Golden Spike Railroad Books

Quick Search

Title
Author
Description
Advanced Search
Browse By Category
What's New
Aviation Books
BOOKS ON SALE!
DVD/CD Movies and Shows
DeLorme Atlas and Gazetteer
HO Scale Models
Model Railroad Books
Nautical Books
Out-of-Print Books
PENTREX DVD SALE!
Railroad Atlases and Maps
Railroad Books
Railroad Employee Timetables

View All Categories
Our secure web pages are hosted by Chrislands Inc, who use a Thawte SSL Certificate to ensure secure transmission of your information.
Thawte Certificate

Prototype Reference

Model Railroad Books:Prototype Reference

Click on Title to view full description

View Image
1 Bridge & Trestle Handbook Paul Mallery
Carstens Publications 1992 0911868992 / 9780911868999 4th Edition NEW CONDITION

This edition has the same objective as the preceding three editions: to furnish accurate information for building realistic bridges on model railroads.

The number of photographs have been increased from 3 to 37, 225 of the line drawings are either new or redrawn. Cross references are now by page number making them far easier to locate. All plans are taken from prototype drawings or from measurements made of prototype bridges.

Chapter topics include the purpose and engineering of bridges, types of bridges, selection of bridge type, culverts, abutments, piers, shoes, pedestals and trestles. This is by far the best book on prototype railroad bridges and trestles for the model railroader.

Carstens Publications, soft cover, 156 pages, 8.5 x 11 x .5 in., b&w photographs and illustrations. cp00099
Price: 19.95 USD

View Image
2 Locomotive Terminals & Railroad Structures Edited by Hal Carstens
Carstens Publications 2000 0911868984 / 9780911868982 NEW CONDITION BOOK

Engine houses, turntables, coal towers, scales, sand towers, water towers, floodlights, yard offices, signal towers, shanties, oil supply house and more from the pages of Railroad Model Craftsman.

Contents:
Locomotive Terminals (Boston & Albany), pp. 4-5;
Round Houses (ATSF, Cincinnati Union Terminal, NYS&W Little Ferry, MP East St. Louis and CV White River Jct., pp. 6-11;
Engine Houses, Diesel Houses (ATSF and TRRA);
Telephone Boxes (ATSF and B&O);
Pump and Boiler Houses (B&O and Gulf Coast Lines);
Turntables (SP Gallows, T&NO 90 ft., EBT);
Water Tanks (SP, McCloud River wood tanks);
Coal Towers and Ramps (Concrete and Wood);
Ash Handlers;
Floodlight Tower;
Fire Hose Houses (GN);
Fuel Oil Supply House;
Chain Hoist;
Icing Platforms (LV curved and straight);
Oil Tanks;
Car Repair Shops (NYO&W);
Sand Houses;
Scale Houses (B&O and Fairbanks-Morse);
Section Houses;
Signal Towers (IC, RF&P, DL&W);
Yard Office;
Yard Warehouse (IC);
Bunk House (DL&W);
Crossing Shanties.

Carstens Publications, soft cover, 120 pages, 8.5 x 11 x .25 in., b&w photographs; plans and diagrams. cp00098
Price: 16.95 USD

View Image
3 Model Railroading from Prototype to Layout Tony Koester
Kalmbach Books 2010 0890247978 / 9780890247976 NEW CONDITION BOOK

While model railroaders seek realism in their layouts, the process can often be time-consuming. Model Railroading from Prototype to Layout shows how to capture the flavor of a real railroad without getting sidetracked by detail. Using Tony Koester †s expert advice before and during construction of a layout, modelers can sharpen their focus, saving time, money, and even space. Topics include choosing a prototype, setting the time period, planning structures and scenes, selecting locomotives and rolling stock, designing the layout, and planning rail operations.

ò A great reference book to guide and inspire modelers of all levels
ò Shows how to take signature elements of a railroad and adapt them to one †s own layout
ò Written conversationally by one of the most respected names in model railroading

Kalmbach Publishing, softcover, 96 pages, 25 black and white photos; 200 color photos. kb12460
Price: 15.45 USD

View Image
4 Operation Handbook For Model Railroads Paul Mallery
Carstens Publications 1979 0911868747 / 9780911868746 Carstens 1991 NEW CONDITION BOOK

Master model railroader Paul Mallery's handbook on operating any size and kind of model railroad. Loaded with explanatory charts, diagrams. & photographs.

Contents:
Ch. 1: Introduction, Factors and Terminology, pp. 1-8;
Ch. 2: Concept, pp. 9-27;
Ch. 3: Operating Positions, pp. 28-52;
Ch. 4: Timetables, pp. 53-66;
Ch. 5: Rights of Trains, pp. 67-85;
Ch. 6: Blocks, Signals, and Interlockings, pp. 86-100;
Ch. 7: Waybills, pp. 101-126;
Ch. 8: Communications, pp. 127-130;
Ch. 9: Passenger Operations, pp. 131-140;
Ch. 10: Freight Operations, pp. 141-162;
Ch. 11: Locomotive Service, pp. 163-168;
Ch. 12: Maintenance of Way, pp. 169-170;
Ch. 13: Auxiliary Railways (Operated separately from the main railroad such as a narrow gauge line), pp. 171-175;
Ch. 14: Physical Factors, pp. 176-190;
Glossary, pp. 191-199.

Carstens Publications, soft cover, 5.25 x 8.25 x .75 in., 200 pages, b&w photographs and plans. cp00074
Price: 10.95 USD

View Image
5 Prototype Railroad Modeling Vol. 1 various
Speedwitch Media 2005 NA NEW CONDITION BOOK

The inaugural volume of this new journal has several detailed articles about prototype modeling. The articles go to a level of detail not available in other modeling publications.

Featured articles:

Wabash USRA Box Car Clones and Rebuilds by Chet French and Jerry Hamsmith, pp. 3-19.

Pressed Steel Car Company 8,000 Gallon Tank Car HO Scale Kitbash (Tichy under frame with Intermountain tank) by Richard Hendrickson, pp. 20-26.

Modeling the Pennsylvania Railroad †s X23 and X25 Box Cars (Westerfield) by Ted Culotta, pp. 27-39.

The Burlington Refrigerator Express Company †s Signature Wood Sheathed Reefers (Tichy including one hand-colored photo of the prototype and b&w and color photos of the model) by Bill Welch, pp. 40-59.

A Tale of Two Hoppers (Atlas and Marklin models of UP open top hoppers) by Mike Brock, pp. 60-64.

Adventures in Kit bashing by Clark Propst (EJ&E boxcar, URTX reefer using a Tyco shell and M&STL boxcar using F&C and Westerfield parts), pp. 65-90.

The Old Woman in the Back Bedroom: Bill Schneider †s New York, Ontario & Western by Bill Schneider and Ted Culotta, pp. 91-96.

Speedwitch Media, soft cover, 96 pages., 8.5 x 11 x .25 in., b&w and color photographs, perfect bound with laminated, lay flat cover. The text is printed on heavy glossy stock with plenty of color. sm101
Price: 25.95 USD

View Image
6 Prototype Railroad Modeling Vol. 2 various
Speedwitch Media 2006 NA NEW CONDITION BOOK

Volume Two presents three in-depth articles, all the first parts of two-part articles. The format is the same as Volume One.

Modern Double Sheathed and Single Sheathed Box Cars of the Ann Arbor Railroad by Rob Adams, pp. 2-42.

An in depth look at the Ann Arbors Steam Era box car fleet from the turn of the century through into the 1940s. This sets the stage for a follow up article on scratch building the Ann Arbors single sheathed box and automobile cars. Two drawings, six reference tables, and many rare photographs included.

Truss Rod Refrigerator Cars of the Fruit Growers Express/Western Fruit Express/Burlington Refrigerator Express Consortium, Part One: The Prototypes by Bill Welch. pp. 43-69.

Presents a detailed look at the consortiums fleet of truss rod refrigerator cars. Like the Ann Arbor article, this lays the foundation for Part Two that will explore modeling these cars. This includes many photographs that have not been published before.

Canadian National Railway Deck Pile Bridge, Saint John, New Brunswick by Patrick Lawson, page 70.

Drawings are presented for a CN deck pile bridge that is perfect for modeling.

AAR Inspired Forty Foot Steel Automobile Cars, Part One by Ted Culotta, pp. 71-96.

The AAR box car of 1937 and its subsequent derivatives spawned many auto cars that drew upon the traits of the box cars. Part One of this article examines many of the prototypes and ways to model them in HO Scale.

Speedwitch Media, soft cover, 96 pages, 8.5 x 11 x .5 in., perfect bound with laminated, lay flat cover. The text is printed on heavy glossy stock with color where appropriate. sm102
Price: 25.95 USD

View Image
7 Railway Prototype Cyclopedia Vol. 01 various authors
RP CYC Publishing 1997 NA NEW CONDITION BOOK

Contents:

St. Louis Car Company Cabooses (11 pp.) Washington University Collection.

While most well known for their street cars and passenger cars, the St. Louis Car Company also built more than 350 cabooses for Class 1 railroads. This photo essay displays excellent builders photographs of these cabooses. A roster and sample diagrams are also provided.

Santa Fe 4-6-2 Pacifics (20 pp.) by Richard Hendrickson.

The Santa Fe operated a sizable fleet of 4-6-2 Pacifics of the 1309, 1337, 3500, and 3600 Classes. This outstanding article by Richard Hendrickson discusses the history of these locomotives including variations and later modifications made to them. A total of 29 excellent photographs pictorially documents this piece of Santa Fe history.

Modeling Plan 3410 12-1 Pullman Cars (11 pp.) by Pat Wider.

The most common of all the heavyweight sleeping cars was the Plan 3410 series 12 Section, 1 Drawing Room Pullman sleeping car. In the first part of this series of articles on Pullman heavyweight cars, the body of the Riverossi HO scale model is prepared for all the underbody work and final assembly that will be completed in Volume 2. The article provides information on the various air conditioning systems used on these cars as well as six pp. of valuable data that helps put these cars into perspective.

Riveted 40' PS-1 Box Cars (11 pp.) by Pat Wider and Ed Hawkins.

Pullman-Standard manufactured more than 5,500 PS-1 40' box cars with 6-foot doors and riveted side panels. The article provides a roster and ten photographs of prototype cars including numerous cars built for Chicago and North Western. Also, two models are shown that were fabricated from parts of three InterMountain Railway kits. The end result of this relatively easy kitbash is a highly authentic scale model.

Missouri Pacific Stockyard (11 pp.) by Charles Duckworth.

Stockyards were commonly found along the right of way during the 1930s through the 1950s and were an important part of railroad revenue during this period. This article gives an interesting account of shipping livestock by rail along with a fabulous model of a small Missouri Pacific stockyard in HO scale. A complete set of plans is provided along with pertinent information for modeling a stockyard.

Frisco's Howe Truss Box Cars (12 pp.) by Joe Pennington.

The mainstay of Frisco's rolling stock fleet was the 40' Howe Truss box car. In all, 6,500 cars of this design were built from 1926 through 1930. In April 1960, some 4,535 cars were still in service. The article covers the history of the cars including the steel rebuilding program that began in 1953. These distinctive prototype cars can be accurately modeled using kits made by Sunshine Models.

1935 AAR Twin Hoppers, Part 1 (15 pp.) by Ed Hawkins.

The ubiquitous workhorse of the coal hauling roads, the 33' inside length offset hopper was truly a common car. The article discusses the features and the differences of the 50-ton AAR Standard and Alternate Standard designs as well as one nonstandard design used mainly by Illinois Central. Numerous photographs are presented as well as a four page roster of approximately 127,000 cars built from 1934 to 1960.

RP CYC Publishing, soft cover, 96 pages, 8.5 x 11 x .25 in., b&w photographs and illustrations. rpcy101
Price: 16.95 USD

View Image
8 Railway Prototype Cyclopedia Vol. 08 various authors
RP CYC Publishing 2003 NA NEW CONDITION BOOK

Contents:

Express Box Cars Addendum (27 pp.) by Pat Wider.

This addendum provides additional coverage on the subject of BX express box cars that we originally presented in Volume 6. Included are many photographs and much information we either did not have sufficient space for in Volume 6 or have subsequently acquired. Shown are BX express box cars routinely used in head-end express passenger train service from the 1930s through the 1950s and into the 1960s.

Baldwin VO-1000 Diesel Switcher Locomotives (32 pp.) by Charlie Roth.

Presented are the many phases of Baldwin VO-1000 Diesel switchers built during the production span of these distinctive locomotives from late 1939 to 1946. Included are builders or in-service photographs of each phase in as-delivered appearance plus examples of locomotives that received various modifications while in service. Each phase designation is described with its inherent characteristics and a guide to the time period produced. In the case of modified locomotives, information about the original configuration is included. This article and the series of VO-1000 articles in Diesel Era are complimentary in nature.

A.A.R. 50-ton Hopper Cars Part 4 (15 pp., by Ed Hawkins)

Continuing the series of 1935 A.A.R. twin offset-side hopper cars produced for 25 years (1936 to 1960), this edition presents cars of this type built for southeastern roads. Examples include A.A.R. Standard and Alternate Standard cars as well as non-standard cars having 33' inside length. Representative builders and in-service photographs are shown of the numerous southeastern roads owning cars of this general description. This includes the Louisville & Nashville Railroad, which had more than 19,000 cars of various configurations.

10'-0 Inside Height Postwar A.A.R. 40'-6 Box Cars (30 pp.) by Ed Hawkins.

Following the production of the 1937 A.A.R. box car, the most common box car ever produced, cars of the same general design followed from 1945 into the 1950s. Presented are cars of 10'-0 IH having Improved Dreadnaught Ends of three versions built during this period. More than 35,000 cars of this description were built with SP/T&NO having more than 19,000. Included is a two-page roster of cars meeting the criteria.

RP CYC Publishing, soft cover, 104 pages, 8.5 x 11 x .25 in., b&w photographs and illustrations. rpcy108
Price: 21.95 USD

View Image
9 Railway Prototype Cyclopedia Vol. 09 various authors
RP CYC Publishing 2003 NA NEW CONDITION BOOK

Contents:

B&O Wagon-Top Box Cars (25 pp.), by Pat Wider.

The Baltimore & Ohio Railroads signature box car was noted for its unique design and appearance. The article includes historical information about the origin of the cars as rebuilt class M-15 box cars plus other cars built new (class M-53) during the late 1930s and early 1940s. Shown are numerous builders and in-service photographs plus several brass and cast urethane models in HO scale of these distinctive box cars.

Pullman-Standard Compartmentizers (18 pp.), by Pat Wider.

During the 1930s through 1940s, railroads were constantly battling the financial impact of the high cost of damaged lading. One builders solution to the problem was the Compartmentizer, first offered by Pullman-Standard in the early 1950s. The article discusses the problems caused by damaged freight with a description and photographs of Pullman-Standards interior arrangement of movable partitions to help keep lading from being damaged during transit. Shown are numerous photographs of freight cars equipped with Compartmentizers, all having Compartmentizer stencils on the car sides.

A.A.R. 50-ton Hopper Cars Part 5 (17 pp.) by Ed Hawkins.

Continuing the series of 1935 A.A.R. twin offset-side hopper cars produced for 25 years (1936 to 1960), this edition presents cars of this type built for Midwestern roads. Examples include A.A.R. Standard and Alternate Standard cars as well as non-standard cars having 33' inside length. Representative builders and in-service photographs are shown of the numerous Midwestern roads owning cars of this general description.

Express Refrigerator Cars-Addendum (26 pp.) by Pat Wider.

In Volume 7 we presented 77 pp. of coverage on the interesting and important subject in railroad history of express refrigerator cars. Since that time we located a substantial number of additional photographs of these ubiquitous cars, some of which are very rare. Also included are several line drawings of express refrigerator cars, including the omnipresent Pennsylvania Railroad R-50b.

EMD F3 Phase IV Diesel Locomotives (18 pp.) +back inside cover used for roster, by Ed Hawkins.

This is the fourth in a series of Electro-Motive Division F3 Diesel locomotive articles. This particular group was identified by the introduction of horizontal grilles along the top row of air intakes. This F3 model has been dubbed Phase IV by the modeling community. A detailed roster is presented that specifies various items such as the use of dynamic brakes, steam generation equipment, headlight configuration, type of pilot, and style of number boards. Examples of the production locomotives are illustrated with EMD builders and in-service photographs.

RP CYC Publishing, soft cover, 104 pages, 8.5 x 11 x .25 in., b&w photographs and illustrations. rpcy109
Price: 21.95 USD

View Image
10 Railway Prototype Cyclopedia Vol. 10 various authors
RP CYC Publishing 2004 NA NEW CONDITION BOOK

Contents:

Freight Car Hand Brakes-1920s to 1950s (59 pp.) by Pat Wider.

One item common to all freight cars is a hand brake. During the 1920s through 1950s a wide variety of types and styles of hand brakes were available. This included the use of vertical staff hand brakes with the wheel in a horizontal plane, geared power hand brakes with the wheel in either a vertical or horizontal plane, ratchet hand brakes, and lever hand brakes. Over time hand brake manufacturers introduced numerous changes to mechanisms and to the appearance of the wheels. Presented is a history of hand brake devices with more than 100 photographs and illustrations of the many hand brakes installed on freight cars during this period. Also provided are tables listing A.A.R. certified geared hand brakes as of May 1944 and June 1959.

New York Central 47'-11 Drop-Side Container Cars (11 pp.) by Pat Wider.

During the early 1930s the New York Central Railroad and L.C.L. Corporation continued the development of an early intermodal Container-On-Flat-Car (COFC) service. The L.C.L. Corporation purchased 335 such cars from Standard Steel Car Company and American Car & Foundry Company in 1930 and 1931 with each car equipped with 6 containers and having an inside length of 47'-11. These drop-side cars were used in COFC service into the early 1950s before being converted by NYC with the permanent closing of the drop-sides. The article presents a history of the cars with 20 photographs and illustrations.

70-ton Phosphate Quadruple Covered Hopper Cars - Addendum (5 pp.) by Pat Wider.

In Volume 4 of Railway Prototype Cyclopedia, we presented an article on 70-ton quadruple covered hopper cars for use in dedicated phosphate service. The cars were owned by Atlantic Coast Line, Seaboard Air Line, and Shippers' Car Line. Wabash later purchased some of these cars for sand service. Additional material is presented that includes five in-service photographs, two model photographs, and two illustrations of these cars.

AC&F Type 27 Un-insulated Multiple-Compartment I.C.C. 103 Tank Cars (30 pp.) by Ed Hawkins.

From 1928 through the late 1940s, AC&F developed and built a myriad of tank cars constructed to their Type 27 design standard. Included were several hundred multiple-compartment cars of either insulated or un-insulated configurations. Presented in this volume are un-insulated cars of this type, nearly all of which were either two-compartment or three-compartment. A lone five-compartment car was built. The tank capacities ranged in size from 4,000 gallons to 8,000 gallons with 6,000 gallons being the most common. Included is a history of the development of Type 27 tank cars with a comprehensive roster and more than 50 photographs and illustrations of these unique multiple-compartment cars used for transporting liquid materials.

RP CYC Publishing, soft cover, 104 pages, 8.5 x 11 x .25 in., b&w photographs and illustrations. rpcy110
Price: 21.95 USD

View Image
11 Railway Prototype Cyclopedia Vol. 11 various authors
RP CYC Publishing 2005 NA NEW CONDITION BOOK

Contents:

Six Pullman Lightweight Passenger Cars, by Pat Wider.

Presented in Volume 11 are four selected groups of Pullman lightweight streamline passenger cars, two of which had specific variations to make six unique arrangements. The four main groups discussed include selected Pullman-Standard 10-5, Pullman-Standard 6-6-4, Pullman-Standard 4-4-2, and Budd 10-6 sleeping cars. The prototype versions match, to an extent, HO-scale models available from Walthers.

But by no means are the contents limited to these specific configurations. Included in this volume is information that applies to virtually all lightweight sleeping cars with comprehensive attention paid to the underbody equipment. There are summaries and detailed descriptions, photographs, illustrations, diagrams, and tables of Pullmans sleeping car accommodations, materials used to construct lightweight cars, electrical systems, air-conditioning systems, heating systems, braking systems, trucks, hand brakes, draft gear and couplers, steam connections, as well as a few other miscellaneous topics. Numerous builders' photographs and in-service photographs are provided to show the various railroads operating these cars.

A substantial number of builders' photographs are printed landscape format on the page for maximum size and visibility of detail. Several pages are devoted to the Walthers models with color photographs and descriptions of the many positive aspects of the models as well as areas where modifications are necessary for a more accurate rendering.

We apologize for an error made in the text on page 107, which leads the reader to believe that D&G Models may be out of business. Jim Gerstley has notified us that D&G Models is still very much in business. We hope our readers will take stock of the excellent HO-scale passenger car trucks that continue to be available from D&G Models.

RP CYC Publishing, soft cover, 112 pages, 8.5 x 11 x .25 in., b&w photographs and illustrations. rpcy111
Price: 21.95 USD

View Image
12 Railway Prototype Cyclopedia Vol. 12 various authors
RP CYC Publishing 2006 NA NEW CONDITION BOOK

Contents:

Weighing Freight Cars (45 pp.) by Pat Wider.

The extensive material includes plans and photographs of Fairbanks-Morse and Howe track scales, Baldwin-Southwark scale test cars, National Bureau of Standards scale test cars, B&O scale tool cars, as well as lists of track scales on the B&O railroad and a list of the railroad †s weigh station symbols. Several pages are devoted to describing the process of weighing freight cars and the reweighing and stenciling requirements of the A.A.R.

CB&Q Wood-Sheathed Auto Cars ((XA-1 Through XA-14) (42 pp.) by Bat Masterson, Hol Wagner, and Al Hoff-Man.

The material includes a roster and a comprehensive history of CB&Q †s XA-1 through XA-14 double- and single-sheathed automobile cars as well as numerous photographs and diagrams. More than 7,000 cars of these 40' and 50' classes were built through 1937.

Fruit Growers Express/Burlington Refrigerator Express/Western Fruit Express Wartime Reefers (1942-1946) (26 pp.) by Bill Welch, Ed Hawkins, and Pat Wider.

The article includes an extensive history of the FGE consortium as well as a roster, descriptions, and numerous photographs of the FGE/BRE/WFE cars built from 1942-1946. The earliest of these had plywood-sheathed sides, while others had vertical tongue and groove sides. All-steel derivatives built by Mount Vernon beginning in late 1946 are also included. The subject matter covers prototype cars that will soon be forthcoming from Sunshine Models in HO scale.

RP CYC Publishing, soft cover, 112 pages, 8.5 x 11 x .25 in., b&w photographs and illustrations. rpcy112
Price: 21.95 USD

View Image
13 Railway Prototype Cyclopedia Vol. 13 various authors
RP CYC Publishing 2006 NA NEW CONDITION BOOK

Contents:

Milwaukee Ribbed-Side Box and Automobile Cars (75 pp.)

The extensive material includes plans, photographs, and a roster of Milwaukee Road ribbed-side 40 † & 50 † box and automobile cars that were designed and patented by the railroad †s Car Department Superintendent, Karl Nystrom. discussed are the cars † many variations implemented during their period of construction (1937-1949).

Seaboard Air Line Turtle-Back Cars (13 pp.)

The article describes and illustrates the several classes of Turtle-Back (round-roof) box and automobile cars built by Pullman-Standard for the Seaboard Air Line from 1940 to 1942.

CB&Q All-Steel Automobile Cars (13 pp.)

Part two of the article on CB&Q automobile cars continues from where the previous article left off. The final part covers the all-steel automobile cars built by the railroad from 1941 to 1946 and it includes several diagrams and numerous photographs of these cars.

A.A.R. Twin Offset Hopper Cars: Western Roads (3 pp.)

RP CYC continues the series on the A.A.R. twin offset hopper cars by discussing and illustrating the cars owned by the Santa Fe and Northern Pacific railroads.

RP CYC Publishing, soft cover, 104 pages, 8.5 x 11 in., 165 b&w and color photographs and illustrations. rpcy113
Price: 21.95 USD

View Image
14 Railway Prototype Cyclopedia Vol. 14 various authors
RP CYC Publishing 2006 NA NEW CONDITION BOOK

Contents:

Missouri Pacific Steel Rebuild Box Cars (including the original single and double-sheathed cars) (39 pp.) by Ed Hawkins.

Considered Missouri Pacifics signature box cars, the 1950s 36' and 40' steel rebuilds were truly unique as they reused underframes and ends (mostly) from cars built from 1924-1930. Rebuilt cars received new all-steel 10-panel riveted sides, new Youngstown doors, and new diagonal panel roofs. The article also presents the original cars, including interim changes made before the rebuilding program. The rebuilds were painted either freight car red for general service or in Eagle passenger-train colors for L.C.L. Eagle Merchandise Service. A two-page roster and time-line are also included.

40' Cryogenic Gas Tank/Box Cars (38 pp.) by Patrick C. Wider.

From the late 1930s to early 1960s, distinctive tank cars disguised as all-steel box cars were built by Pressed Steel Car Co., General American Transportation Corp., and American Car & Foundry for the transportation of cryogenic gases. Shown are numerous builders photographs and in-service photographs of cars leased to Linde, Air Reduction, and National Cylinder Gas. Included are a roster and engineering drawings of selected cars showing a general configuration of the tank and box car as well as details such as roof hatches and end doors.

General American 37' Meat Reefers (21 pp.) by Patrick C. Wider.

From the late 1930s through the 1950s, Midwestern slaughterhouses and meat packers leased a significant quantity of modern 37' refrigerator cars with wood superstructures built by General American Transportation Corporation. Dubuque, Kingan & Co., Dugdale Packing, and Oscar Meyer are just a few examples of the shippers that leased these cars owned by General American with G.A.R.X. or U.R.T.X. reporting marks. Also included is a roster.

1926/1929 A.R.A. Quadruple Hoppers Addendum (7 pp.) by Ed Hawkins.

Presented in the addendum are additional in-service photographs that have been acquired since the publication of the original article in Volume 5. These include cars for original owners B&O, C&O, Erie, K.C.S. (a later all-welded version), MILW, and M.P., as well as mid to late 1950s second-hand owners Montour and Norfolk Southern, the latter of which leased cars with extended sides for wood chip service. Also included is an updated roster and ORER time-line table.

RP CYC Publishing, 104 pages, 8.5 x 11 in., b&w photographs and illustrations. rpcy114
Price: 21.95 USD

View Image
15 Railway Prototype Cyclopedia Vol. 15 various authors
RP CYC Publishing 2007 NA NEW CONDITION BOOK

Contents:

General American GAEX/GARX XME and RB Leased Box Cars.

The extensive material (46 pp.) covers the 1950s state-of-the-art General American 50 † high quality XME box cars as well as their 50 † RB insulated box car siblings that were leased by several well-known class I railroads. The article also includes considerable information on General AmericanûEvans DF Loaders that equipped these cars as well as many others built during the period.

Pennsylvania Railroad X23, X24, K7, and R7 Freight Cars.

The comprehensive article (41 pp.) describes and illustrates the P.R.R. single-sheathed box cars, automobile cars, stock cars, and refrigerator cars all built to a standard 1912 railroad propriety design. The cars had long lives and a number of the refrigerator cars were subsequently transferred to Fruit Growers Express and the National Car Company.

Greenville Steel Car Co. 70-Ton Fish-belly Side Sill Covered Hopper Cars.

Covered are the distinctive fish-belly Greenville 70-ton covered hopper cars that were built starting in 1947 and bore many design characteristics of similar cars built by American Car & Foundry as well as several other major American freight car builders of the period.

RPCYC Publishing, soft cover, 105 pages, 8.5 x 11 x .25 in., 133 b&w and 25 color photographs, 7 diagrams, and 3 tables. rpcy115
Price: 23.95 USD

View Image
16 Railway Prototype Cyclopedia Vol. 16 various authors
RP CYC Publishing 2007 NA NEW CONDITION BOOK

Contents:

U.S.R.A. 40-ton Double-Sheathed Box Cars (53 pp.) by Patrick C. Wider.

The article is the first in a series of articles that will cover several ôstandardö American box car designs that were built in large quantities during the first half of the 20th Century. In this article, Pat Wider covers the 25,000 double-sheathed wood and steel box cars that were built from 1918 to 1922 following a United States Railroad Association standard design. The comprehensive series of articles will include the contemporary U.S.R.A. single-sheathed wood & steel and double-sheathed all-steel box cars operated by a large number of U.S. railroads.

General American 70-ton All-Steel Refrigerator Cars (10 pp.) by Patrick C. Wider.

Pat Wider describes and illustrates the unique 1930s General American 70-ton ôsuper sizeö all-steel refrigerator cars owned and operated by General American Transportation Corporation and leased to the Milwaukee Road and the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway. These cars presaged the modern 50-foot cars of the 1950s.

Freight Car Running Boards and Brake Steps (53 pp.) by Ed Hawkins.

Ed Hawkins covers the various types of running boards and brake steps installed on freight cars prior used from the early 1900s through 1960 and to their banishment in 1974. Included are numerous photographs, tables, diagrams, descriptions, and contemporary trade publication advertisements. This is a must have article for serious freight-car modelers.

RPCYC Publishing, soft cover, 112 pages, 8.5 x 11 in., b&w photographs and illustrations. rpcy116
Price: 23.95 USD

View Image
17 Railway Prototype Cyclopedia Vol. 17 various authors
RP CYC Publishing 2008 NA NEW CONDITION BOOK

Contents:

U.S.R.A. 50-ton Single-Sheathed Box Cars and Steel Rebuilds (51 pp.) by Patrick C. Wider.

This article is the second in a series of articles that cover several ôstandardö American box car designs that were built in large quantities during the first half of the 20th Century. In this article, Pat Wider covers the 25,000 single-sheathed wood and steel box cars that were built from 1918 to 1920 following a United States Railroad Administration standard design. The article also includes the steel-rebuilds of many of these cars that lasted well into the 1960s.

General American Trans-Flo Hopper Cars (13 pp.) by Patrick C. Wider.

Pat Wider describes and illustrates the unique General American 70-ton Trans-Flo covered hopper cars owned and operated by the General American Transportation Corporation and leased to the American Stores Company, National Biscuit Company, and Miles Laboratories. These distinctive cars presaged the later General American Airslide hopper cars of the 1950s and 1960s.

Railroad-Owned GATC Airslide 2,600 Cu. Ft. Covered Hopper Cars (49 pp.) by Ed Hawkins.

Ed Hawkins covers the General American 2,600 Cu. Ft. Airslide covered hopper cars that were ordered and owned by several railroads from 1954 to 1959. The article features many pristine builder †s photographs. This is the first part in a series of articles that will also include the General American-owned 2,600 Cu. Ft. Airslide cars.

RP CYC Publishing, soft cover, 112 pages, 8.5 x 11 x .25 in., includes b&w photographs and illustrations. rpcy117
Price: 23.95 USD

View Image
18 Railway Prototype Cyclopedia Vol. 18 Patrick C. Wider
RP CYC Publishing 2009 NA NEW CONDITION BOOK

Contents:

American Railroad Association (A.R.A) 1923-29 Design 40 † Inside-Length 40- and 50-ton Box Cars.

This full volume article is the third in a series of articles that cover several ôstandardö American box car designs that were built in large quantities during the first half of the 20th Century.

In this article, Pat Wider covers the 1923-29 design A.R.A. single-sheathed and double-sheathed, standard steel frame box cars as well as the A.R.A. ôproposed-standardö all-steel box cars that were built from 1924 to 1934 following several American Railroad Administration designs. These cars were the immediate predecessors of the A.R.A. Standard Box Car of 1932.

The standard single- and double-sheathed steel frame box cars were built for or owned by many railroads including the A&WP, AT&SF, BAR, B&M, C&O, CGW, CRI&P, GA, GF&A, L&N, M&StL, SAL, SP, UP, WAG, and WofA. The A.R.A. ôproposed-standardö all-steel box cars were built for or owned by the B&O, B&M, C&O, CGW, CRRofNJ, DT&I, Erie, L&NE, MEC, MTC, NKP, NYC, PM, PRR, and W&LE.

The article includes 151 black & white and color photographs, 35 diagrams, and 3 tables. Due to the extensive scope of the subject, the Pennsy †s X29 A.R.A. all-steel box cars will be the subject of a following article in a future volume of Railway Prototype Cyclopedia.

RP CYC Publishing, soft cover, 112 pages, 8.5 x 11 x .25 in., b&w photographs and illustrations, 2 pages of color photographs. rpcy118
Price: 23.95 USD

View Image
19 Railway Prototype Cyclopedia Vol. 19 various authors
RP CYC Publishing 2009 NA NEW CONDITION BOOK

Railway Prototype Cyclopedia Vol. 19

Railway Prototype Cyclopedia, or 'RP CYC' for short, is a continuing series of softbound books that provides invaluable information in a single source with a focus on the 1930s, '40s, and '50s. This was the Golden Age of railroads when steam locomotives and first-generation diesels ruled.

Contents:
Emergency Composite Box Cars (50 pages) by Patrick C. Wider

This article is the fourth in a series of articles that cover a number of American box car designs that were built in large quantities during the first half of the 20th Century. In this article, Pat Wider covers the single-sheathed and plywood-sheathed 40' and 50' emergency box cars constructed during World War II following restrictions imposed by the War Production Board.

Erie 40-Ton Express Milk Cars (10 pages) by Patrick C. Wider

Pat Wider describes and illustrates the unique Erie express milk cars built during the 1930s by Greenville Steel Car Company. Also discussed and illustrated are some of the cars converted for express baggage service.

The family of All-Welded 70-Ton Drop-End Gondola Cars Based on PRR's Class G31. (53 pages) by Ed Hawkins

This article covers an interesting group of subject cars first built by the Pennsylvania Railroad (Class G31) in 1948-1950, followed in the 1950s with derivatives built by American Car & Foundry and Pullman-Standard for Pennsy, Atlantic Coast Line, Birmingham Southern, Delaware & Hudson, Delaware, Lackawanna & Western, Southern Pacific, Wabash, Sacramento Northern, Western Pacific.

RP CYC Publishing, soft cover, 112 pages, 8.5 x 11 x .25 in., b&w photographs and diagrams. rpcy119
Price: 25.95 USD

View Image
20 The Model Railroader's Guide to Industries Along the Tracks: Vol. 3 Jeff Wilson
Kalmbach Books 2008 0890247013 / 9780890247013 NEW CONDITION BOOK

This volume contains a variety of prototype photographs and suggestions for how to model and place industries on your layouts for realistic operation.

Contents:
Ch. 1: Ethanol, pp. 5-16;
Ch. 2: Cement, pp. 17-28;
Ch. 3: Team tracks and transloading, pp. 29-40;
Ch. 4: Sugar Beets, pp. 41-58;
Ch. 5: Seasonal canning factories, pp. 59-72;
Ch. 6: Trailers and containers, pp. 73-86;
Selected bibliography, pg. 87.

Kalmbach Books, soft cover, 88 pages, 8.25 x 10.75 x .25 in., 76 color photographs, 45 b&w photographs. kb12422
Price: 13.95 USD

1 2 NEXT >


Copyright 2026. All Rights Reserved.