The 40-year Saga of the Ill-fated Yankton, South Dakota to Norfolk, Nebraska Line.

This is the second in a series of inexpensive monograph booklets from South Platte Press that cover some of the lesser-known subjects of Great Plains railroad history.

A Real, Live Railroad is a detailed human interest account of one of the more intriguing and mysterious efforts to build a railroad between two major Midwest cities. For more than 40 years (1887-1929), many different dreamers, schemers and serious industrialists attempted to construct a rail line between the trade centers of Yankton, South Dakota, and Norfolk, Nebraska. These efforts all failed despite the construction of the roadbed and a major bridge across the Missouri River! A must read for the railroad archeologist and historian, with text, maps and photographs.

South Platte Press, soft cover, 64 pages, 5.5 x 8 x .1 in., b&w photographs and illustrations. SPP123
Price: 8.95 USD

This book recounts the decline of many of the steel roads that once tied cities and villages together in economic prosperity. Using photographs, text and maps, railroad historians Michael M. Bartels and James J. Reisdorff examine both the history and impact of railroad abandonments on agriculture-oriented Nebraska. An inventory is made of the corporate giants, short lines, Interurbans, and industrial spurs that were all part of the states one-time rail network of about 6,250 miles. There is also a look at current efforts to maintain rail freight service to many towns. Finally, the book illustrates what historic artifacts have been preserved-and lost-along the abandoned grades of Nebraska's ghost railroads. Pictures in this book cover all eras of Nebraska railroading, from the early steam engine days to today's Short Lines. SPP112
Price: 21.95 USD

Missouri Pacific Northwest: A History of the Kansas City Northwestern Railroad.

Still in the printer's plastic!

A history of a Kansas short line running from Kansas City to Beatrice, Nebraska later acquired by the Missouri Pacific Railroad.

Contents:
Preface, Acknowledgments, pp. 6-10;
Organizing the Dream, pp. 11-22;
Building to Seneca, pp. 23-40;
Completing the Railroad to Beatrice, pp. 41-62;
The Northwestern in Receivership, pp. 63-74;
The Missouri Pacific Years, pp. 75-94;
An Independent Kansas City Northwestern, pp. 95-104;
Attempts at Revival, pp. 105-116;
Post Script, pg. 117;
Roster of Locomotives, pg. 118;
Endnotes, pp. 119-130;
Bibliography, pp. 130-132;
Index, pp. 133-136.

South Platte Press, soft cover, 136 pages, b&w photographs, illustrations, maps. SPP308
Price: 39.95 USD

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

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, 80 pages, 11 x 15.5 x .25 in., color maps. DLNE
Price: 13.95 USD

An Account of Heartland Hospitality Along the Union Pacific Railroad.

Just 10 days after Pearl Harbor, the residents of North Platte, Neb., learned that their own Company D, Nebraska National Guard, which had been training in Arkansas, was going to pass through the city en route to the West Coast. About 500 family members and friends hurried to the Union Pacific Railroad station with cookies, candy, cakes and cigarettes. After a long wait, a troop train rumbled into the station - with a unit from the Kansas National Guard.

The residents were disappointed until someone in the crowd said, Well, what are we waiting for Welcome to our city, sons, and here's a little something for you. They then passed out to these boys the gifts they had arranged for their own.

This was the beginning of the North Platte Canteen. Every day, from 3,000 to 5,000 soldiers, sailors and marines visited the North Platte Canteen in the Union Pacific station. During a 10-minute stop, they were supplied with coffee, sandwiches and cigarettes, given a handful of current magazines and sent on their way, warmed not only by the hot coffee but by the smiles and friendly greetings of the busy canteen workers. North Platte Canteen highlights what still persists as one of the most endearing examples of gratitude expressed toward those who have served in Americas defense.

This new edition features a new cover and a new foreword detailing recent events regarding the Canteen.

There are few train pictures in this book, it is mostly about the people of the time and shows the locals and the troops getting together for a short time during World War Two.

South Platte Press, soft cover, 36 pages, 8.5 x 11 in., b&w photographs. SPP111
Price: 7.95 USD

Fairbury, Nebraska was once the headquarters of the Rock Islands Western Division spanning hundreds of miles of territory from the Missouri River to Colorado Rockies. At its peak the Rock Island employed 600 men and women there. Fairbury had a large combination depot with division offices, a large roundhouse and was a crew-change point on the Rocky Mountain Rocket route between Council Bluffs, Iowa and Phillipsburg, Kansas. The depot has been restored and is now a museum. The history of the Rock Island in Fairbury is presented with many black-and-white photographs, maps and diagrams. SPP113
Price: 16.95 USD

The High Plains Route: A History of the McCook Division of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad.

First published in 1986, this is a greatly revised and updated edition of this popular book concerning the former McCook Division of the Burlington Railroad.

Covering the years 1878 to 2009, THE HIGH PLAINS ROUTE recounts the story of the original CB&Q (later BN and now BNSF) main line from Hastings, Nebraska to Denver, Colorado, as well as branch lines, once operated under the division. It is profusely illustrated with 250 black and white photographs, many of them new to this edition.

Updated material includes photos and information regarding former McCook Division territory in the BNSF era. Author Richard Kistler is a well-known Burlington Route historian with other credits that include his book on the Burlington's Wymore Division, THE WYMORE STORY.

Contents:
Introduction, CB&Q System Map, McCook Division Map, pp. 7-11;
Mainline Construction and Operation, pp. 12-22;
McCook Division Branch Lines, pp. 23-36;
The Sterling-Wymore Divisions, pp. 37-44;
Passenger Service, pp. 45-72;
Freight Service, pp. 73-86;
Facilities, pp. 87-114;
Motive Power, pp. 115-142;
Events Good and Bad, pp. 143-164;
The BN and BNSF Eras, pp. 165-166;
BN McCook Division Map, pg. 167;
Conclusion, Acknowledgments, Timetables, pp. 168-192.

South Platte Press, laminated hard cover, 192 pages, 11 x 8.5 x .5 in., b&w photographs. SPP865
Price: 25.95 USD

Jotting a message on a penny post card at the turn of the 20th century was an American tradition. A plain card was inadequate for many travelers, who wished to share something of their journey or description with the recipient. In addition to carrying messages, picture post cards or view cards became an art form themselves, sought by collectors then and now. And railroads, as the dominant form of transportation during the card craze, were a prime subject.

Railroad depots became one of the most popular images, as they were one of the first things an arriving traveler saw of a town, and were otherwise a busy portal for any community which depended on the daily experience of train time, to provide it with essential transportation services. While most of the old depots are gone, as are many of the railroad lines themselves, their images are eagerly sought by post card collectors. Here is a look at the golden era of the railroad station and train travel in one Midwest state, Nebraska, as depicted on post cards from the 1900-1915 era.

Contents:
Introduction;
Life at the Depot, pp. 13-32;
Train Time, pp. 33-40;
Burlington Depots, pp. 41-56;
Chicago & North Western Depots, pp. 57-72;
Union Pacific Depots, 73-86;
Depot Connections, pp. 87-93. Bibliography;
Index. There is one full page picture of the Rock Island depot at Beatrice, Nebraska. The chapters not specific to any railroad include photographs of the various railroad depots from the railroads that served Nebraska.

South Platte Press, soft cover, 96 pages, 10 x 8.5 in., b&w. Includes more than 100 historic postcard images. SPP140
Price: 21.95 USD