Appalachian Conquest: Chesapeake & Ohio, Norfolk & Western, Virginian and Clinchfield Cross the Mountains

A complete treatise on how topography affected the major Pocahontas region railroads crossing of the Appalachian Mountain range.

The C&O, N&W, Virginian and Clinchfield all had different approaches to crossing the rugged Appalachians. Topography of the region dictated the motive power, operations and the physical make up of the roads including tunnels, grades, and massive bridges to make the crossing. Of course other smaller railroads dealt with the same problems, on a smaller scale, and they are addressed as well.

Great for modelers, any fan of the Pocahontas roads, and anyone interested in the Appalachian region.

Contents:
History, pp. 1-7;
Ch. 1: Appalachian Land Forms, pp. 8-47;
Ch. 2: Appalachian Passenger, pp. 48-68;
Ch. 3: Appalachian Locomotives, pp. 69-90;
Ch. 4: Appalachian Switchers, pp. 91-110;
Ch. 5: Satellite Roads, pp. 111-122;
Ch. 7: Color Pictorial, pp. 123-138.

TLC Publishing, laminated hard cover, 138 pages, b&w photographs, illustrations and grade charts plus 15 pages of color photographs. TLC795
Price: 25.95 USD

Memories of Norfolk & Western Power

This book touches upon the early steam power of the N&W but mostly is about the later power including the As, Ys and Js. Towards the end some pictures and discussion of Virginian power and of course the diesels that replaced steam.

D. Carleton Railbooks, hard cover with jacket, 176 pages, b&w photographs with 2 pages of color photographs plus roster data. DCR101
Price: 29.95 USD

View the freight, passenger and non-revenue equipment of this storied carrier through more than 300 photographs from the 1950s, 60s, right up to the merger into Norfolk Southern. Examine the many workaday hoppers of this coal-hauler to the glamour of its Pocahontas streamliner.

Morning Sun Books, hard cover with jacket, 128 pages, 8.5 x 11 x .5 in., all color photographs with captions. MSB1132
Price: 42.95 USD

The 1950s champion of steam is traveled via the medium of 240 color photographs. Author Nichols guides the reader from Tidewater to Ohio focusing on steam and the early diesels that rostered the pre-expanded N & W.

Morning Sun Books, hard cover with jacket, 128 pages, 8.5 x 11 x .5 in., all color photographs with captions. MSB1064
Price: 40.95 USD

This book covers second-generation diesel power that was on the roster from September, 1955 through December, 1982 and provides an overview of this power during the Norfolk & Western's last years of existence. The term second-generation is used to denote locomotives built from the early 1960s onward.

Second-generation locomotives began, in the case of Electro-Motive Division, with the introduction of the GP20 model;
with General Electric, the introduction of the U25B;
and ALCo's introduction of the Century series of locomotives. Exceptions to this guideline are the chapters on switchers and slugs.

Most, but not all, photographs are limited to the time period covered. Includes roster, dispositions, lettering diagrams and color photo section.

Contents:
Ch. 1: Motive Power History, pp. 6-14;
Switchers, pp. 15-43;
B-B EMD Road-Switchers, pp. 44-84;
C-C EMD Road-Switchers, pp. 85-134;
B-B General Electric Road-Switchers, pp. 135-153;
C-C General Electric Road-Switchers, pp. 154-172;
B-B ALCo Road-Switchers, pp. 173-186;
C-C ALCo Road-Switchers, pp. 187-198;
C-C Slugs, pp. 199-207;
Passenger Locomotives (F40PH), pg. 208;
Norfolk & Western in Color: Ch. 11: Paint Schemes, pp. 225-248;
Dispositions, pp. 249-256.

Withers Publishing, hard cover with jacket, 256 pages, 8.5 x 11 x .75 in., b&w and color photographs, roster. WP326
Price: 40.95 USD

This book details the equipment, motive power, schedules, service and overall life of the Powhatan Arrow, Norfolk & Western's flagship passenger train from 1946 until its discontinuance in 1969.

Using photographs, advertising art, timetables, and maps, the author not only describes the train and its service in detail, but sets it in the context of its eras: 1946, when it was inaugurated; 1949, when it received new cars; 1958, when it was downgraded; and 1969, when it was discontinued.

Contents:
Foreword, Introduction and Background, pp. 4-7;
Enter the Powhattan Arrow, pp. 8-17;
The New Arrow, 1949, pp. 18-23;
Scheduling and Connections, pp. 24-27;
Consists, pp. 28-29;
The Last Years, pp. 30-33;
Motive Power, pp. 34-40;
Cars in the 1946 Train, pp. 41-44;
Cars in the 1949 Train, pp. 45-71;
Car Roster, pp. 72-75;
Powhatan Arrow Album, pp. 76-107;
1949 Car Drawings (by Robert L. Hundman), pp. 108-112.

TLC Publishing, soft cover, 113 pages., 8.5 x 11 x .5 in., b&w photographs, roster and plans. TLC912
Price: 21.95 USD

Norfolk & Western: Steam's Last Stand.

A 320-page pictorial of the final years of smoking action on America ’s last steam powered railway, the Norfolk & Western (1945-1960). A study of guts, grime and power as everything from small consolidations and “Mollies ” to husky double-headed 2-8-8-2s moved coal trains to Tidewater and the Midwest. This was Steam ’s Last Stand.

A nice selection of black and white photographs of Norfolk & Western steam locomotives taken by the author, Mallory Hope Ferrell, and others. Includes captions and some text. Good photograph reproduction. Also includes HO Scale drawings of Class A, Class Y3, Class J, Class S1 and S1a locomotives. A color photo section on excursion steam completes this book.

Contents:
Introduction, pp. 6-11;
Foreword: They Were Alive, pp. 12-13;
Ch. 1: Appalachian Conquest, pp. 14-21;
Ch. 2: Tidewater Tonnage, 22-77;
Ch. 3: Blastin' Up Blue Ridge, pp. 78-121;
Ch. 4: Artist With Flashbulbs, pp. 122-129;
Ch. 5: Roanoke & The Radford Division, pp. 130-191;
Ch. 6: Bluefield... And Beyond, pp. 192-255;
Ch. 7: Shenandoah Showdown, pp. 256-279;
Ch. 8: Steam's Last Stand, pp. 280-291;
Ch. 9: The Final Curtain, pp. 292-301;
Ch. 10: A Steam Revival, pp. 302-313;
Epilogue: Encounter With An Old Friend, pp. 314-320.

Hundman Publishing, hard cover with jacket, 322 pages, 8.5 x 11 x 1 in., b&w photographs with captions; text; locomotive drawings; color photo section on steam excursions. HP603
Price: 50.95 USD

The Norfolk & Western: A History (Revised Edition)

An updated reprint of a book first published by the Norfolk & Western in 1981. (This updated version includes additional information on the N&W/Southern merger.) Includes charts detailing operating ratios, coal tonnage, and net income.

Produced in cooperation with Norfolk Southern Corporation.

Contents: Late Beginnings, pp. 1-6; Virginia, America 1830-1860, pp. 7-18; The Aftermath of War, pp. 19-26; The Short Life of the AM&O, pp. 27-35; Frederick Kimball and Expansion, pp. 36-48; The Shenandoah, Changing the Gauge, pp. 49-56; The Ohio Extension, The Scioto Valley, pp. 57-66; Consolidation and War, pp. 67-82; A Battle for Efficiency, pp. 83-98; World War II, Robert H. Smith, pp. 99-108; Motive Power, pp. 109-118; A New Era Begins, pp. 119-126; The Virginian, pp. 127-136; Big Game Hunting, pp. 137-150; The Nickel Plate, pp. 151-166; The Wabash, pp. 167-178; Conversations with the C&O, pp. 179-192; The Seventies Decade, pp. 193-208; Appendix: Early Days Of the Cincinnati & Eastern, pp. 209-216; Bibliography, pp. 217-222; Index, pp. 223-234.

Norfolk & Western Historical Society, soft cover, 234 pp., 6 x 9 x .75 in., b&w photographs of officers, locations and equipment (24 pages), charts. NWHS14205
Price: 16.95 USD

Dave McKay was schooled in photography and took his talent trackside to capture the numerous rail lines that surrounded his eastern Ohio home. Norfolk & Western, Pennsylvania Railroad, Penn Central, Conrail, Baltimore & Ohio, Erie Lackawanna and New York Central are just the trunk lines. Many other short lines, terminal carriers, steel companies and industrials are included in this sweep through the east end of the Buckeye State.

Contents:
Akron & Barberton Belt RR, pp. 6-11;
AC&Y, pp. 12-14;
Baltimore & Ohio and CSX, pp. 15-39;
Erie Lackawanna, pp. 40-59;
Fairport, Painesville & Eastern RR, pp. 60-63;
New York Central System, pp. 64-69 ;
Pennsylvania Railroad, p. 70;
Penn Central, pp. 72-77;
Conrail, pp. 78-93;
Nickel Plate Road, pp. 94-96;
Norfolk & Western, pp. 97-101;
Industrial Railroads and Short lines, pp. 102-110;
Pittsburgh & Lake Erie, 111-113;
Ohio Central, pp. 114-115;
Norfolk Southern, pp. 116-120;
Cleveland RTA, p. 120;
Museums, Specials and Miscall., pp. 121-122;
Amtrak, pp. 123-125;
Collinwood Diesel Terminal and Shop, 126-127;
Farewell, p. 128.

Morning Sun Books, hard cover with jacket, 128 pages, 8.5 x 11 x .5 in., all color photographs with captions. MSB1326
Price: 46.95 USD

Gene Huddleston relates his Appalachian roots and experiences on the C&O, N&W, and other routes in the mountainous regions that produced this country ’s coal. Many obscure short lines!

Morning Sun Books, hard cover with jacket, 128 pages, 8.5 x 11 x .5 in., all color photographs. MSB1266
Price: 46.95 USD