"A full color encyclopedia that starts with a description of the model railroad hobby, ending with descriptions of full scale models. It examines the various scales, gauges, and all of the equipment and landscape that can be involved. This even involves many tips from model railroad builders currently involved in this fascinating hobby"--Amazon.

This richly illustrated encyclopedia of classic and contemporary American railroads features consise histories of 101 U.S. and Canadian railroads past and present. Illustrated with period and modern photography in both color and black and white, evocative print ads, and system maps, each profile is also accompanied by one or more fact boxes offering details on the railroads' geographic scope, hardware, and freight and passenger operations. Spanning more than a century and a half, this giant compendium of “fallen flags,” Class I behemoths, classic regional carriers, and transportation icons is sure to become the go-to compendium for railfans of all stripes.

Lavishly illustrated and a joy to read, this authoritative reference work on the North American continent's railroads covers the U.S., Canadian, Mexican, Central American, and Cuban systems. The encyclopedia's over-arching theme is the evolution of the railroad industry and the historical impact of its progress on the North American continent. This thoroughly researched work examines the various aspects of the industry's development: technology, operations, cultural impact, the evolution of public policy regarding the industry, and the structural functioning of modern railroads. More than 500 alphabetical entries cover a myriad of subjects, including numerous entries profiling the principal companies, suppliers, manufacturers, and individuals influencing the history of the rails. Extensive appendices provide data regarding weight, fuel, statistical trends, and more, as well as a list of 130 vital railroad books. Railfans will treasure this indispensable work.

Definitions and typical illustrations of railroads and industrial cars, their parts and equipment; cars built in America for export to foreign countries; descriptions and illustrations of shops and equipment employed in the construction and repair of cars.

As railroad fever began to consume North America, railroad lines began to get longer. Soon, the necessity of night operation became apparent. But night operation required light to see with & signal with. The railroad lighting industry was born. As competition increased, the manufacturers increased the pace of innovation to produce better products. Here is the story of that industry, its entrepreneurs, their companies & their products. Among its 28 chapters are the histories of ninety manufacturers, catalog cuts, photographs &/or descriptions of more than 360 railroad lantern models, plus chapters on globes, burners, distributors & jobbers. Six appendices cover rumored manufacturers, lantern terminology, lantern patents, the disastrous Steam Gauge & Lantern Company fire, lantern collectors organizations & lantern rarity. The book also has a lantern model index, a biographical index & a business name index. Here, indeed, is the book lantern collectors & lighting historians have been waiting for! Author Richard Barrett has been a lantern collector for 37 years. He is the Managing Editor of "Key, Lock & Lantern," a quarterly magazine for collectors of railroad artifacts, & is the coauthor of "CANAL BOATS, INTERURBANS, & TROLLEYS," a history of the Rochester, NY Subway. PUBLISHERS OF THE ILLUSTRATED ENCYCLOPEDIA OF RAILROAD LIGHTING. To order, contact: Railroad Research Publications, 3400 Ridge Rd., Suite 5-266, Rochester, NY 14626-3495 or call 716-227-6903.

Profiles the Thomas & Friends characters, including their roles, homes, and preferences.