Railroad Books

In this profoundly moving and beautifully illustrated picture storybook, Haemi Balgassi tells the story of the train which carried South Korean citizens south, away from the reach of North Korean invading troops. Structured as a story within a story, the book carries with it a sense of history, the terror and loss of war, and the hope that causes the most damaged humans to live for the future. This book is a TRIUMPH!

This is a magnificent book for readers of all ages to enjoy and explore. Younger children may enjoy it on it's simplest level of a child missing a mother. Older readers will enjoy learning about the effects of war on family and friends. Everyone will savor the gracious art of the illustrator and will feel the story through his heartfelt interpretation of the author's words. Haemi Balgassi has truly written this story from her heart and tears and we are more than fortunate to be able share her family's history. Every classroom should own a copy of this wonderful history lesson

Sumi is a Korean-American girl who lives with her grandmother, whom she calls Harmony (which means grandmother in Korean), on East Blossom Hill. Her mother is in the army and Sumi is homesick for her. Sumi watches the trains in the valley below hoping that someday her mother will be on one. The train whistle reminds Sumi's grandmother of when the Korean War took place. She and her family escaped from Seoul, Korea just before the war came. This marked a very sorrowful time in Harmony's life because she had to leave her husband behind in Seoul to travel to Pusan, which was safe. Though her husband loved her, he insisted that he needed to take part in the war by being a soldier.
I like this book because it has great description. You can read it when you want to read a good book but you don't have too much time to read. It is a mixture between a chapter book and a picture book. The illustrations are amazing. The writer involoves you in the story so you can imagine everything that is happening as if it was happening to you. It was very easy for me to put myself in the place of the characters in the book so I could "be in the story".
This is an excellent book. It is the best picture or short story I've ever read. The pictures illustrate the writing well and add something to the book. I would recommend it to anyone over the age of 9. It is a very emotional book and the author clearly describes the sad events in the characters' lives.

I teach 3rd and 4th grade accelerated reading programs, and recommend this book heartily. Very moving and powerful, and the art is beautiful, too.

A mostly black-and-white print book, excellent background material and high-quality photos. Superlative portrait of the greatest failed railroad's fleet of wheezing, failing locomotives and the few new ones that arrived too late to make a difference.

Though no longer in print, it can often be found at less than $100, which is reasonable. Above that price, it's not such a good bargain.

This is an awesome book about a long despised but now (surprize, surprize) missed railroad. This book covers in detail through many excellant photos the total roster of Penn Central Locomotives. I feel a better book has not been written about the Penn Central. This book is hard to come by and if you can find it at a reasonable price I would recommend you bye it.

This is an excellent book if you're looking for a comprehensive summary of Penn Central Motive power. Great photos, and good details on the origins of the different locomotives. Photography books on the Penn Central are hard to come by, so if you find this one, get it!

Great book if you like this road as much as me. Photos and text are good. Best thing since Reid's PC Bi-annual in 1970

I am a very picky fan of railroad art and have rejected hundreds of images that weren't quite "right" for some reason or another. Once I learned of Howard Foggs detail, I knew I had to have this book and was not disappointed. Each image is wonderfully crafted and has a descriptive caption, as well as other descriptive features in the book. I fully recommend this book to the railroad enthusiast.

This is truly an beautiful railroad book. I say this from the perspective of one who has been collecting railroad books for over 30 years! Not only are the pictures reproduced in beautiful colors, much the same as the original, the text clearly shows the type of individual Howard Fogg was during his life. It would be my suggestion that if you buy only one railroad book this year it would be this one.

From interviews with those who knew or worked with painter Howard Fogg to full-page color examples of his train portraits, this presents an outstanding survey of the 50-year work of Fogg, who only painted trains. From steam locomotives to diesels and landscapes where trains featured, Railroad Artistry of Howard Fogg presents Fogg's best work, gathered by two of his closest friends.

All of Howard Foggs attention to detail has been captured in the book. The captions and related articles are very detailed and accurate. Included is an introduction from Howard's family. Al Chione has done a wonderful job of presenting Howard's paintings. The book itself is made of very high quality material.

Written by David K. Butler, Sr., former Chief of Police for the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway, Railroaded in Cooperstown is the true story of the author's quest for social justice and responsibility in the village of Cooperstown, New York. When Butler investigated a double fatality train accident, he uncovered corruption and incompetence leading to needless deaths, yet was stymied at every turn by greedy and bureaucratic interests as he struggled to defend the public. Railroaded in Cooperstown is as much a cautionary tale about the mire of politics and power as it is a defiant saga of human determination to do what is right, and is a singularly compelling read from first page to last.

Right from the beginning the book draws you in. Also, to actually read the truth from David Butler and the events that followed in his life because of this event that took place will
blow your mind. Hats off to David Butler for bringing such a travisty back to life and sharing it with us all.
Jackie
liverpool ny.

With the CEO of the Deleware Otsego's, May 2006, 200 mile lease to New York Regoinal Interconnect for installation of a high voltage line through pristine Upstate NY, Mr. Rich has become a very polarizing personality here in NY. Billy Howard - Cassville, NY

This book was hard to put down, due principally to the emotional content and the effect it had on the personal life of Mr. Butler and his family. I happen to know Mr. Butler personally because I worked for the same company! A must read for those who are not aware of how a corporate entity and its management can destroy everything a former employee worked so hard to obtain.

Whether an a railfan for decades or just getting into the hobby, this is a great book. Copy is informative and not overdone. Photos and graphics are outstanding. Although my interest in railroading in the Northeast, I found the collection of schedule graphics, promotional pieces, etc. very interesting and, simply, just fun to look at. I lent my copy to a few of my buddies and was happy to see they didn't glance over the pages, but were caught by photos and info. (Hats off to the graphics people). And these are former railroaders and modelers who are "rivet counters," so for the book to get their attention says something about it. A few commented on the price, and thought the book was a real bargain.

Train travel enthusiast and photographer Claude Wiatrowski is a member of the Colorado Midland Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society; the Railway & Locomotive Historical Society; The Colorado Railroad Museum; The Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad; Friends of the East Broad Top; the Nevada Northern Railway Museum; the Pikes Peak Historical Street Railway Foundation; and the Lexington Group in Transportation History. He is therefore in a particularly knowledgeable position to create a profusely illustrated history of American railroads, and has done so with "Railroads Across North America: An Illustrated History", an amazingly informed and informative 256-page compendium of information and images ranges from the first steam-powered locomotives of the 1800s down to the high-speed commuter trains of today. Enhanced with a descriptive listing of historical societies and other railroad organizations, as well as a section devoted to preserved railways, museums and historic sites, ""Railroads Across North America" also includes a bibliography and a comprehensive index, making it an ideal and enthusiastically recommended addition to personal, academic, and community library Railroading reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

As a general book on railroading, this is an excellent book. The photos are excellent, and it covers all the major railroads (and most minor ones) across the USA. There are many chapters on various aspects of railroading, and it is very informative for those who are learning or new to the hobby.

Railroads Across North America is a unique book in this field. it illustrates in great color the historic rail lines that made America great. It also shows the breadth of railroad activites that were a part of operations. This book is just plain fun!

Bill Lock,
Founder Friends
of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad

If only all textbooks were written this way. The book describes history through personal experiences. Sidebars are very useful.

Magram's vivid description and anecdotal presentation make for an excellent learning tool. Layout is coffee table-style, but the contents of each page leave young readers well informed. Includes glossary of bold terms.

I loved this book. I learned about history and what really happened when Americans were building railroads back then. I would reccomend it to anyone else.

My son used Railroads of the West for a 5th grade history project. He ended up relying on this book for the bulk of his research. Afterward, he begged me for a trip to the railroad museum near our home! Magram's book puts human faces and life stories to the history of an American industry.

This is a wonderful little book that does a marvelous job of introducing the reader to the building and development of the rail tunnels from New Jersey, under the Hudson, into New York City. While it is not a detailed history of the work, it is very well written, engaging, and absolutely enchanting. I highly recommend it.

Rails Under The Mighty Hudson: The Story Of The Hudson Tubes, The Pennsy Tunnels, And Manhattan Transfer by author and transportation expert Brian J. Cudahy is the true history of the construction of railway tunnels linking New Jersey and New York. Black-and-white photographs enrich this meticulous, thorough accounting of a turn-of-the-century engineering marvel that helped transform America into the modern engine of transportation and mass production that it is today. Rails Under The Mighty Hudson is a meticulously researched and deftly written addition to any personal, academic, and community library railroad history reference collections.

This story begins in the final years of the 19th century, when the first attempts to build rail tunnels under the Hudson were ending. Two of the tunnels were built by one company, the other by a competing railroad company. Brian Cadahy's new edition of Rails Under The Mighty Hudson is updated with more photos and a new preface and chapter of recent events.

I have always enjoyed Brian J. Cudahy's books. "The Malbone Street Wreck" was a sobering look at the disaster that befell the subway line in 1918. And last year's "A Century of Subways: Celebrating 100 Years of New York's Underground Railways" was just the opposite: it was a joyful, admiring look at the making of the subway system in New York, and tracked its progress through the 20th century.

I eagerly picked up this reprint of his 1975 book "Rails Under the Mighty Hudson: The Story of the Hudson Tubes, the Pennsy Tunnels and Manhattan Transfer" and was not disappointed. Briefly, this book describes the historical need for these tubes, the technological requirements, the difficulties in construction, and the dramatic effects they had upon completion. Villains and heroes abound, as they will in any tale of expensive public works, but they are relegated to a second-tier, as Cudahy's obvious admiration for this effort takes precedence. Comparisons to the Erie Canal are not far-fetched when describing the success of these tubes, and it is not far-fetched to say that only Brian Cudahy's passion for his subject makes this book one of the greatest about railroads, in general. The smattering of gorgeous photographs are gravy!

The collaboration of Cathy L. Clamp and C. T. Adams, Road To Riches: The Great Railroad Race To Aspen is an historical novel set in late 1800s America, and about the men of the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad who put their backs into a no-holds-barred race against the Colorado Midland Railroad to determine who would be the first to reach Aspen Colorado in 1887, and with that achievement, reap the rich rewards of serving as transportation for tourists, businessmen, and anyone who would buy a ticket. An enthralling, original, deftly woven tale of cut-throat competition, backstabbing, war against the elements, amazing human feats and so much more, Road To Riches is exceptionally well crafted and highly recommended reading.

Road to Riches is an enjoyable book, with a flair for western United States history mixed with a nicely woven tale of humanity. Ms. Clamp and Ms. Adams have succeeded in bringing the trials and tribulations of crossing the Rocky Mountains to life. The sources cited and historical documents provided only add to the scope of the story. A must-read for railroad enthusiasts everywhere!

This book is superb in combining historical events and the personal challenges leading to the construction of a railroad line to Aspen. An outstanding representation of the race between competing companies. The photographs from that period are very interesting and help 21st Century readers better understand some of the obstacles. I would highly recommend this book.

I have read voraciously for decades and have frequently found that an historical novel can be a great read. Such is the case, here, with Road to Riches: The Great Railroad Race to Aspen. The authors have picked a great historical topic which would have stood on its own AND they added compelling fiction to raise it to the level of a "great read."

"Rolling Dreams: Portraits of the Northwest's Railroad Heritage" is a laudable homage to the Pacific Northwest's rail transportation network.

D.C. Jesse Burkhardt's 78 color images (and 12 b&w ones) are sharp, varied, and celebratory.

His grand and dynamic pictures (e.g., "Sherars Crossing," where a southbound container train crosses a trestle over Oregon's Deschutes River) are nicely matched by quiet--and even somber--photos (e.g., "Forgotten Rails," where wildflowers and fog hover above the abandoned Astoria line of the Burlington Northern).

A few of Burkhart's pictures--such as the hushed Oregon snow scene of a stretch of the Southern Pacific railway--would have been far more effective had they been larger.

And a couple of photos are a shade too dark.

But Burkehardt is a talented photographer and writer, and he has produced a fine work.

The photo work is exceptional, with nice, very detailed captions. Even though the Columbia Gorge is just a few miles away from here, it has been little appreciated for its beauty from the point of view of rail traffic. Also, the text is concise and informative.

For some of us, trains and railroads have an uncanny and mysterious power. The author seems to understand this, and many of his photos capture the essence of this power. Worth owning.

Out of the several hundred railroad books I own, only a few are returned to time after time. Rolling Dreams is one.

Rolling Dreams is more poetry than documentary. Although its subject is railroads, its techniques represent photography and (in the sense of texture and composition)painting. Rolling Dreams captures the beauty and details of railroading and the Northwest rail environment.

It captures the many moods of the weather as well as the tremendous range of railroading from large and small.

If you want a "railroad book that's more than a railroad book," add Rolling Dreams to your collection...and keep it at close to your bedside table.

A terrific book, full of lots of photos and colour reproductions of advertising posters etc. Was dissappointed in that it had no detail on the actual trains re locos and consists etc, but more on the PR side of the Chiefs. If you are after more in depth detail I recommend the book "Santa Fe Streamliners" the Chiefs and their Tribesmen by Karl Zimmermann. A must have addition for the set.

In Santa Fe: The Chief Way, railroading enthusiasts Robert Strein, John Vaughan, and C. Fenton Richards Jr. collaborate to present an informative and totally engaging presentation of the famed Santa Fe railroad, and its legendary"Chief" locomotives that powered the trains along the New Mexico terrains. Blending historic photography with period advertisements, and thematic artwork, Santa Fe: The Chief Way is a welcome and much appreciate contribution to any American railroading history collection. Also available in a hardcover format (0937206717), Santa Fe: The Chief Way is an ideal giftbook for railroad buffs as well.

Robert Strein, John Vaughan, and Fenton Richards effectively collaborate to provide an informative and fascinating history of the Santa Fe railroad in Santa Fe - The Chief Way. Illustrated throughout with many unique historical photographs enhancing the "reader friendly" text, we are presented with highlights of those prestigious trains and their luxurious accommodations on the Santa Fe run. A welcome and highly recommended addition to any railroad buff's collection, Santa Fe - The Chief Way also touches upon the railroad hires of Native Americans guides to ride the trains through New Mexico for the edification of the passengers, as well as citing the film stars and cinematic moments associated with Santa Fe railroading history.

Gorgous photos, paintings, and old advertisements along with informative text, this book is for anyone who has ever been drawn to the serenity and beauty of new mexico.