Beaumont Hill: Southern Pacific's Southern California Gateway (1990, 2009 reprint).

Mountain railroading in Southern California has always been synonymous with names like Tehachapi, Cajon Pass and Beaumont Hill. While the two former passes have been the subject of several published histories, Beaumont Hill, Southern Pacific's gateway to Southern California, from the east, has been largely overlooked. The publication of this book fills that void. After years of exhaustive research, John R. Signor presents the full story of over a century of history and operations at Beaumont Hill.

From its fragile beginnings in the 1870's up to today's heavy double-stack traffic, every facet of Beaumont Hill's long and colorful history has been explored. In the early days, learn about the desperate search for water to satisfy thirsty locomotives, of flashfloods and sandstorms, and how the blistering heat affected day-to-day operations. Trace the evolution of motive power from the diminutive American and Consolidation-type engines of the late nineteenth century through today's high-tech diesels. Follow the rise and decline of such name trains as the Sunset Limited, the Golden State Limited, the Argonaut, and the Imperial. Get the inside scoop on management decisions concerning double-tracking, signal systems, Centralized Traffic Control, and electrification.

Beaumont Hill: Southern Pacific's Southern California Gateway takes you trackside to witness the pageant of over a century of train operations. See multi-engined freights charge upgrade, first, with the sturdy Consolidations of the early 1900's, followed by the mighty cab-forward Mallets of the late steam era and finally on into the diesel age. See Kaiser ore trains struggle upgrade with 20 locomotives, alone. See the ponderous beet drags moving west from the Imperial Valley, and streamliners of another era-in black and white and in color. Not to be overlooked are the more pastoral activities of the branch lines radiating out of Colton (including Pacific Electric's electrified operations), and the agricultural oriented operations in the Imperial Valley and along the Inter-California Railway. Crisp maps detail the activities of places like Beaumont, Colton and Indio at their zenith, be it in the 1910s or the late 1940s.

Golden West Books, hard cover with jacket, 174 pages, 8.5 x 11 x 1 in., more than 265 illustrations, 12 color plates, 8 maps drawn especially for this book, timetable reproductions, a profile of the line from Yuma, Arizona to Los Angeles. Two color paintings by John R. Signor. GWB053
Price: 59.95 USD

BNSF Railway Southern California Style: Cajon Pass, Tehachapi Pass and The Mojave Desert

A book about the BNSF in the far west with a discussion of the terrain, grades, customers and history.

Contents:
California-Los Angeles Divisions 2004 Traffic Density Map, pg. 5;
Ch. 1: Southern California's New Railway, The Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Merger, pp. 6-10;
Ch. 2: Tehachapi Pass, pp. 11-33;
Ch. 3: Cajon Pass, pp. 34-58;
Ch. 4: The Mojave Desert, Needles Subdivision, Barstow to Needles, CA, pp. 59-84;
Ch. 5: Into Arizona, Seligman Subdivision, Needles to Kingman, pp. 85-98;
BNSF Railway Locomotive Roster, BNSF Statistics, BNSF Railway Yard Schematics for the territories covered, pp. 99-112.

Great Northern Pacific Publications, laminated hard cover, 112 pages, 8.75 x 11.25 x .5 in., color photographs, maps and schematics. GNPP105
Price: 39.95 USD

INCLUDES DELORME PUBLISHING'S JACKET-STYLE VINYL COVER.

Now the California is combined into one atlas, replacing CA-North and CA-South.

Ships in a non-bending mailer, not an envelope, plus sealed in plastic.

The Southern California Atlas & Gazetteer covers the state south of an east-west line from Santa Cruz to Fresno.

The DeLorme Publishing Atlas and Gazetteer provides a wealth of information for trip planning and back country access. Each volume contains topographic maps with unbeatable detail plus gazetteer information on great places to go and things to do. Detail includes railroads, back roads, dirt roads, elevation contours, remote lakes & streams, boat ramps, public lands for recreation, land use (forests, wetlands, agriculture), trailheads, campgrounds, and hunting and fishing spots.

Gazetteer information includes information on hiking, bicycling, museums and historic sites, campgrounds, scenic drives, unique natural features and state and national parks.

DeLorme Publishing, soft cover, 190 pages, 11 x 15.5 x .5 in., color maps. DLCAC
Price: 19.45 USD

California Trolleys In Color Volume 1: San Diego & Los Angeles.

Wonderful vintage city views from the 1940s and later on San Diego Electric Railway, San Diego Transit System, Los Angeles Railway, Los Angeles Transit Lines and Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority. Includes photographs of cars formerly of other transit systems, work cars, motor coaches and trolley coaches.

Contents:
Ch. 1: San Diego Electric Railway, pp. 4-29;
Ch. 2: Los Angeles Railway/Los Angeles Electric Lines, pp. 30-124;
Southern California Rapid Transit District/Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit District, pp. 125-128.

Morning Sun Books, hard cover with jacket, 128 pages, 8.5 x 11 x .5 in., all color photographs with captions. MSB1162
Price: 46.95 USD

Chard Walker's Cajon: Rail Passage to the Pacific.

Completion of a rail route over Cajon Pass, by the California Southern Railroad, was accomplished in November, 1885. The Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe had backed construction of the California Southern, and by 1906 would absorb it into the Santa Fe. Meanwhile, in 1905 the San Pedro, Los Angeles & Salt Lake Railroad began using the pass under trackage rights, the SPLA&SL would later become part of the Union Pacific system.

The ruling grade of 2.2 percent on the west side of the pass (originally 3 percent) required helper locomotives from the beginning, usually they were turned at Summit. Even the east side, with a ruling grade of 1.6 percent, can be an operating challenge. In 1967, Southern Pacific completed its own route over Cajon Pass, also with a ruling grade of 2.2 percent.

The construction and particularly the operation of this line are presented in some detail in this book. Included are chapters on weather, runaways, helper operations, and life at Summit, together with a foreword by Don Sims. Numerous recollections by railroaders and railfans who were there further enrich the book. Supplementing the text are 11 fine maps by John Signor, and some 334 photographs (25 in color). A bibliography and index round out this volume.

The result is an atmospheric and quite complete look at one of the busiest and most dramatic railroad passes in America, from an author well suited to tell the story. Railroad history buffs generally, and Santa Fe fans in particular, will be sure to enjoy this book.

The author, a legendary operator for years at the Summit depot at the top of Cajon Pass, has drawn upon original railroad records, his own extensive experiences, and the recollections of old-timers to create this interesting railroad narrative. Long out-of-print, the return of this classic railroad account is welcome to historians and fans of Union Pacific, Southern Pacific and especially Santa Fe.

Signature Press, hard cover with jacket, 256 pages, 8.5 x 11 x 1 in., 334 photographs (25 in color), 14 maps and graphics, index. SP001
Price: 50.95 USD

This volume presents all you ever wanted to know about Southern Pacific's rail passage over California's Donner Pass. At the summit, over 90 feet of snow falls annually. Everything about the Sierra crossing was monumental: the grade, the locomotives required to lift the trains over the Sierra, the helper locomotives, the tonnage handled, and those unique snow sheds that protected the tracks from the record snowfall and rock slides. Lean back in your chair and get ready to enjoy this well-researched book.

John Signor, researcher, writer, artist and Southern Pacific conductor brings us the full story of rail operations over the West's first mountain main line.

Contents:
Introduction, pp. 9-10;
Ch. 1: Construction and Early Operation 1860-1899, pp. 11-50;
Ch. 2: The Harriman Influence 1900-1929, pp. 51-144;
Ch. 3: The Modern Steam Era 1930-1955;
Ch. 4: Contemporary Operations 1956-1985, pp. 211-274;
Epilogue, pg. 275;
Appendix, pp. 276-286;
Bibliography, pg. 287;
Index, pp. 288-290.

Golden West Books, hard cover, 290 pages, 8.5 x 11 x 1.5 in., 492 illustrations, maps, profiles, bibliography and index. GWB940
Price: 49.95 USD

This volume presents a historical and pictorial survey of the electric railways operating around San Francisco Bay from World War II to the present time. This volume concludes the story with the Market Street Railway being presented, in addition to the Municipal Railway of San Francisco, the San Francisco, Napa & Calistoga, the Northwestern Pacific, the Petaluma & Santa Rosa, and the southern end of the Sacramento Northern. Not forgotten is the Shipyard Railway built and operated during World War II.

Contents:
Introduction, pp. 77-78;
Market Street Railway, pp. 79-89;
Municipal Railway of San Francisco, pp. 90-112;
Northwestern Pacific Railroad, pp. 113-120;
Petaluma & Santa Rosa, pp. 121-126;
Sacramento Northern Railway, pp. 127-140;
San Francisco, Napa & Calistoga Railroad, pp. 141-146;
Shipyard Railway, pp. 147-151;
acknowledgments, pg. 152;
Bibliography, pg. 153.

Golden West Books, soft cover, 80 pages, 11 x 8.5 x .25 in., b&w photographs and maps. GWB169
Price: 22.95 USD

Many believe Southern California is flat, but it has many hills and is surrounded by high mountains. Several spectacular incline railways were built and proposed over the years. Inclines such as Angels Flight, Court Flight, Mount Lowe Incline, Mount Washington Incline, Catalina Island Mountain Incline, Arrowhead Incline, and the nation's most modern and high-tech incline located at the Getty Center. 130 illustrations, maps, profiles, and index.

Contents:

Incline Railways of Los Angeles.
Introduction, pp. 9-26;
Angels Flight, pp. 27-70;
Court Flight, pp. 71-82;
Mt. Washington: Its Hotel and Incline Railway, pp. 83-122;
The Getty Center Incline, pp. 123-138;
Griffith Park Railway and Incline Company, pp. 139-142;
Mount Hollywood Scenic Railway, pp. 143-152;
Incline Railways of Southern California:
Mount Lowe Incline Railway, pp. 153-182;
Island Mountain Railway, pp. 183-206;
Industry Hills Cable Incline Railway, pp. 207-214;
Arrowhead Incline Railway, pp. 215-224;
Glendale & Verdugo Mountain Railway, pp. 225-232;
Index, pp. 233-240.

Golden West Books, hard cover with jacket, 240 pages, 6 x 9 x .75 in., b&w photographs and illustrations. GWB145
Price: 33.95 USD

Key System Street Cars: Transit, Real Estate, and the Growth of the East Bay.

The east shore of San Francisco Bay, long known as the East Bay, was served for almost 80 years by a network of streetcar lines, both for local service and to bring passengers to ferry piers for travel to San Francisco.

The first of these local car lines began horsecar service in 1869. As the years passed, more and more lines were built, some of them cable cars, with several different track gauges. In 1891, the first electric streetcar service began in Oakland.

About that same time, entrepreneur and mining millionaire Francis Marion Smith emerged upon the scene. Often called ''Borax'' Smith for the source of his fortune, he began to buy up and combine the many independent streetcar lines. All were gradually changed to a common track gauge and those not already electric-powered were electrified.

Smith was an investor in many realms, not least real estate development. Often a streetcar line would be built in conjunction with the opening of a new real estate subdivision.

Smith's empire would become the Key System, with two divisions, one providing local streetcar services, and the other with express trains connecting to the ferry piers and later to transbay trackage on the new San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. This book is the history of the local streetcar lines.

In addition to car line history, much of this book comprises descriptions of individual streetcar routes, which include many historic street scenes. Supplementing the text are 47 maps, along with graphics and ephemera, and 778 photographs (45 in color), most of which have never been published. A bibliography, extensive equipment rosters, and detailed index round out this volume.

The late Vernon Sappers worked for years on this comprehensive history of the Key lines. The result is an outstanding work of local history. Those interested in the history of East Bay cities, and of course streetcar fans, will be sure to enjoy this book.

Table of Contents:
Preface, pg. 5;
acknowledgments, pg. 6;
Photographers Credits, pg. 6;
Authors Introduction, pg. 8;
Ch. 1. Beginnings, pp. 13-58;
Ch. 2. Electrification, pp. 59-94;
Ch. 3. Decline, pp. 95-128;
Ch. 4. Streetcar Routes, pp. 129-358;
Ch. 5. Facilities, pp. 359-398;
Ch. 6. Key System Streetcar Roster, pp. 399-463;
Appendix, pp. 464-468;
Bibliography, pp. 469-470;
Index pp. 471-480.

Signature Press, hard cover with jacket, 8.5 x 11 x 1.75 in., 480 pages, 778 photographs (45 in color), 47 maps, artwork and drawings, complete rosters, bibliography, index. SP070
Price: 58.95 USD

Mount Lowe: The Railway in the Clouds.

Southern California's Mount Lowe Railway lived up to its title, The Most Scenic Mountain Railway in the World. In its short trackage from Altadena to Alpine Tavern, its rails climbed 3,130 feet in 5.84 miles, thus constituting an engineering marvel.

This book chronicles in word and picture the building of the electric railway into Rubio Canyon, the construction of the great incline on a 62 percent grade, and the narrow gauge trolley from Echo Mountain to Alpine Tavern. The Alpine Divisions tracks followed the natural contour of the mountainside, over 18 trestles and around 127 curves.

Contents:
Pioneers of the San Gabriels, pp. 7-16;
The Land Boom and Afterwards, pp. 17-24;
Professor Lowe Takes Hold, pp. 25-50;
Opening Day, pp. 51-68;
White City, pp. 69-88;
Building the Alpine Division, pp. 89-104;
Hard Times, pp. 105-120;
Disasters-Coming of the Pacific Electric, pp. 121-178;
The Burning of Alpine Tavern, pp. 179-220;
Appendix, pp. 221-222;
Bibliography, pp. 223-231;
Index, 232-234.

Golden West Books, hard cover with jacket, 234 pages, 8.5 x 11 x 1 in., 425 illustrations, maps, bibliography and index. GWB759
Price: 44.95 USD