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

For a few decades in the early twentieth century, the transportation method of the future unquestionably appeared to be the electric interurban railway-a rail system that used electric-powered, trolley-like cars to operate between distant population centers.

But the great trend of history was against the Interurbans. The automobile and truck appeared about the same time as electric railroads. What traffic wasn't taken away by the truck and auto was destroyed by The Great Depression. The history of the Arkansas Valley Interurban closely follows that of interurban railroads in general. It began with great optimism and the brightest prospects, serving three of the largest cities in Kansas. The Arkansas Valley Interurban unsuccessfully struggled against the truck and the automobile.

South Platte Press, soft cover, 60 pages, 8.5 x 11 x .25 in., b&w photographs and illustrations. SPP101
Price: 15.95 USD

Revised Edition.

The Wymore Story is a classic account of Burlington Route Railroad operations in the southeast Nebraska region. Focusing on what was once the Wymore Division, headquartered at Wymore, Nebraska, it ’s a story of vintage steam locomotives, Zephyr passenger trains, and branch line motor cars. Each operating subdivision is covered with details about passenger and freight traffic, motive power and facilities. However, this new edition also features a total revision of the text and layout. More historic photographs have been added, plus additional material which updates the story through both the Burlington Northern and BNSF eras. SPP103
Price: 16.95 USD

Ghost Railroads of Kansas (Revised Edition 2009)

This edition of Ghost Railroads of Kansas is updated from the 1997 original with new information.

Railroads of every size constructed lines across the Sunflower State. There were giants like the Missouri Pacific;
gnats like the Marion Belt & Chingawassa Springs;
and ill-fated roads such as the Kansas City, Mexico & Orient. The state was also dotted by interurban lines such as Union Traction.

This book covers both the history of those railroads that helped to settle Kansas, as well as those that continue to influence the state. The author, Kansas railroad historian Robert Collins, has made this title available to South Platte Press for distribution. It features both maps and new photographs, many by the author.

Contents:
Ghost Railroads, Class One, pp. 6-39;
Ghost Railroads, Short Lines, pp. 40-58;
Ghost Railroads, Interurbans, pp. 59-67;
Active Railroads, Class One, pp. 68-81;
Active Railroads, Short Lines, pp. 82-90;
Bibliography, pp. 91-94;
Page Number Index, pp. 95-96.

South Plate Press (Robert Collins), soft cover, 98 pages, 8 x 10 x .25 in., b&w photographs and maps. SPP155
Price: 10.95 USD

Grand Trunk Western Railroad: An Illustrated History

This book, with more than 400 illustrations, including 40 pages in color, is the first to cover the entire history of the Grand Trunk Western Railroad. The GTW goes back to the very start of railroad construction in the American Midwest in the 1830s, with its predecessors eventually coming under the influence of Canadian railways.

Today, GTW's main role is as a continuation of Canadian National Railway into the United States, providing vital connections with many railroads at Chicago, Toledo and other cities. GTW also has been vital in serving the needs of the American and Canadian auto industries.

Chapters include a look at every segment of the historic GTW system, its operations, motive power and station facilities.

The author, noted rail historian Ira E. Quastler, has made this title available to South Platte Press for distribution.

Contents:
Introduction and Acknowledgments, pp. 9-14;
Ch. 1: The Detroit, Grand Haven & Milwaukee Railway: From the Beginnings Until 1917, pp. 15-44;
Ch. 2: Port Huron to Detroit, 1858-1917, pp. 45-54;
Ch. 3: Michigan Air Line, pp. 55-66;
Ch. 4: Main Line: Port Huron to Chicago to 1917, pp. 67-104;
Ch. 5: Pontiac, Oxford & Northern, pp. 105-122;
Ch. 6: The Toledo, Saginaw & Mackinaw Railroad, pp. 123-130;
Ch. 7: The Toledo, Saginaw & Muskegon Railroad, pp. 131-146;
Ch 8: From the USRA Years to 1970, pp. 147-196;
Ch. 9: The Grand Trunk Corporation Years to 1995, pp. 197-232;
GTW-1947 Locomotive Roster, pg. 233;
GTW-CN North America Diesel Roster 1994-1995, pg. 234;
Endnotes, pp. 235-246;
Bibliography, pp. 247-248;
Index, pp. 249-252;
Appendix, pp. 253-255;
About the Author, pg. 256.

South Platte Press, laminated hard cover, 256 pages, 8.5 x 11 x 1 in., b&w and color photographs, rosters, data. RI821
Price: 50.95 USD

Don Ball Curve, Lawrence, Kansas Union Pacific Railroad, 1948-2007.

Robert Olmsted, well-known railroad photographer and prolific publisher of railroad books, has teamed up with South Platte Press to publish a pictorial about Don Ball Curve, located in Roberts hometown of Lawrence, Kansas.

Informally named for another master of railroad photography and book publishing, the curve is located along the Kansas City-Denver main line of the Union Pacific. Using Roberts own excellent black & white photography, the book is devoted to the Union Pacific and Rock Island trains (the latter using trackage rights) that have rolled through Don Ball Curve between 1948 and 2007. It can also serve as a guide for railfans interested in visiting Lawrence and the Curve with its current high volume of train traffic.

Most photographs are from the 1950s and 60s. There is as much Rock Island as Union Pacific subjects in the selection of photographs-especially a number of RI 4-8-4s. Plus see Wabash Es on The City of St. Louis, detouring Burlington Es, and the last page is the observation car of RIs Texas Rocket in 1948.

South Platte Press, soft cover, 48 pages., 8.5 x 11 x .25 in., b&w photographs with captions. SPP145
Price: 16.95 USD

Kansas Train Tales: A Collection of Railroad History

This book is for anyone interested in the history of Kansas and its railroads.

In a series of 15 articles, the author tells of Kansas rail oddities such as a train robbery on the Frisco Railway in Andover, the construction of a nationally famous Rock Island Line bridge near Liberal, and the tragedy behind a grave site for six Kansas Pacific track workers near Victoria.

There are stories of short lines and ghost railroads like the Scott City Northern, the St. Joseph & Topeka, and the Marion Belt & Chingawassa Springs. There's also a bibliography of the central Kansas railroad builder who became an amateur historian.

This book by Kansas railroad historian Robert Collins was made available to South Platte Press for distribution. It includes four b&w photographs, nine maps, and an extensive bibliography.

Robert Collins (South Platte Press), soft cover, 132 pages, b&w photographs and maps. SPP153
Price: 8.95 USD

Lloyd Stagner's Union Pacific Steam Safari, 1954-1960. Edited by James J. Reisdorff.

This book details the many encounters that the late steam locomotive historian Lloyd E. Stagner had with Union Pacific Railroad steam motive power between the years 1954 and 1960. The text and photographs mainly involve the author's track side visits to see Union Pacific steam in Kansas, Nebraska and Wyoming. However, detailed sightings from at least 18 other steam hold-out roads in the U.S. and Canada are included. This was the last book being prepared by the author at the time of his death. Includes 50 b&w photographs and text.

Contents:
Preface and Introduction, pp. 5-12;
1954, pp. 13-16;
1955, pp. 17-22;
1956, pp. 23-30;
1957, pp. 31-34;
1958, 35-40;
1959, 41-44;
1960, 45-46;
Autobiography, pp. 47-54;
Books by the Author, pp. 55-56.

South Platte Press, soft cover, 56 pages, 8.5 x 11 x .25 in., b&w photographs. SPP151
Price: 16.95 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

Narrow Gauge to Boston: A Nostalgic Window on the Boston, Revere Beach & Lynn Railroad.

There was relatively little the Boston, Revere Beach & Lynn Railroad in eastern Massachusetts had in common with most of its three-foot gauge cousins across the United States. Its fleet of diminutive Bogie-type steam locomotives scooted over an eight-mile, sea-level, double-track main line from East Boston to Lynn, plus along a double-track loop branch line through the community of Winthrop, while hauling long strings of wood passenger cars.

Only one leading commodity was ever carried on the BRB&L-passengers from surrounding bedroom communities bound to and from Boston. The railroad interchanged only with its own fleet of ferryboats that carried passengers across Boston Harbor. The BRB&L undertook a costly conversion from steam to electric power on the eve of the Great Depression, only to meet its demise in 1940.

Depicted in more than 150 rare illustrations is the unique story of traveling by Narrow Gauge to Boston.

Contents:
Introduction to Narrow Gauge, pp. 7-10;
Building the Narrow Gauge-And Building it Again, pp. 13-18;
Early Operations on the Narrow Gauge, pp. 19-22;
Boston, Winthrop & Point Shirley Railroad, pp 23-28;
Heyday of the Steam Bogies, Narrow Gauge Steam Roster, pp. 29-54;
The Narrow Gauge Navy: Ferryboats of the BRB&I, pp. 55-60;
Electrification!, pp. 61-72;
A Gallery of Narrow Gauge Stations, pp. 73-84;
Bankruptcy: Bucking the Depression, pp. 85-98;
Abandonment and Dismantling, pp. 99-104;
Standard Gauge Comes to the Narrow Gauge, pp. 105-108;
Narrow Gauge Acknowledgments, pp. 109-110;
Bibliography, pp. 111-112.

South Platte Press with Outer Station Project, soft cover, 112 pages, 8.5 x 11 x .25 in., b&w photographs and illustrations. SPP872
Price: 21.95 USD