Trains and Railroads Books

The bygone days of steam-powered logging railways come back in this fascinating collection of B/W images.
As the title says, the locomotives are the protagonists, but many other details about the whole life of a logging railway in the Pacific Northwest manage to sneak in around the main subject - logging crews, base camps, service cars, rails and trestles - and of course the trees, both standing and felled, some quite awesome by their sheer size.
For the steam enthusiast, a visual feast: the logging locos were often quite off the beaten path - literally, of course, on their crude, temporary rails, but also in their design; several types of odd-looking engines were developed for the particular needs of this job, and rarely seen on mainline rails: all were different fron the conventional, side-rod driven locomotive and especially suited to sharp curves, uneven right-of-ways and, above all, unbelievable grades (happily, they very uniqueness made them survive until comparatively late in the steam era and some are to this day under steam in tourist service).
And for any other one, an interesting and entertaining trip down nostalgia lane; the well-written text complements nicely the images and makes the book enjoyable also to the newcomer.

This is an excellent book with great photos of many geared locomotives. A must have for anyone wanting to detail a model of a geared locomotive, or just for looking at the pictures. Each photo has a short narrative describing the photo. A well done book.

This book is a source of absolutely excellent photos of Shays, Heislers, and Climaxes used in the logging industry in the Pacific Northwest. With his huge box cameras and glass image plates, Kinsey was to B&W photography of the period as IMAX is to color motion pictures of today. The photos are the best B&W photographs I have ever seen on any subject. They are definitely of museum quality.

Geared Steam Locomotive Works

This is a beautifully produced work of a master photographer. The large format duotone prints are a joy to look at, with crisp detail and lovely tones. The book provides excellent examples of Darius' ability to capture the majestic beauty of hard working (but well cared for) steam locomotives (both geared and rod), along with the people whose lives they touched (engine crew, loggers, camp crew and families). I would have paid $20 each for several of the prints in this book. This is primarily a "picture book", but the additional commentary from railroaders and loggers of the Kinsey era adds that personal touch that the photographs so often contain.

I have looked at many hundreds of railroad books (and well over 100,000 photos), but the photographs in this volume are the best I've ever seen. Kinsey used a view camera and 11"x14" glass plate negatives to produce large contact prints for sale to the subjects (locomotive crew members) early in this century. The results are absolutely stunning; every photo has extraordinary tone and detail, impossible to produce with the small format (35mm and rollfilm) cameras commonly available today. This is a "must have" book for any photographer who wants to see what print quality large negatives are capable of producing. Darius Kinsey is the "Ansel Adams" of railroad photography.

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.

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!

The illustrations are beautiful. The story, as in other Thomas adventures, takes the flaws of human nature, and with a good natured spirit, turns them into benefits for everyone.

My two and a half year old daughter is just starting to get interested in Thomas and trains, so I looked for a book that would give some background information on Thomas and his friends. This is a pretty good introduction to the Sodor Island Railway and the Engines that are Thomas' best friends. The illustrations in this book are captivating, with enough of a mix of new and familiar to keep a small toddler engaged and curious. The story is very simple and each page has only a few sentences. My daughter loves this book and I am basically happy with it. However, if I had been writing this story, I would have included a little something in the beginning about Thomas doubting that he is really useful. His "really useful"-ness is affirmed at the end when he saves the day, but this affirmation seems meaningless because the author never established uselessness as a problem for Thomas in the start of the story. An older child might feel the story is a little hollow.

My daughters, ages 4.5 and 2.5 years old, really enjoyed this book. Cheerfully illustrated with text enclosed in easy-to-read boxes, this book is a must-read for new and seasoned Thomas fans. When the station roof is damaged during a storm, everyone pitches in to repair it. Everyone is useful! As a parent, I thought this book was ?useful? because: (1) it is a good introduction to readers who are not as familiar with Thomas and his friends, (2) children like my 2.5-year-old can identify with Henry the Green Engine?s fear of thunderstorms, (3) readers can cheer Thomas on as he searches for his missing friends Henry, Percy, and James, (4) parents can engage their children by asking questions, such as ?What was James supposed to fetch again?? The answer is lumber, bricks, and slate, (5) parents can also point out the bad behavior of the freight cars and stress the consequences of not doing what you are told.

This book is a great introduction to the Thomas series. Each of the trains are introduced in the beginning, and even indicate their size. Thomas and his friends endure a strong thunderstorm which knocks over a tree onto the station house. When it has to be repaired, Gordon is put in charge of the repairs and sends James off for the supplies. Those bad freight cars are at it again and knock James off the rails and into the mud, while they run off and get into trouble. Thomas goes out to look for his friend and finds Henry and Percy in trouble as well. Thomas gets the naughty cars in line and they all return home for a party. It's a very nice book, easy to read, and very enjoyable for all train lovers. It's one of the most requested books in our house and it definitely holds the attention of toddlers. A great find.

The pictures in this book are very entertaining for our 2 year old son. He sits through the entire story. Any child that loves trains (or cars, trucks, etc) will love this book!

my son is just shy of 3 and LOVEs trains... we borrowed this book from the library and we both fell in love with it. The illustrations are wonderful and has a fun rhythm to the story line. we ended up buying it!

My 3 year old has loved this book since he was two. The artwork is unique and fun and the text has a great rhythm. Fun for reading aloud. Glad we finally have our own copy since the one at the library is always checked out.

This is a great book. Both my 3 1/2 year old and my 1 1/2 year old love it. We borrowed it from the library and ended up having to buy it because we needed it for bedtime every night. They both have some of the lines memorized from the book because of the fun writing and rhyming. I would recommend it to everyone with small children.

My 2 year old son is a train fanatic and this is his favorite train book. It is my favorite as well. An excellent book to read aloud.

My 3 yr old loves trains. He wants this book read to him 3 times in a row. The writing is very rhythmical and easy to remember. My son "reads" along with it. He loves pointing to the pictures. Great book!

I love this book for many reasons, but perhaps most of all for the way the watercolors capture the light inside a Metro station and the texture of the concrete. It is the finest artistic representation of Metro I have seen.

I bought this book for my 2 year old daughter and her playgroup friends for Christmas. Each and every child has loved this book and has read it over and over again (we just bought another copy since we've worn one out). The descriptions of DC's Metro are very accurate and the poetic text make it memorable, especially when adding in the "rrrrumm whoooosh" sounds. My daughter now loves riding on the Metro and likes to bring this book along. This book is a must for city kids -- especially DC residents.

My daughter, Isabel, and I live in DC at the metro stop that Quattlebaum describes in "Underground Train," and we love this book. The language is poetic, the story easy to identify with, and the illustrations nicely fit the action. I heartily recommend "Underground Train" to families with train-riding kids everywhere.

Mary Quattlebaum's book evokes the sights and sounds of Washington, D.C., and especially of the D.C. subway system. The writing is downright poetic and is illustrated with beautiful, charming, and accurate depictions of the city. The day I bought this book, my two-year-old wanted it read to him again and again. I didn't mind; I love it too! The book is out of print and may be hard to find, but it's worth the trouble.

My son (age 4) has this book on his frequent reading request list! I like it too, but not as well as he does. He gets very confused by the parts of the book that are set above the ground, and I find them sort of needless---especially since on some pages there is no picture at all of the train underground. My son asks every time we are on those pages---"where's the train?". But that small flaw in our eyes is not enough to make him not like this book very much! His favorite part is the descriptive writing of how the train sounds! If you have a young train or subway lover, I would get this one!

Good Night Lullabies CD

The writing is catchy - lots of fun words and rhymes. The illustrations are sweet also. I read it in a soft voice, so it sounds almost like a lullaby, which helps my little grandchildren feel calmed by the rhythm of the words.

This wonderful book is a total joy and delight. I bought it for my granddaughter, but I couldn't resist reading it first for myself. Now I'm having to force myself to gift it. I can handle it, though. Julia is worth it.

My kids get to pick out a book each for bedtime, then I finish up with this one. It is just the right length, just the right words and pictures to set the mood for a comfortable nights sleep. I recommend it for all sleepy parents and children!

This is a delightful book that takes your child on a journey from wakefulness to sleep, on a very clever train ride. We go from Wiggletown, the town of Yawwwwwn, Groggy Grove and Snuggly Cove, and other sleepy stops along the way, to the final destination...Dreamland. I bought this book for my three year old Grandson, and he absolutely loves it. We can never stop at just one reading, he has to board that train twice, at least. The book is very well illustrated with colorful, fanciful drawings. This is a" must read" for any preschooler, I highly recommend it, so does my grandson!!

This is a beautifully illustrated, charming book which is a good alternative for train fanatics (you can only read Thomas so many times..!). It has nice pacing which is ideal for reading out loud. The heros are a little girl and a stuffed rabbit and all the folks/places they encounter on an overnight train trip - but of course, the real hero is the train!

My three-year old son loves books about trains. The challenge is finding a book that I enjoy reading over and over as many times as he enjoys listening to the story. _All_Aboard_ has flowing text that is fun to read, and fun to hear. The writing begs to be read aloud, and the reader will feel an enticement to make the words roll off the tongue as rhythmically as the train rolls along the track.

A young girl takes a train ride with Mr. Barnes, her toy rabbit, to see Grandma and Grandpa. The journey is not only one of words and sound. Amiko Hirao has done an excellent job with the art work. The pictures will hold the attention of child and adult for there is much to discover visually as the train moves towards its destination.

This book has a simple yet appealing story that kids can relate to (going on a journey, trains, a favorite stuffed animal and family). The language used is descriptive of a train sounds and fun to read. The illustrations are colorful, stylish and full of humorous detail (the mole's devotion to Crunch bars and reading books). I love reading this book almost as much as my three year old son does.

Mr. Barnes, a slightly mysterious rabbit in a blue suit, goes on a train ride in this incredibly engaging and original book. "All Aboard" combines old-fashioned sensibilities (the first few pages evoked 1950's illustrations to me) with a rarely seen sophistication in the test and illustrations. I loved it.

Amiko Hirao's dazzling pictures draw the reader right into the center of the story. You are immersed in the huge color displays, and the cinematic collages and low and high picture angles. Without showing a single step, she conveys both the upper berth and the aisle of a train; she inserts cut pictures of faces into a colored-pencil nightscape; she startles us with an immense dark tunnel. In one particularly original picture, a child looks directly at the reader, a passenger (only the right arm is shown) reads a yellowed newspaper with the headline "Olivia is Born," and a cuff-linked giraffe talks on a cell phone-it's dreamlike, a little noir film in day-glow colors.

Mary Lyn Ray's writing also combines the traditional and the original. There are familiar repetitions and rhythms (although look how she punctuates the following):

Whoonk whoonk wahooomk. The trains start slow.
But then it begins to roll.
Long train, silver train. Long train, silver train.
Long train. Silver train. Long train. Silver train.
Train, train, train, train.
Whooo whoooooo

and there are phrases that convey imagery and metaphor: Baggaged boxes "sleep," and, as the train rolls along: "A city slides by, strung with lights in the night, like a tug of dreams on a river." Similarly, one page has the familiar cadence of " A freight flashes by...Red red yellow green yellow yellow blue green. Vrooom. Vroom. Vroom," but the next page describes how "Mr. Barnes likes to look out the window. He likes to see the between. The between where's he's come from and where he goes to." The book also has a fun surprise ending. How can you not like an author who dedicates the book "for everyone who waves from trains, and all those who wave back?"

I think that kids from toddler to early grade school age will enjoy the book immensely. However, because of the art and design, teens and adults will appreciate Ray and Hirao's exceptionally talented imagination. Very, very highly recommended!