TRAINS ACROSS THE CONTINENT, Second Edition

Authored by Rudolph Daniels - Indiana University Press, 601 North Morton Street, Bloomington, Ind. 47404.

Softcover, 8-1/2" x 11", 258 pp., 2000. $22.95. ($45.00 hardcover).

This book was written to be a textbook for a course taught by the author at Western Iowa Tech Community College in Sioux City, Iowa. For that reason, it is not a typical book for railfans, or even rail historians. The book attempts to cover the history of railroading in the United States and Canada from its inception, and is written for an audience that is largely ignorant of the importance of railroads in the past, let alone the present.

For that reason, coverage is very broad, and to keep the book at a reasonable length the author necessarily omits detail in many of the famous developments in history that readers of this Bulletin could recite. However, many U.S. readers will find information about Canadian history about which they were ignorant. The book is organized in six parts, divided chronologically. Each begins with an historical overview of developments in the U.S. and Canada during that time period, followed by one or more chapters with detail. A book that attempts to cover such breadth is bound to impress any reader with certain elements of history that should have been explored further and others that could have been omitted. However, just about every important story in rail development or history is covered here and the omissions are minimal considering the audience.

Naturally in a book of this kind, there are errors. A list of passenger trains in the post-World War II era has several errors and a 1997 photograph of a diesel purports to be owned by the Jersey Central, which ceased existence over two decades earlier. The time frame and budget given to produce the book, as explained by the author, lead to a collection of photographs that is less than representative in coverage. The one quibble this reviewer has is the common introduction of model numbers (GP7, M-l) and railfan terms (e.g., 'meatball' for the AEM7) without explanation. Since the book is meant to be broad, details such as these seem irrelevant if not explained more fully or in context. On the other hand, a large glossary of rail slang (not used in the text itself) is included, as is a time line of rail history, list of movies in which rails play a key part and a detailed bibliography and index. Academics may wish to consider this as a textbook or supplemental reading; others may want to use it to introduce a younger generation to a general history of railroading.

Reviewed by: R. G. P.

PORTER STEAM LOCOMOTIVES - LIGHT AND HEAVY

Edited by the A.C. Kalmbach Library Staff - National Model Railroad Association, 4121 Cromwell Road, Chattanooga, Tenn. 37421-2119.

Softcover, 8-1/2" x 11", 301 pp., 2001. $76.95 ($54.95 to NMRA members).

The H.K. Porter Company was founded in 1867 in Pittsburgh, Pa. When it ceased production in 1950, it had produced over 8,000 locomotives. Its primary customers were industrial, the engines mainly steam, but they included some diesel, gasoline, fireless and compressed air types. Many were exported overseas and worked in quarries, logging operations, factories and mines.

The book contains a company history using text, builder's and publicity photographs. A reprint of Porter's last catalog is included as well as a comprehensive roster that lists each customer. One might wonder why the need for a reprint of an industrial locomotive manufacturer's catalog. However, there is more useful information than one might initially think. Much in the way of construction and parts data is given. I liked the way the catalog recommended a balloon-shaped stack with spiral cone for woodburners, especially those that used pitch-pine.

There are also sections explaining formulas for determining drawbar pull, factor of adhesion, tractive force, how fast a locomotive can haul its heaviest train, water and fuel consumption, boiler troubles, how to set valves, etc. Although this is primarily a history of H.K. Porter and its locomotives, there is much to interest the locomotive historian as well as those who still operate steam locomotives. To those willing to pay the hefty price (especially for a softcover, black-and-white book) they will find a wealth of information on steam locomotive technology. There is a general index near the beginning of the book.

Reviewed by: Ray Cooney

MICHIGAN CENTRAL TRACKSIDE WITH EMERY GULASH

Authored by Geoffrey H. Doughty - Morning Sun Books, 9 Pheasant Lane, Scotch Plains, N.J., 07076.

Hardcover, 8-1/2" x 11", 128 pp., 2001. $54.95 (plus $3.50 shipping).

Perhaps railfans today know the name Emery Gulash as synonymous with videotapes, since about 40 tapes have been produced from his film footage over the years. This book, however, features his color photography from 1941 to 1968, when the New York Central (of which the Michigan Central had long since been a part) merged into the ill-fated Penn Central. The book, after a three-page introduction to the photographer and three more pages of historical background, has no chapters; the photographs are arranged chronologically. Although most photos are taken along the mainline from Detroit west to Ann Arbor, the book does range as far west as Porter, Ind., and both north and south from Detroit. Coverage is heaviest of passenger trains, at first the Mercury, then after its demise, largely the Michigan, Twilight Limited and Wolverine. However, freight service, local service and buildings are not ignored. Although Gulash was not a professional photographer, the quality of his photographs suggests he could have been. In addition to capturing his main subject, he includes its surroundings as well. Quality of reproduction is uniformly good, and although a few typos were noticed the captions say more than just the obvious (not surprising considering the expertise of the author). Emery was sometimes just lucky in getting the pictures he wanted (an example is a dead RDC being towed by Geeps while alongside passes a Grand Trunk Western steam excursion), but mostly he planned his surrounding well. A favorite is alongside the Huron River, not a location that most Central aficionados associate with the Water Level Route. Several other locations appear repeatedly in the photographs, but it is hard to tire. If one finds the locations repetitive, the reader can note the decline of the paint jobs, right-of-way maintenance and the length and quality of the passenger trains or view the change from steam to diesel, then the changing diesel models. Fans of the Michigan Central or the New York Central in general, will enjoy this volume.

Reviewed by: R. G. P.

THE RAILROAD PASSENGER CAR

Authored by August Mencken - Johns Hopkins University Press, 2715 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, Md. 21218.

Hardcover, 7" x 9", 209 pp., 2000. $27.95.

This is a reprint of a 1957 book. Mr. Mencken was a civil engineer and a published author, but not as well-known as his brother, the late, quotable H. L. of Baltimore newspaper fame. The book is not to be confused with John H. White's masterwork The American Railroad Passenger Car also published by Johns Hopkins. This volume is much smaller and can be divided into two parts. The first includes the history of the development of railway passenger cars from the 1830s up to the Union Pacific's M10000 of 1934. The second part is a series of 35 contemporary accounts of passengers' trips dating from 1831 to 1891 with such subjects as early accidents, baggage smashers, Indian attacks, etc. For me, these Òtrue talesÓ were fascinating and really made the book worth every penny of its price. While it is not on par with White's work, it still is a valuable contribution to the history of railway cars and it is an entertaining and informative book. I recommend it.

Reviewed by: F.P.K.