington waycars !! I would be cautious about waiting for a firesale on the new book - it may just evaporate in the marketplace.
I do own both.
Thanks, "MARKS". The new book, dated 2012, has been out a while, but I'd guess used ones are scarce...It doesn't sound like I "need" both of them, though.
Here's the most recent addition to my library which I picked up at the Red Caboose on 45th Street during a visit to Manhattan this past Saturday. Mr. Joe Strapac has been authoring a series on Southern Pacific diesels. I'm not an SP fan per se but, as a student of motive power, I've been purchasing titles covering some of the more unusual models. This particular volume discusses the SD45T-2.
The series is published by Shade Tree Books.
Bob
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An e-mail just came across my desk. Indiana University Press is offering 40% off the list price of its railroad books through the end of July. IU releases titles which are informative and thoroughly researched. Authors who have written for IU include Herb Harwood and Bill Middleton, two of the pre-eminent historians of our time. There's a lot of good reading for a very reasonable cost here:
http://www.iupress.indiana.edu/
Click on the "Railroad Book Sale" link under the "Browse Books" section at the top left.
Happy hunting.
Bob
Roundhouses: Of Michigan's Railroads
Paperback – Published April 14, 2016 - A new RR book from Michigan
Railroad roundhouses, a thing of the past still in use today, are where locomotives are repaired, maintained and stored. The railroads' garage, so to speak. A practical and busy place where men work on these machines to keep them running. A sanctum sanctorum for the railfan interested in locomotives and what makes them tick. Explore dozens of Michigan roundhouses from 1975 to 2016 both inside and out, many no longer in use, in both color and black and white photographs taken by the author.
