Trains and Railroads Books

If you want to know what different locomotives in different countries looked like, then this is a great source of information. Set up almost like an encyclopedia of locomotives and trains, you can find what you are looking for here.

Part of the The Illustrated Directory Of series, this book is a real hoot!

Following a reasonable timeline, some of our most importaint locomotives in the history of Railways are covered, Steam, Electric, Diesel and GasTurbine.

All regions are covered but the U.K., Europe and North America get the most coverage as the need to create communications in these large land mass areas saw the most development in locomotive technology.

The contentious issue of who built the first Pacific type (4-6-2)locomotve is settled with Baldwin winning by a couple of weeks with their order from the New Zealand Government Railways for that country's Q class locomotives in 1899-1900.

Other magnificent feats of engineering are covered, the mighty Big Boys, the sleek GG1s, the Hudsons, F7 Diesels etc and the modern locomotives and High Speed passenger trains of today all get a look in. Relevent data is included for those who want to know, other than that, what a great read.

This wonderful book covers over 150 locomotives starting from the very early steam to present day high speed trains. Steam,Diesel and Electric traction are all covered with fairly good descriptions on each locomotive.Though majority of entries are from from US and UK, other countries are covered aswell. Locomotives which brought technological innovations and also ones which performed well are all included.Interesting historical information on each locomotive is also provided.The book contains beautiful color photographs and some superb highly detailed color line drawings.Though without an index this book is very informative and covers the most important locomotives of the past aswell as the present.

I absolutely loved this book! The cryptic rhyme is unmatched by any other. Very informative and fun to read! Young and old will enjoy reading this story and learning.

I can't wait to read more work by this author. Way to go Verla Kay! It was absolutely wonderful.

This writer manages to tell the maximum story in the minimum words. Art is excellent & fits well with words. Good introduction to railroads.

Tight. Spare. Exacting. With great care and skill, author Verla Kay artfully recounts the long, complex, and often confusing story of the building of the transcontinental railway -- in fewer than 200 words! "Railroad barons, Visions, dreams. Thinking, planning, Plotting schemes. Politicians, Congress, vote. 'Build your railroad,' Lincoln wrote." Wow! Even in its simplicity, this book entertains, informs, and makes history come alive. With the help of striking, dramatic illustrations, it shrieks and whistles and pounds and thumps while serving up information in palatable, chewy bites. A welcome introduction to the fabulous adventure that the study of history can be. Kids, as well as stuffy old historians, are bound to love this book!

I have to admit it, I keep expecting to get one of the stories & have it stink. I mean, how can a series keep going & still be entertaining? Many long-running mangas all seem to have the same problem: after a point in time the storyline starts to sag & the characters become one dimensional. Not so for this series!

This particular volume surrounds a traveling troupe of magicians and a death threat. The actions starts on a train (hence the title) and then moves into a hotel as the troupe is no longer on said train. (Sorry for the lack of detail, but anything else would ruin the plot!)

Would I recommend this? Yup! Even if you haven't read any of the other volumes you can still pick up & enjoy any of the manga since each volume is a self-contained story (with the exception of one two parter).

One of my favorite murder mystery mangas. It continues to keep the reader intrigued and guessing as to the idenity of the murderer.

Magic and blood fill the pages of "The Magical Express".

I was awaiting the next book in the series. The minute I saw the email from Amazon about preordering the book I did. I enjoyed this book very much as did my teenager brother. Anyone who is a fan of the series should get this book and even if you're not yet a fan this is a great book.

When Kristy heard that Derek is making a movie called "Mystery train" they think it's great. This book is connected to Kristy and the missing child. Because now Derek is missing. Now Nicky and Derek's friends have to find him.

ISBN 0590691783 - First off, let's clear this up... I don't think our friendly reviewer the Book Addict actually reads the things he reviews, because no one is missing, least of all a child.

Kristy and Abby are trying to run baseball practice when Derek Masters, child star, rolls back into town. He hasn't forgotten his old friends and invites Nicky to come along on a 3-day train ride from Boston to Charleston to promote his new movie. Derek's father invites even more friends along to surprise him - including a few babysitters. Of course, things begin to happen almost right away as drama surrounds the adult stars of Derek's film. It's all small stuff, until Kristy witnesses a man pushed from the train. Now it looks like murder!

Who's behind this? And why? Can the killer be stopped before they kill again? Fun stuff, not the best BSC Mystery I've read, but they're all good. Martin, as usual, does a great job of remembering the history of her characters, which is one of the best reasons to read these books!

This book was really really good! It was also very scary! Derek Masters has come back to Stoneybrook for a visit! He also just completed a new movie that takes place on a mystery train. For a special publicity the stars of the movie can take a trip on it with some guests. Kristy, Stacey, and Abby get to fo along with Nicky Pike and some of Derek's other friends. Then on the train some weird things start to happen and someone is even thrown overboard! The Baby-sitters have to solve this before something happens to Derek!

This is a great book for the 9 mo.-2 age range. My son loves this book and he begs for us to read it several times a day. I am actually going to buy a new one since ours has worn out!

I bought this book for my 10-month old son because of the reaction it brought forth. Although never been on a train before, my son bounced and swayed his body to the "toot toot" rhythm as if he was sitting on a train traveling along when he pressed the little button. He could not stop giggling to the sound and the light that was coming out of the book! I have never seen this much excitment with any other book he had!

The button was easy for little hands to press (compared to a lot of other toys that are activated with press buttons). My son had learnt how to press it after I showed him only once.

Do bear in mind that the writing was short and simple without much of a storyline. It was more for playing than for reading. The sound and light also requires a lot of battery power. I am waiting to see how long the 3 batteries will last. Nonetheless, for the entertainment it provides, it is worthy of 5 starts!

My children and I adore The Little Engine That Could, and Amanda Glassman is a wonderful writer. I would recommend this book for any parent who likes to read to his or her children.

For anyone interested in current day diesel locomotives this is the book for them. Beautifully bound, great colored pictures and for railroad history buffs, excellent information on the companies who still build these prime movers.

If you are a true train buff especially if you are interested in Diesel Locomotives, than this publication is a must have. The author has truly provided you with a great deal of info on GE, EMD and the smaller guys locomotives. The photos that go with the text could not have been better anywhere else.

this book is a must have for any modern diesel locomtive fan who what is see the differences betwen certain models of the same basic engine

There are not a lot of books out there on the historic Maryland and Pennsylvania railroad, so if you want to learn about the history of this great little line, this is a must have. I grew up in Baldwin Md. and only wish I could have been around to see that train pass by... in some ways after reading this, I feel I have.

Authoritative, well written, and just a little tongue in cheek. A leisurely read about a leisurely railroad.

I'm a little prejudiced about the subject since the little railroad ran past my grandparents dining room window. Dr. Hilton does a fine job documenting the road's history and happily provides many photographs any railroad fan will love. Once upon a time little railroads like this were the lifeline of the country, and the Ma & Pa was a jewel. Incidentally, Ma & Pa comes from the lettering the Maryland & Pennsylvania used on its equipment. They used M & Pa so not to be confused with the Missouri Pacific. Some chance! The addition of the other "a" was a natural.

Robert C. Jones has done a great service to fans of Maine's narrow guage railroads by republishing Linwood Moody's classic book on the Pine Tree State's 2-foot guage railroads. No one wrote with the passion for these narrow guage trains than Moody, whose book was originally published in 1958. For devotees of these trains, "The Maine Two-Footers" has been the bible, if you can find a copy. Jones has written extensivly on railroads in Vermont and Maine. His "Two Feet to..." series of books are packed with pictures and information. This new edition of "The Maine Two-Footers" has added photographs and is in a larger format than the original.

I had been wanting to lay my hands on this book for years, since it was out of print I never got it. Now, by chance (thanks to Amazon), I found out that Robert Jones had a new edition published at Heimburger House. Finding out and ordering was just one single step. Here I am now: it is a beautiful book, this new edition being even better thanks to today's publishing possibilities. There is a wealth in illustrations, and nearly all the information you might want. There is a lot to learn about them 'Lilliputs', as Linwood Moody called them. I would have liked to find a few additional pages about the whats and whereabouts of today's 24 inchers. Where are the museums, where can I go to see the last remainders ?

I had been wanting to lay my hands on this book for years, since it was out of print I never got it. Now, by chance (thanks to Amazon), I found out that Robert Jones had a new edition published at Heimburger House. Finding out and ordering was just one single step. Here I am now: it is a beautiful book, this new edition being even better thanks to today's publishing possibilities. There is a wealth in illustrations, and nearly all the information you might want. There is a lot to learn about them 'Lilliputs', as Linwood Moody called them. I would have liked to find a few additional pages about the whats and whereabouts of today's 24 inchers. Where are the museums, where can I go to see the last remainders ?

A wonderful story, humorous illustrations, and a happy ending; this enduring little book continues to be a family favorite, from my 16 year old to my 5 year old. We are buying our third edition, as we have now worn out two other copies. This is a loved book.

Mooney B. Finch (also the subject of another book) has the ability to make his drawings real - or to erase things and make them go away. One afternoon he draws himself a train, and before you know it he's in the middle of a train robbery. He draws and erases the robber's gun, then his pants (leaving only his underwear). There are a few other slapstick moments before the robber is caught,and Mooney B. Finch returns to the peace of his front stoop and his family.

When Moony draws, and touches the paper, his drawing comes to life, and when he erases, it vanishes. He draws a train, foils a robber by exposing his underwear, and returns home. It is very funny and imaginative. I have read it aloud to kids in pre-school up to 3rd grade, and kids always ask to check it out afterward.

Narrow Gauge Railways of Canada

This is a well-written and nicely-illustrated book by one of Canada's foremost railroad historians. The 2005 edition has 32 pages of color photographs that were not in the original 1973 edition. The book is divided into 23 chapters, ranging fron one or two pages for the smallest lines to 38 pages for the White Pass & Youkon and 44 pages for the Newfoundland Railway.

Each chapter provides a summary of the railway covered, as opposed to an in-depth history, so it is informative yet easy to read; and the text is nicely-supplemented with maps and locomotive rosters. People with a general interest in railways, or a specific interest in Canadian railways or narrow gauge lines should find this book enjoyable and a worthwhile addition to their library.

Railroad gauges in Canada have varied quite a bit. In 1851, the legislature passed a law that all rails laid in Canada would be 5'6". This was to keep Yankee domination of the railroads from happening. The fact that you then couldn't send a car from Toronto to New York wasn't important. This lasted until the 1870's.

Canada's narrow gauges came from two sources. One was the 'British Metric,' not really metric, but 3'6". The other, more common in the west was copied from the very successful D&RG of Colorado which used a 3' gauge.

There were some 17 narrow gauge railways in Canada. Generally speaking they were in areas where the narrow gauge meant significant savings in construction costs. The tighter turning radius meant that a lot less earth had to be moved in mountains.

This book is a loving collection of the pictures and stories of these railways. And lest you think of narrow gauge as something of the last century, there is a great picture on page 115 of a diesel engined train leaving a tunnel and crossing a bridge. What makes is to great is that everything in the picture, the tunnel, the bridge, the engines, the cars is of later than 1968 vintage.

Lovingly Done, Great Pictures, Good Book.

Twenty-three short histories of Canadian railways and tramways are presented in text and in numerous black & white photos. Timetables, engine erection drawings, and time-mileage charts are included for some of the lines. The strength of the book is the presentation of these railways which may otherwise not be known. Those who love Canadian railway history or obscure narrow gauge railroads will find this book a delight.