Trains Books

This is a book about an interesting world that really no one knows about at all, the world of Hobos, and what their life entails. I was encompassed with this book from beginning till end, and since I now have an afinity for Robert's work, am now waiting on the sequel to come out. Keep writing Robert, this stuff is very good!

This is a great book about a young man's adventure encountering dangerous situations and dealing with hobos while riding the rails. It is easy reading, and so good that once you get started it's hard to put down. It has authentic railroad lingo written by a genuine railroader. I highly recommend it!

"The Last Train Rider" delivers an intense adventure with plenty of twists and turns. Once on board, it's hard to stop reading as it takes you into the world of riding the rails.
Read this one and you'll never look at a passing train the same!!

Sean meets a "good" hobo and listens to his tales of Red Dragon, a "bad" hobo, and this is the beginning of Sean's search for the "bad" hobo while riding the rails himself. This was a page turner from start to finish.

This was a "hard to put down" book. It is written to where you can easily picture each character in the story. It progresses rapidly and is a MUST READ for all railroad fans, law enforcement or just about anyone who loves a great story. There is some railroad lingo that the railroaders will enjoy but it is not written above anyones knowledge level. You will feel the laughter, tears and anger as you enjoy the story. You will also appreciate the fact that the book is written by an actual Railroad Special Agent who can relate his personal life experiences into the story. Don't miss the train!! Get "The Last Train Rider" TODAY!!!

What a wonderful book! In addition to being a terrifically exciting story, Jackson, the author, vividly creates a sense of time and place. One is transported to America at the turn of the century - a period of transition and change in which Frank Grigware, the protagonist, is innocently and irreparably caught. This book succeeds on every level. Outstanding!

I picked this book up on a whim and once started I couldn't put it down. It is a great true story of the real old west. Young men seeking adventure, train robbers, unjust imprisonmemnt, daring escapes and more. You should really give this one a try!

In 1906, the twenty year old Frank Grigware announced to his family that he was going to see the world. They had been living in eastern Washington for years, and he wanted to see more of the West than Spokane. His mother understood completely; it is not an uncommon occurrence for a young man to want to roam before settling down to respectable ways. He hooked up with his best friend Frank Golden, and they figured they would do some prospecting in northern Idaho. A tough life loomed, but Grigware had no idea that he would as a result be accused and convicted of a crime he did not commit, incarcerated in the toughest prison in existence, escape from the prison, and remain on the lam from his country for the rest of his life. The astonishing story of Grigware's life is told in _Leavenworth Train: A Fugitive's Search for Justice in the Vanishing West_ (Carroll & Graf) by Joe Jackson, who shows that Grigware was guilty of nothing but naïveté when he associated with train robbers. He was, however, found as guilty as the rest of them, and a quick decision gave all the defendants life imprisonment, at Leavenworth, the first US federal penitentiary.

It was only six months into his sentence that Grigware, who the prisoners could tell was not really one of them, was let in on an escape by four other prisoners. Using the classic ploy of threatening with guns skillfully crafted of wood from one of the shops and blackened with shoe polish, they hijacked a train that regularly supplied the prison. Grigware was the only one not captured quickly, and for the next 24 years was one of America's most wanted men. The trail was long cold, even after President Woodrow Wilson commuted the sentence of the other robbers because the evidence in the case was so lacking. The FBI refused to back down, and it spied on members of Grigware's family, which was sadly fractured by his escape. Grigware in sorrow knew he could communicate with none of them, but set up a respectable life in Canada, becoming a Canadian citizen and a well-liked member of the community of Jasper, Alberta. He was not found until 1934, and what happened afterwards is of great charm. There was a groundswell of Canadian public opinion against any sort of extradition; even the game warden circulated a petition. The mild Grigware had made many friends, and he was the sort of reliable citizen Canadians wanted. Grigware's wife (who had not known of his past), when the press reported her simple statement, "Nothing will ever break up our home," made up the minds of any Canadians that had doubts on the issue. It became an international incident, and a clash of redemptive versus retributive justice.

Grigware was reunited with his family, which had long thought him dead; the meeting with his aging mother could not have been sweeter. But he could not return with her to the US, nor return for her funeral. President Roosevelt waived extradition, but no pardon was ever issued, so if he ever came back to the US, he could land right in Leavenworth again. That result would seem preposterous as the decades went by, but in 1957, J. Edgar Hoover was still sending out directives that insisted that agents monitor Grigware's relatives in case he were to show up. Every FBI memo issued about him screamed that HE WOULD KILL OR BE KILLED RATHER THAN BE RECAPTURED, a rumor that had arisen in 1911 and which still headlined Hoover's directives about Grigware, who was then seventy-one years old. This exciting and frustrating story, crammed with period detail, reminds us that courts are not always right and that as much justice as was available in this case came from the hearts of ordinary women and men.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough! I loved every single page, and I hated to see it end. (For me, that's rare.) Action, adventure, excitement, and suspense...all set in, to quote the book's subtitle, "the vanishing west."

Well worth the money and well worth reading. In fact, I think I'll read it a second time.

Veteran Virginia crime journalist Jackson strips bare a capricious justice system as "the servant of time and place and ambition." In that, this book is a philosophical sequel to his Pulitzer-nominated "Dead Run," a contemporary exploration of Death Row.

Jackson is an immensely appealing writer and a graceful reporter. "Leavenworth Train" is meticulously documented, but the engaging narrative flows seamlessly. Grigware was dead long before Jackson took up his story, but the haunted fugitive comes alive in these absorbing pages, a headlong flight into justice and mercy.

"Murder on the Orient Express" is arguably Agatha Christie's best known novel, which is a status it more or less deserves. The book features Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot, in one of his earliest appearances (his eighth novel). The plot is a clever one -- a murder takes place on a luxury train and one of the 12 passengers must have committed it. Poirot is travelling on the train, and he is drawn into the mystery by one of the executives of the train company who knows Poirot and also happened to be on the train. A few of the passengers seem like obvious suspects, but Poirot takes his time and does not draw any rash conclusions.

Many of the plot devices in "Murder on the Orient Express" have been borrowed from Christie by later, lesser authors, so the novel may not seem as fresh as it once was. I'm a relative newbie to Christie's writing but enjoyed this book quite a bit, particularly the colorful and interesting characters. I marked it down one star because some of the plot twists are not very believable and the novel relies on a few coincidences. However, even with these issues, "Murder on the Orient Express" is a very good to excellent mystery novel that is sure to please fans of the genre.

I read the rerelease version by Black Dog & Leventhal. They have done a nice job with this hardback series, including an attractive dust cover and quality paper. However, I'm not sure that the novel is worth the extra price you'd pay for a typical soft cover version.

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"The Mysterious Affair at Styles" might be the locked room mystery that holds down honours for being the novel in which Agatha Christie introduced Hercule Poirot to a grateful reading public. But it is "Murder on the Orient Express" that showcases a confident, polished Hercule at the height of his powers. Standing tall beside Sherlock Holmes and Auguste Dupin, Poirot is arguably the most widely read and best known detective in literature and "Murder on the Orient Express" is certainly one of the finest examples of the mystery genre. In a brilliant variation of the typical British drawing room mystery, Christie places her cast of thirteen suspects together with the victim and Poirot on the Orient Express en route from Istanbul to Calais.

Mr Ratchett, an unsavory looking man who obviously has some dark secrets in his past, approaches Poirot as the train leaves Istanbul with the offer of a very fat fee asking for his services to help protect his life from enemies he knows are out to kill him. Poirot, seeing this as a very uninteresting exercise from a cerebral point of view, politely declines. But when the train is stopped in its proverbial tracks by a huge snow storm and Ratchett is killed in his locked berth, stabbed no less than twelve times, Poirot is pressed into service to solve the case by his long time friend Bouc who is also a director of the corporation that owns the train.

Through the simple process gathering clues by interviewing the thirteen suspects - a wildly disparate lot that in modern terms would almost certainly be referred to as a "motley crue" - Poirot employs "the little gray cells" and intuits a positively brilliant solution. In that time honoured literary tradition of gathering all of the suspects into a single room, a somewhat less than humble Poirot puts on a flashy show of summarizing the case and revealing the identity of the perpetrator in a brilliant twist that only Poirot could fathom and only Dame Christie could create.

There is nothing about "Murder on the Orient Express" that does not deserve high praise - dialogue; the hilarious mis-translation of idiomatic French into spoken English; the less than subtle but accurate use of class distinctions and behavioural stereotypes unique to different nationalities; characterization; colourful narrative description; plot; suspense; red herrings; and, of course, a brilliant solution that deftly ties up every conceivable loose thread. And all of that is in an all too short package that can be read in the brief space of three or four thoroughly enjoyable hours. Read and enjoy, pass the book onto your best friend but, for goodness sake, keep your lip zipped about that brilliant ending!

Paul Weiss

Murder on the Orient Express is almost certainly the most famous Agatha Christie novel and may well be the best-known novel from the entire mystery genre. Despite the fact that I had been told the solution to the case many years ago, I decided to go ahead and finally read the book and am very glad that I did.

The basic plot, for any who don't already know, involves a murder on board a train with a small, but colorful, group of passengers. It becomes apparent relatively quickly that no one could have possibly committed the murder but Poirot has no option except to exercise his little gray cells to their utmost in an effort to solve the case. The story moves along at a nice clip and the cast is varied and interesting. My favorite aspect of any Poirot novel tends to be the little Belgian himself and he is in fine form here.

It is a tribute to Agatha Christie's writing that I could enjoy reading a mystery novel so much on my first read even knowing the murderer before starting. The book is an excellent choice whether you are an old Poirot fan who hasn't gotten around to it yet or a first-time Christie reader.

First Sentence: It was five o'clock on a winter's morning in Syria.

In the Orient Express Calais Coach, a wealthy American is found dead of multiple stab wounds. The train is stopped in the snow and it quickly becomes clear the killer is still on board. Monsieur Bouc, the director of the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons Lits, asks his friend, and fellow passenger, M. Hercule Poirot to solve the case.

It had been about 25 years since last I'd read Dame Agatha but I now remember just how good she was. Her dialogue is flawless; it flows in the natural style of conversation, particularly multi-lingual conversation. I'm reminded, too, that her books were written in a time when the middle- and upper-class English had, and may still have, a rudimentary understanding of French so no translations were made in the story. Her humor is light and deft. Her characters, Poirot particularly, are fascinating representatives of certain classes of the time. Her clues are deftly placed and it such fun to watch Poirot engage his "little gray cells." Dame Agatha is definitely deserving of the term "classic." I'll not wait another 25 years before reading another of her books.

“Galveston … Lore, Legend, & Downright Lies” is a delightful , entertaining potpourri of life in days gone by on Texas’ famed island city, once known as the Wall Street of the South. The city boasted electric lights and the best of practically everything west of the Mississippi.

The collection of stories was compiled by Gini Fendler-Brown and Max Rizley Jr., Texas writers, and published by Eakin Press, Austin, Texas in a 164 page package sure to please history-lovers near and far.

“Galveston … Lore…” brings to the reader stories ranging from the disastrous 1900 hurricane -- the worst natural disaster to occur in this country, to the fact that the extinct Karankawa Indians cared for Cabeza de Vaca and his shipwrecked party in 1588, and tales of fabled pirate-patriot-lover Jean LaFitte.

Stories abound telling of the history of Galveston’s moniker as “The Oleander City” and the true origin of the Oleanders, to the fact that Galvestonians took on the challenge to rebuild after the 1900 storm and physically raised 2,100 structures above the sand during the city grade raising to avoid any repeat of the disaster. Extreme hardship, loss and Pride.

The book, easy to read and hard to put down, is bound to be a big winner for all who are fortunate enough to get their hands on it.

“Galveston … Lore, Legend, & Downright Lies” is a delightful , entertaining potpourri of life in days gone by on Texas’ famed island city, once known as the Wall Street of the South. The city boasted electric lights and the best of practically everything west of the Mississippi.

The collection of stories was compiled by Gini Fendler-Brown and Max Rizley Jr., Texas writers, and published by Eakin Press, Austin, Texas in a 164 page package sure to please history-lovers near and far.

“Galveston … Lore…” brings to the reader stories ranging from the disastrous 1900 hurricane -- the worst natural disaster to occur in this country, to the fact that the extinct Karankawa Indians cared for Cabeza de Vaca and his shipwrecked party in 1588, and tales of fabled pirate-patriot-lover Jean LaFitte.

Stories abound telling of the history of Galveston’s moniker as “The Oleander City” and the true origin of the Oleanders, to the fact that Galvestonians took on the challenge to rebuild after the 1900 storm and physically raised 2,100 structures above the sand during the city grade raising to avoid any repeat of the disaster. Extreme hardship, loss and Pride.

The book, easy to read and hard to put down, is bound to be a big winner for all who are fortunate enough to get their hands on it.

Galveston Island is home to a unique community. Although it is connected to the Texas Gulf Coast by two bridges and a ferry service, in many ways it is its own society separated by much more than a mere few miles of saltwater.

This book takes us into the distant and more recent history of the island and its colorful inhabitants, telling us stories in a way that leaves one feeling like you're sitting around a fire at a family reunion recalling old friends, neighbors and family members. Some stories one might tell only in hushed whispers. Others provoke knowing interjections from all quarters. These are tales that deserve to be shared far outside the circle of sand.

Whether you were born on the island and want to learn about the gossip you might have missed, or live far away and merely wonder what life is like in a seaside city, this book delivers. From pirates to revered community traditions, it explores a vast scope of history in an easy way that leaves you wanting more.

Caution: You may be tempted to move to Galveston after reading this book, if you don't already live there.

Gini and Max's book captures the essence of Galveston past, with first-hand reminiscences of people who lived that past. Most of us know the main outline of Galveston history, but this book tells the stories of ordinary people, going about their lives on this sliver of sand in the Gulf of Mexico. Gini has been telling her stories to audiences for years in the bandstand behind Ashton Villa during breaks in the band concert. Max helps shape these stories into delightful nuggets you will want to savor while lying on wet sand. Experience Galveston all over again, and next time you're there in person, go to an old-fashioned band concert and listen to the history lady tell a new tale.

I was born on the island, and heard many stories from my father and mother, and my grandparents, uncles and aunts. However, Max and Gini's book has filled in all the gaps, either out of my own memory bank, or the stuff just left out by a father, protecting his daughter from the "sordid" tales. Galveston: Lore, Legend and Downright Lies has added even more to my "love of the island." I have bought the book twice, once for myself and once for my father. He loves it! I plan on ordering more from Amazon for Xmas gifts. A great "thumber" and definitely should be a part of everyone's home library. Thank you, Max, and Gini, and Robert John, and Amazon.....the world needs more books like this one!

Two hundred thousand children were placed through the
train project. What a monumental impact on American history that is! It is astounding that this knowledge is not part of the commonly known events that shaped our nation. I hope the first person reports of Rev. Clarke found in this compilation will correct some of that void in history.

This is an extremely resourceful book for anyone who wants to learn about or better understand the Orphan Train era of American history. Reading the journals and seeing the photos from Rev. Clarke who was a placing agent during this time, will give the reader great insight into how this movement came to be and why it was sustained for so many years. As the granddaughter of an orphan train rider, I was pleased to read of Rev. Clarke's genuine concern for the children he placed and the value he put on each little life.

Two hundred thousand children were placed through the
train project. What a monumental impact on American history that is! It is astounding that this knowledge is not part of the commonly known events that shaped our nation. I hope the first person reports of Rev. Clarke found in this compilation will correct some of that void in history.

Clark Kidder documents Rev. Clarke's regions of operation--Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri. The journals and notes of Rev. Clarke show his great caring and concern for these orphan children. In some cases, there are personal notes from the children he placed.
Ever wonder why so many children went to Hopkinton, Ia. when the area could not support them? Rev. Clarke's journals and notes reveal information on at least 80 of these mystery children. There are over 400 children listed in these pages.

These pages document the placement history of these children. They reveal how many times, the same children would have to be moved before a suitable home could be found for them, and why the same children appear on more than one state's lists. It documents how sometimes children would be picked up locally and transported further down the line. Kidder points out how sometimes the children would wander away from the trains to disappear forever.
No orphan train research is complete without reading this facinating book.

I found Mr. Kidder's book to be fascinating. The photos of the dozens of little orphans are so endearing, and the stories of their trials and triumphs are immensely entertaining. Rev. H. D. Clarke was truly a remarkable individual. You'll find this book impossible to put down after you begin reading it. The balance of the book is told in Rev. Clarke's own words, and those of the orphans, which gives one an intimate and historical look at a most remarkable chapter in America's history.

Simply beautiful, well-composed photography... oh, and thoughtful captions. Quite the combination for this soon-to-be-classic album. If you recall these years before Amtrak with fondness, you will not be disappointed. Congrats, Mr. Boyd!

Ok, I admit that I know Jim Boyd, but that doesn't mean I own all his books. His photography is always excellent but his subjects don't always match my interest. This book was different. In it he captures the time period when I first became interested in trains, so his images took be back in time. The book is well thought out and well arranged. It is a great way to spend some time in the past.

Jim Boyd has brought back wonderful memories of the upper Midwest in 60's and early 70's. He covers more geography than that but that was my home then. No repetitive wedges, just well focused and printed photos that cover a lot of fallen flags. Great stuff!
A must have in every railfan's collection.

..
I'm not a serious train fan, but I like to look at good photos of old trains.
I picked up this book on a whim, and next thing I knew, a couple of hours had passed. Every small boy loves trains, and every big boy remembers, and gets a little nostalgic when he sees a big, black loco on display in the city park....

This is a slice of bygone America, and it's very nice to be reminded of those days.
The railroads built America, and inspired a lot of good old songs and stories, which you'll remember, seeing these remarkable photos of the Santa Fe Super Chief, the Twentieth Century Limited, the Midnight Special, the City of New Orleans, the Rock Island Road....

Boyd is an inspired photographer, and an obsessive railfan. But the rest of us, who wouldn't know an F7 locomotive from a GP-9, can just relax and enjoy the ride. Highly recommended, for serious railfans, casual buffs and people (like me) who just like to look at train photos now and then.

Happy reading--
Peter D. Tillman

Everybody is happy about toy train catalogs and toy train layout pictures that just look like the real ones. Well, what about pictures of real trains that look like model trains?

This is what I thought when I started reading Jim Boyd's book Outbound Trains -In the era before the Mergers.

What a splendid book. Well written and FULL of some of the most beautiful train pictures I've ever seen. And it's not only the trains. Look at the cars, people's fashion, the landscape.It is difficult to believe America looked like this not long time ago.

If you want to rekindle your love for trains by all means buy this book.

A wonderful window in time to the transition era on the PRR, and a valuable
reference for the PRR enthusiast and modeller.The book also showcases
the excellent photography of the late Don Ball Jr.

Don Ball's book shows in brilliant photography a railroad and a nation in its prime. Crisp color photography throughout. If there is a business to represent America when there were no doubts, this is it. Steam, electric, diesel, it's all here. And a surprising amount of classic images of other roads as well as the Pennsy borrowed power from the eastern US to make its manifests.

This book is simply a joy for rail enthusiasts. I am pleased to add it to my collection.

Lots of colour pictures I have never seen before, among them T1 and Q2.
The text covers the development of electric locomotives and the rather unspecific purchase of Diesels, which lead (to the pleasure of the railfan) to a large variety of types.

Ball and his cohorts have assembled an excellent collection of color photos of the PRR. Coverage is biased to the eastern end of the system, but this is not bad. There is an interesting story of the testing of early electric locomotives at the start of this book. A must for any true pennsy fan.

This is one of the "must have" books for every fan of the PRR. The color photos from the 1940s and 1950s (which make up the bulk of the book) are classic images of the railroad before its decline, and the text (which is limited to about the first 35 pages, plus photo captions, helps the reader understand the Pennsylania Railroad and its operations, particularly in the eastern half of the system. For those seeking more "technical" information, Staufer's Pennsy Power series will have more data, but the photos found here will complement the data found there. Those looking for historical information will some find some historical data here, although they may also be interested in Burgess & Kennedy's Centennial History of the Pennsylvania Railroad, Messer & Roberts' Triumph series, or in Rush Loving's book, The Men Who Loved Trains. There are also numerous other volumes published on the PRR, including many from smaller publishers.

This author is brilliant. With the exquisite use of detail and color, he masterminds a story that has captivated my little ones from the day we bought this story. Kurt Cyrus also has another book, "Tangletown", that is actually his debut book and, like "Oxmox", is wondrous in its tale. He is one of the best I've seen (I teach kindergarten), and I cannot wait for another book of his to be published. I see this author as a future prize-winner for his illustrations, and cannot wait for another book of his to be published. Such talent!

This book is a must read for my train loving 4 year old son, actually we were reading it to him when he was two. The story is just the right length and the pace moves along just like the train in question. It is a good story about learning to slow down and observe life. My wife and I have always admired Mr. Cyrus' watercolor art and look forward to his next releases. I especially recommend Odhopper Opera.

This has to rate up there with favorites such as Mike Mulligan and others. A great and easy book to read outloud. My three year old knows it by heart and "reads" along with me. Great Cuddle time book. He loves the pictures and the sound effects we make. A must have for any preschooler who love trains and fun stories! he had taken this book out so often at our local library, we decided to get him his own copy and give other kids a chance to enjoy it.

Slow Train to Oxmox is a fantastic book for preschool-age children. The language and story are engaging, and the illustrations are beautiful and interesting. I enjoy looking at them as much as my 3-year-old! He never tires of the story. I can't recommend this book enough!

Oxmox,Loblolly and Twigtwist: all stops on a train ride full of sweetness and humor. This book is truly a delight to read aloud to your child. It is a favorite with our two year old son: we have read it with him many, many times in the last few months, but we haven't tired of it yet. The language is fun, the illustrations imaginative, and Mr. Edwin Blink learns to loosen up, help out, and enjoy big wet sloppy kisses from a train. Of all the recently published books I have seen in the past year, this one stands out as having the feeling of a "classic" in the little bedtime story genre. I wish the author much success.

Having created many startups, both successful and some not so...I was starting on a new venture and needed some inspiration...and came across this book. I am really impressed with the style of humor, the logical progression of concepts and the great design layout....a great book.

Good book with good argument supporting the concept of success and the path to achieve it.

This is one of the most entertaining books I've ever read. The writing is simple and concise, and the illustrations are captivating. The quotes Richard has collected from some really successful people capture the essence of success in a down-to-earth way. Awesome!!

"A masterful job -- well-written, articulate, humorous, and helpful -- with visually grabbing layout to boot!" Filled with relevant quotes, color, graphics, and sidebars.

This is truly a great book for helping people take control over their lives: personally and professionally. Since the mid-1960s I have read over 300 self-help books and books about self-help books. I found this one very enjoyable to read. It was fun. It is filled with very useful down to earth stories and examples and 8 excellent keys to help all of us succeed in our lives.

This is one of the first Usborne Books I bought for my family, way before I became a consultant for the company. My youngest loved it. The text is rhythmic, the touchy-feely aspect is very attractive to babies and toddlers and there is a mouse on each page for your child to point out. This series is great for vocabulary development, especially those adjectives. For a long while my child would say "that's not my ... " in many situations such as in the parking lot going to our car. "That's not my car, it's too blue." "That's not my car, it's too big." It became a very enjoyable game for us! I call these the "potato chip" books because you can't have just one!

This is a book my 16 month old daughter asks for time and again by saying choo choo...She can now say words like rusty, glossy, and rough from reading this book and touching the textures. A great "learning to talk" aid.

Board book is a terrific book for very young children. My three year old reads it to my nine month old! Graphics and colors are great; use of repeative verse is perfect for the very young, ie. "that's not my train it's ...A must have for a little one's library.

My nine-month old loves this book--he spends a lot of time just flipping through the pages and checking out the different textures. Very simple text is balanced by very sturdy, brightly colored pages. Slightly larger than most board books, too. It's a great deal for the price.

This is my son's favorite book. I started reading it to him when he was about 3 months old and he still loves it at 9 months. (When his toddler friends visit, they read right along too.) The simple but bright graphics really hold his attention and he now loves to feel the different textures on each page. This was such a hit that we now own That's Not My...: Train, Tractor, Dinosaur, Puppy and Teddy Bear!