Spirit of America Bookstore

Railroad  Equipment
{ Page 4 }

top of page 1
short history
Whyte's notation system

locomotive power
steam locomotives

top of page 2
articulated locomotives
geared locomotives
diesel locomotives

top of page 3
electric locomotives
gasoline-powered
streetcars, subways & interurban
other designs

           simple photograph of sunlit railroad track            here on page 4:
rolling stock

passenger cars & trains
private railcars
freight cars
maintenance equipment

stations, tunnels & bridges

books

videos & other media

image gallery

links

Spirit of America Bookstore's American Railroads Pages

Spirit of America Bookstore's Railroad Film Festival Pages

Spirit of America Bookstore's 'Non-Fiction Books About Railroads' Pages

Spirit of America Bookstore's 'Railroads in Fiction' Pages

G.E. Nordell's Arizona Travel / Railroads Links Page
G.E. Nordell's California Travel / Railroads Links Page
G.E. Nordell's Colorado Travel / Railroads Links Pages
G.E. Nordell's Nevada Travel / Railroads Links Page
G.E. Nordell's New Mexico Travel / Railroads Links Page
G.E. Nordell's Utah Travel / Railroads Links Page

G.E. Nordell's Travel U.S.A. / Railroad Museums Page

'History of Rail Transport in the U.S.' page at Wikipedia

Rolling  Stock

100 Years of Steam Locomotives  
"100 Years of Railroad Cars" [1958] by Walter A. Lucas
Simmons Boardman hardcover [1/58] out of print/rare
Railroad Rolling Stock Gallery book by Steve Barry  "Railroad Rolling Stock Gallery" [2009] by Steve Barry
Illustrated with more than 250 photographs; each chapter features a specific type: from boxcars, gondolas, and hoppers to tankcars, flatcars, and auto racks, intermodal rolling stock, passenger equipment, the venerable caboose, and even maintenance-of-way (M.O.W.) equipment.
Kindle Edition from Voyageur Press [1/2009] for $9.99
Voyageur Press 8¼x6½ pb [1/2009] for $13.51


Passenger  Cars  &  Trains
Streamliner Memories blogsite [est. 8/2012]]
American Passenger Rail Heritage Foundation [est. 2007] is based in La Plata, Missouri

Steam, Steel & Limiteds book by William W. Kratville  "Steam, Steel & Limiteds: A Definitive History of The Golden Age of America's Steam-Powered Passenger Trains" [1962]
by William W. Kratville

Kratville Publns 11¼x9 hardcover [1987] out of print/used
Barnhart Press hardcover [1962] out of print/used
Coach Trains and Travel book by Patrick C. Dorin  "Coach Trains and Travel" [1975] by Patrick C. Dorin
Reports on old-time bench-seat coaches to superb modern all-coach trains such as 'The Blue Comet', Reading RR's 'Crusader', Ontario Northland's 'Polar Bear', and NYC's 'Pacemaker'; also covers commuter, milk, mail, ski, rail fan, and express trains, and the Auto-Train and Amtrak.
Superior Publng Co. 10½x8½ hardcover [1975] out of print/40+ used
'Luxury Trains From the Orient Express to the TGV' book by George Behrend  "Luxury Trains: From The Orient Express To The TGV" [France 1982]
by George Behrend

Book Sales 9¼x12¼ hardcover [11/87] out of print/80+ used
Vendome Press 6x9½ hardcover [1982] out of print/used
American Railroad Passenger Car  "The American Railroad Passenger Car" [1985]
by John H. White Jr.

Johns Hopkins Univ Press {6.25 pounds} pb [3/85] for $70.00
Vol 1: 12½x10½ pb [3/85] for $40.00
Vol 2: 12½x9½ pb [3/85] for $34.40
Pullman Systems In The Golden Years book by Peter T. Maiken  "Night Trains: The Pullman Systems In The Golden Years of American Rail Travel"
[1992] by Prof. Peter T. Maiken

First, a history of American railroads and the development of passenger routes; second, a detailed list of every Pullman train and its location at midnight every night.
Johns Hopkins Univ Press 11x8½ pb [10/92] out of print/40+ used
Lakme Press 11x8¾ hardcover [11/89] out of print/used
'American Streamliner Pre-War Years' book by Donald J. Heimburger & Carl Byron  
"American Streamliner, Prewar Years" [1997]
by Donald J. Heimburger & Carl Byron

with 200 color and black-and-white photographs
Heimburger House Publng 10¾x10¼ hardcover [1997] for $41.00
Golden Age of the Passenger Train book by C.J. Riley  "The Golden Age of The Passenger Train: From Steam To Diesel and Beyond" [1997] by C.J. Riley
MetroBooks 12½x10¾ hardcover [6/97] out of print/40+ used
125 Years International Sleeping Car Company book by Albert Muhl & Jurgen Klein  "125 Years International Sleeping Car Company: Trains de Luxe" [1998]
by Albert Mühl & Jürgen Klein

Book appears to contain English- & French- & German-language text.
VG-Bild-Kunst hardcover [1998] out of print/used
Streamliner Memories book by Mike Schafer  "Streamliner Memories (M.B.I. Enthusiast Color Series)" [1999]
by Mike Schafer

Packed with period color photos covering the heyday of streamliner travel from 1930 to 1970
Motorbooks International 9x8¼ pb [5/99] out of print/used
'American Streamliner Post-War Years' book by Donald J. Heimburger & Carl Byron  "American Streamliner, Postwar Years" [2001]
by Donald J. Heimburger & Carl Byron

with 200 color and black-and-white photographs
Heimburger House Publng 10¾x10¼ hardcover [2001] for $43.08
Art of the Streamliner book by Bob Johnston & Joe Welsh  "The Art of The Streamliner" [2001]
by Bob Johnston & Joe Welsh, with Mike Schafer

with more than 175 black-and-white and full-color photographs
Metro Books 10¼x10¼ hardcover [4/2001] out of print/many used
American Passenger Train  "The American Passenger Train" [2001]
by Mike Schafer

Motorbooks Intl. 10¼x10½ hardcover [11/2001] for $34.95
Luxury Trains book by John Smith  "Luxury Trains" [2008] by John Smith
teNeues Verlag GmbH 12½x10 hardcover [9/2008] out of print/used
American Passenger Trains, WWII To Amtrak book by Patrick C. Dorin  "American Passenger Trains: WWII To Amtrak" [2009]
by Patrick C. Dorin

Enthusiast Books 11x8½ pb [5/2009] for $35.23
American Passenger Train Equipment 1940s-1980s book by Patrick C. Dorin  "American Passenger Train Equipment, 1940s-1980s" [2010]
by Patrick C. Dorin

Enthusiast Books 11x8½ pb [10/2010] for $29.65
A-Z of Famous Express Trains book by Julian Holland  "An A-Z of Famous Express Trains: An Illustrated Trip Down Memory Lane"
[2013] by Julian Holland

Covers 120 named express passenger trains of Britain
hardcover [6/2013] out of print/used
Streamliners In The Age of Speed and Style book by Brian Solomon  "Streamliners: Locomotives and Trains In The Age of Speed and Style" [2015]
by Brian Solomon

Voyageur Press hardcover [DUE Oct 2015] for $25.81

HO-scale model of Pullman car in standard Pullman green livery         HO-scale model of C&NW Pullman car in yellow & green livery        HO-scale model of CB&Q Pullman car in maroon livery

Private  Railcars
From the first, railroad barons and division superintendents needed accomodations for themselves and for potential clients: ornate sleeping cars were built to impress and simple inspection cars provided access without relying on train schedules. Size and decor reflected the owning railroad: vintage clerestory observation cars, mid-weight and heavy Pullman cars, and lighter-weight cars as technology progressed to the streamliner. With the decline of passenger service and the corporate takeovers of American railroads, the private cars became unnecessary; nowadays, it is 'send me a fax or text mail or a tweet!' But the wealthy class is always looking for ways to show off, and many private railcars remain in service, either in use by their owner/s or as rentals/charters for honeymoons or ski trips or parties and such events.

logo for American Association of Private Railroad Car Owners, Inc. [est. 1979]    The American Association of Private Railroad Car Owners, Inc. [est. 1979]
A.A.P.R.C.O. printed charter guide
A.A.P.R.C.O. annual convention [Oct 2015 = #38] will be in St. Louis, Missouri
A.A.P.R.C.O. list of member private railcars available for charter

Spirit of America Bookstore's
Private Railcars U.S.A. Page

Spirit of America Bookstore's
railroad tycoon George Pullman [1831-97] Page


Freight  Cars  &  Trains

American Railroad Freight Car book by John H. White Jr.  "The American Railroad Freight Car: From The Wood-Car Era To The
Coming of Steel" [1993] by John H. White Jr.

Johns Hopkins Univ Press pb [11/95] for $42.96
Johns Hopkins Univ Press 12¾x10½ hardcover [10/93] out of print/used
The American Freight Train book by Jim Boyd  "The American Freight Train" [2001] by Jim Boyd
M.B.I. 10x10 hardcover [7/2001] out of print/used
Modern Marvels episode Freight Trains (generic cover)  "Modern Marvels: Freight Trains" Season 12, Episode 33 [History Sept 2006]
50-minute color documentary, details absent
A&E Direct color DVD [9/2006] for $24.98
credits at IMDb
Illustrated Guide to American Freight Train Equipment book by Patrick C. Dorin  "An Illustrated Guide To American Freight Train Equipment" [2013]
by Patrick C. Dorin

Enthusiast Books 11x8½ pb [11/2013] for $25.86


Maintenance  &  Work  Equipment

Railroad Work Equipment and Special-Service Cars book by Robert J. Wayner  "Railroad Work Equipment and Special-Service Cars" [1987]
by Robert J. Wayner

71-page Wayner Publns pb [1987] out of print/scarce

Chicago Burlington & Quincy wedge snow plow #205065, converted in 1929          C&NW longarm crane with clamshell bucket          Amtrak T-SAVe car #A-68402 (Track Structure Assessment Vehicle) in 2014

Union Pacific 'burro' railyard crane          Plasser American overhead maintenance railcar          Sperry Rail Service work truck          ALCO-built 1912 rotary snowblower

                                          

The plural of caboose is cabeese!
Central California Rails Captive Caboose Index for USA {last update 2007}

Railroad Caboose History, Legend & Lore book by William F. Knapke & Freeman Hubbard  "The Railroad Caboose: Its 100 Year History, Legend, and Lore" [1968]
by William F. Knapke, with Freeman Hubbard

Describes all aspects of the job of train conductor, whose office was the caboose;
includes several short stories by Hubbard

Golden West Books hardcover [1987] out of print/used
Golden West Books hardcover [1979] out of print/used
Golden West Books 8½x5½ hardcover [6/1968] out of print/used
'Caboose Gallery' book by Brian Solomon  "Caboose Gallery" [2001] by Brian Solomon & John Gruber
Nearly 300 modern & historical images depicting bobber, cupola, bay window, and transfer cabooses at work. (And remember: The plural of caboose is cabeese!)
Kindle Edition from Voyageur Press [5/2011] for $9.99
Voyageur Press 8½x6½ pb [5/2011] for $15.66
M.B.I. / Motorbooks International 10½x10¼ hardcover [10/2001] out of print/used
Trains Unlimited episode 'The Caboose'  "Trains Unlimited: The Caboose" [History Channel May 1998]
Narrated by Danny Dark
A&E Home Video color VHS [8/2001] list $15.95 - sold out
credits at IMDbwatch full episode [1/2018 upload; 47:13] online at YouTube

                                          

drawing of Fairmont model MT-14 railcar 'speeder'
North American Rail Car Operators Association [est. 1980] based in Ohio has over 1,800 members worldwide
This type of 'rail car' is also known as the 'speeder' – usually four-wheeled and gasoline-powered, sometimes seating as many as
twelve passengers; many of the old Fairmont units were sold off by the railroads and snatched up by hobbyists.
official NARCOA websiteentry at Wikipedia
Pete Wenk's Rail Speeders website

Weekend Railroaders feature documentary  "Weekend Railroaders" [Crew Media 2010]
Filmed at railcar meets around Texas and Oklahoma, featuring historian
Leon Sapp; produced & directed by Scott Peterson of Rockwall, Texas
Blu-ray & DVD available online
official websiteproducer website
                                          

Mercedes-Benz Unimog Road-Rail dual-mode vehicle
Produced in Europe by Daimler Freightliner (sister division to Mercedes); not offered in North America due to emissions rules; Unimog is an acronym
of the German "UNIversal-MOtor-Gerät", Gerät being the German word for 'device' or 'apparatus'. Several Road-Rail models available, latest is U-423 of 2014.
Able to move several railcars, road speed up to 50 mph; versatility includes moving between rail lines without rail-switch, using rubber tires.

Daimler / Freightliner / Mercedes-Benz model U-423 Road Rail vehicle

                                          

Railroad Handcars & Bicycles
The three largest producers of rail bicycles and handcars were Sheffield Velocipede Car Company, Kalamazoo Velocipede Company, and Buda Foundry
& Manufacturing Company. As many as 20,000 were produced by 1900; most were scrapped after the advent of motorized 'speeders'.
'handcar' entry at Wikipedia

MC's railroad handcar history fansite
Tuka's railroad handcar fansite
Willits [CA] Kinetic Carnivale & Grand Ball [Aug 2015 = #4]
Hand-Car Regatta Race in Santa Rosa, California [2008-2011] - ended or name changed?
Wunderkammer Festival featuring The Great Sonoma County Handcar Races - postponed to 2015?
Folsom [CA] Handcar Derby [May 2014 = #23]

ad for Light Inspection Car Company's bicycle & gasoline-engined railroad work vehicles         color illustration of handcar made by Buda Foundry & Mfg. of Illinois         screenshot of Buster Keaton on the handcar in "The General" [1927], filmed in Oregon         poster for Hand-Car Regatta at Santa Rosa Depot Park

Yards,  Stations,  Tunnels  &  Bridges
Amtrak's 'Great American Stations' Project [est. 2006]

New York Central System Presents "The Freight Yard" short film [1940s]
featuring the Dewitt Yard outside of Syracuse, New York
watch full movie [24:44] online at YouTube

New York Central System Presents "The Railroad Signal" short film [1948]
watch full movie [17:26] online at YouTube

the books for this category are coded over at
Non-Fiction Books About Railroads Pages / Infrastructure Dept.


Books  on  Railroad  Equipment

browse books on railroads at Amazon


Videos  &  Other  Media

                                          

Spirit of America Bookstore's
Railroad Film Festival Pages


Image  Gallery

ad for Climax patent Geared Locomotives          1882 b&w advertisement for Baldwin Locomotive Works [est.1831]          1945 color advertisement for Westinghouse diesel-electrics made by Baldwin Locomotive Works          early 1950s 2-color advertisement for Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton diesel-electrics made by Baldwin Locomotive Works

ad for Brooks Locomotive Works in Dunkirk, New York          replica of Baldwin's 1832 2-2-0 steam locomotive 'Old Ironsides' plus tender car at the Shelburne Museum in Vermont          Gornergrat Bahn electric cog train near Zermatt in the Swiss Alps

History of Trains' educational poster  "History of Trains" educational poster [undated]
24"x36" poster from Amazon for $6.99

view larger image in new window

Purveyors of Tools & Equipment & Services for Railroads
American Rail Service, LLC [est. 2007] of Dennison/Sherman, Texas
Avalon Rail - passenger car restoration [est. 2000] based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
National Railroad Safety, Inc. - training, flagging & track inspection [est. 1999]
Railroad Materials Salvage, Inc. [] in Richmond, Missouri
Railroad Tools & Solutions [] in Hillsboro, Ohio
United Railroad Materials Co. [] in Colorado Springs, Colorado {placeholder website}

National Railroad Construction & Maintenance Assn. [est. 1978] based in Washington, DC

A&K Railroad Materials, Inc. [est. 1959] based in Salt Lake City, Utah       American Railcar Industries, Inc. [1899 merger as American Car & Foundry, name changed 1954 & 1994] headquartered in Missouri       Atlantic Track - new & used rail products [est. 1924] is based in New Jersey       Atlas Railroad Construction [est. 1954]  subsidiary of Genesee & Wyoming is based in Jacksonville, Florida
Birmingham Rail & Locomotive [est. 1899]is based in Birmingham, Alabama & Houston, Texas       CMI-Promex, Inc. [est. 1986] - maker of Ridex® & Prolite® products - is based in New Jersey       Curry Rail Services [since 1932] based in Hollidaysburg, PA       Deetrak Supply Co. [est. 2010] based in Englewood, Colorado
Fritz-Rumer-Cooke, Inc. - railroad & general contractors [est. 1879] in Columbus, Ohio       G.B.W. Railcar Services [est. 6/2014] 50/50 joint venture of Greenbrier Rail Services of Oregon and Watco Companies of Kansas at 38 locations across North America       Greenbrier Rail Services [] headquartered in Lake Oswego, Oregon - integrated railcar solutions, plus 50/50 joint venture partner with Watco Companies in G.B.W. Railcar Services at 38 locations across North America       Harmer Steel Products Company [est. 1928] based in Portland, Oregon & Winnipeg, MB, Canada
Healey Railroad Corp. [est. 1928] based in Virginia       J & J Rail Sales [est. 1990] based in Illinois       Lanier Steel Products Inc. [est. 1985] based in Commerce, Georgia       L.B. Foster Company - transportation & construction materials [est. 1902] based in Pittsburgh, PA
Menards Railroad Materials [est. 2001] based in Humble/Houston, Texas       Nevada Railroad Materials, Inc. [est. 1993] is based in Ogden, Utah       Progress Rail Services Corp. [est. 1982, purchased by Caterpillar in 2006] headquartered in Albertville, Alabama       R&R Material Supply Company [est. 1987] based in Houston, Texas
Rails Company [est. 1932] based in Maplewood, New Jersey       Railway Systems Suppliers, Inc. [est. 1966] trade association recently moved to Jacksonville, Florida       RailWorks Corp. [est. 1988] headquartered in New York City       Southeast Railroad Rubber Supply Co. [] based in Marietta, Georgia - website recently hacked (2015)
Sperry Rail Service, Inc. [est. 1928] headquartered in Danbury, CT       Texas Track Solution [] based in Houston, Texas area       Trinity Industries / TrinityRail - equipment supplier, railcar maker [est. 1960s]       Unitrac Railroad Materials & Track Services, Inc. - subsidiary of Healey Railroad Corp. [est. 1991] based in Knoxville, Tennessee
          M.F. Wirth Rail Corp. [est. 1993] based in Montréal, PQ, Canada       Yangtze Railroad Materials [est. 1989] based in Halethorpe, Maryland


Equipment  Sales  (sell + buy + want ads)  and  Leasing

Ozark Mountain Railcar rail equipment sales is based in Kirbyville, Missouri

Andersons, Inc. [est. 1947] of Ohio - Rail Division fabricates & repairs & services & leases railroad freight cars          Sterling Rail, Inc. railroad equipment classified ads [] based in North Austin, Texas — WARNING: Sterling has a reputation for posting equipment & photos that owner has not put up for sale          D.F. Barnhart Associates [est. 10/2009], division of Sterling Rail based in Mount Pleasant, North Carolina


here on the Railroad Equipment Pages at Spirit of America Bookstore

top of page 1short historyWhyte's notation systemlocomotive powersteam locomotives

top of page 2articulated locomotivesgeared locomotivesdiesel locomotives

top of page 3electric locomotivesgasoline-poweredstreetcars, subways & interurbanother steam designs

here on page 4: top of pagepassenger trainsfreight carsmaintenance equipmentstations, tunnels & bridges
booksvideos & other mediaimage gallerylinks

Spirit of America Bookstore's American Railroads Pages

on page one:  top of pagelinksmuseumsClass I railroadsClass II railroadsshortline railroads

on page two:  top of pagegamesRR historynarrow gauge RRshistoric RR lines

on page three:  top of pagetranscontinental railroadsrailroad mogulsrailroad recordings

Spirit of America Bookstore's 'Railroads in Fiction' Pages
Spirit of America Bookstore's Railroads in Fiction - Books For Young Railfans Page

Spirit of America Bookstore's 'Non-Fiction Books About Railroads' Pages

Spirit of America Bookstore's Railroad Film Festival Pages

Railroad Equipment Pages at Spirit of America Bookstore  « « you are here
Geared Steam Locomotives
Spirit of America Bookstore's Private Railcars Page

America's Shortline Railroads Page

Spirit of America Bookstore's Scale Model & Toy Trains Page


G.E. Nordell's Arizona Travel / Railroads Links Page
G.E. Nordell's California Travel / Railroads Links Page
G.E. Nordell's Colorado Travel / Railroads Links Pages
G.E. Nordell's Nevada Travel / Railroads Links Page
G.E. Nordell's New Mexico Travel / Railroads Links Page
G.E. Nordell's Utah Travel / Railroads Links Page

G.E. Nordell's Travel U.S.A. / Railroad Museums Page

Online sales in association with  browse books on railroads at Amazon

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