Below are a list of the books I have built my railroad library with. On the left of each book is a link to Barnes & Noble if you care to purchase any of them. Biography Diary of a Round House ForemanThe Greatest Book of Railroad Experiences Ever PublishedBy: Reilly, T. S. ISBN: Date published: 1912, pages: 158Publisher: The Norman Henley Pub. Co. My impression: Stories compiled by the Late Associate Editor of "Railway Review" are taken from Mr. Reilly's work as "Machinist, Round-House Foreman, Fireman, Engineer, Master Mechanic, and Superintendent of Motive Power." Another in the rare collection, only my mother could find! HistoricalBuy this book at BN.comBurlington Northern Santa Fe RailwayBy: Solomon, Brian ISBN: 0-7603-2108-6 Date published: 2005Publisher: MBI My impression: An early Christmas present to myself, I was surprised at how heavy this 287 page book is. This book is so new, inside the front and back covers, the BNSF powerbar logo is present. Brian Solomon did indepth research of each railroad which ultimately was to become the BNSF. ATSF, GN, NP, CB&Q, SP&S and later the BN are all here; even the Montana Rail Link has a chapter. Chocked full of Brian Solomon's photographs, this large book has its share of historical photos. Buy this book at BN.comAmtrakBy: Solomon, Brian ISBN: 0-7603-1765-8 Date published: 2004, pages: 160Publisher: MBI Publishing Company My impression: Prolific Brian Solomon produces another in-depth history of this turbulent passenger railroad. Not only does he detail Amtrak's 30 year history, he recounts how numerous private railroads helped shape modern train travel. Buy this book at BN.comCanadian Pacific RailwayBy: Murray, Tom ISBN: 0-7603-2255-4 Date published: 2006, pages: 160Publisher: Voyaguer Press (MBI Publishing) My impression: Tom Murray condenses over 100 years of the railroad which "shaped Canada" into an enjoyable read. Photos ranging from the steam era to modern day GE 4400ACs help document the transfomation of this once multi-faceted transportation company. Did you know the Canadian Pacific operated an airline of the same name?  Lines WestA Pictorial History of the Great Northern Ry Operations and Motive Power from 1887 to 1967By: Wood, Charles R. ISBN: 67-26048 Date published: 1967, pages: 192Publisher: Superior Publishing Company - Seattle My impression: Charles Wood, as his by-line states, was a native to Minneapolis and Crookston, MN. Mr. Wood pens a history of his favorite railroad, an era just shy of a century. A story told primarily by photographs, the "Golden Age" of railroading is documented in this book.  Union Pacific Railway, TheA Study in Railway Politics, History, and EconomicsBy: Davis, A. M., John P. ISBN: Date published: 1894, pages: 247Publisher: The Lakeside Press My impression: A gift from my librarian mother, this antique book sheds some light into the turmoil of the present day Union Pacific. Buy this book at BN.comLeaders CountThe Story of BNSF RailwayBy: Kaufman, Lawrence H. ISBN: 0-9724495-4-X Date published: 2005Publisher: Texas Monthly Custom Publishing My impression: In a heavily researched tome, Mr. Kaufman reached back into the genesis of western railroads. Going beyond the Burlington, ATSF, and NP/GN components to the present-day BNSF Railway, the author writes of small rail lines from the 1890s to 1970s. Written with enough information to fill a college textbook, it is penned with a readability of a novel. Buy this book at BN.comDuluth, Missabe & Iron Range RailwayBy: Leopard, John ISBN: 0-7603-1762-3 Date published: 2005, pages: 160Publisher: MBI Publishing Company My impression: A must for any Northern Minnesota railfan; specialized railroad railfan; or, shortline railfan. Another in the "MBI Railroad Color History" series. Buy this book at BN.comConrailBy: Doherty, Timothy Scott & Solomon, Brian ISBN: 0-7603-1425-X Date published: 2004, pages: 144Publisher: Motorbooks International My impression: Too new. Has yet to be read.  Guide to the Lands of the Northern Pacific Railroad in MinnesotaBy: ISBN: Date published: 1872, pages: 33Publisher: Land Dept. Northern Pacific Railroad Company My impression: An informative pamphlet produced by the NP to entice settlers along their trackage in Minnesota. 3.2M acres of land was granted by Congress to the NP for populating. From geographical explanations of the different areas of Minnesota to detailed material costs and typical floor plans for homes, this booklet is a great window into the era of rail empire building.  Railway PracticeBy: Alexander, E. Porter ISBN: Date published: 1887, pages: 60Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons My impression: Mr. Alexander discussed railway practices in this late 1800 book series: Questions of the Day? and examined them. From railway reform to short vs. long haul to pools (of rolling stock), I am sure very little has changed in the daily operations of railroading. Customer service is where the focus is at... Buy this book at BN.comThe History of North American RailBy: Chant, Christopher ISBN: 978-0-7858-1978-3 Date published: 2007, pages: 443Publisher: Chartwell Books, Inc. My impression: Chocked full of information, this book is equally stuffed with great pictures. Numerous in numbers, the photos make this book less like a textbook and more like an easy walk back through time. The author has broken up each aspect of railroading into capsules. Within each section, American railroading history is detailed in chronological order. Model RailroadingBuy this book at BN.comN Scale Model RailroadingGetting Started in the HobbyBy: McGuirk, Marty ISBN: 0-89024-347-6 Date published: 2000Publisher: Kalmbach Books My impression: A condensed volume which touches on all the needs for a working N-scale layout. I later changed my mind to run HO! Photography InstructionBuy this book at BN.comRailway PhotographyBy: Solomon, Brian and Gruber, John ISBN: 0-87349-566-7 Date published: 2003Publisher: Krause Publications My impression: The very prolific Brian Solomon teamed up to produce an instructional book for the railroad photographer. What looks like a small book, is anything but inside. This book is great for the beginner, but induces creativity for the well versed photographer. Railway Photography begins with an introduction to the history of rail photography and works its way to digital photography (as the year of pub., the Kodachrome users were reluctant to embrace fully the pixel generation). Other aspects were covered are incorportating difficult weather conditions to getting your stuff published in trade magazines. Spectacular Railroad PhotographyBuy this book at BN.comSpectacular Railroad PhotographyA Full Color Guide to Weather and Lighting ConditionsBy: Ingbretsen, Roger M. ISBN: 0-945434-00-6 Date published: 1988Publisher: Hundman Publishing My impression: In all reality, I bought this book for two reasons: the locations are Wash and Idaho; and it was a bargain for $5. I like most of the pictures, but I think the title is misleading. Less of an instructional manual, the book is more a personal collection of photographs. Pictorial BooksBuy this book at BN.comImages of Western RailroadingBy: Schmollinger, Steve ISBN: 0-7603-1574-4 Date published: 2003Publisher: MBI Publishing My impression: From Washington state to Mexico. Reaching into mountains and visiting the desert, Mr. Schmollinger has amassed a fine catalog of railroading history. Each chapter details different facets of railroading. The author opens each chapter with history and a personal essay. Buy this book at BN.comRites of PassageA Canadian Railway RetrospectiveBy: MacDonnell, Greg ISBN: 1-55046-330-6 Date published: 2000Publisher: Boston Mills Press My impression: A personal look back at his memories. Arctic images and well written essays make this book far too short of a journey. Buy this book at BN.comA Passion For TrainsThe Railroad Photography of Richard SteinheimerBy: Steinheimer, R. (text by Brouws, Jeff) ISBN: 0-393-05743-7 Date published: 2004Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company My impression: 153 plates of railroading heaven! If only we could have the same access to capture the personal side of railroading. NW PassageBuy this book at BN.comNorthwest PassageBy: Leachman, Rob ISBN: 0-945434-40-5 Date published: 1998Publisher: Hundman Publishing Company My impression: I still remember reading an article in Trains from the '80s about the BN in Washington state. I found this book online and had to get it. Illustrated with maps, history and photos of the Pacific Northwest at the time and through the heyday of the Burlington Northern. Buy this book at BN.comFaces of RailroadingPortraits of America's Greatest IndustryBy: Swanson, Carl A. ISBN: 0-87116-208-3 Date published: 2004Publisher: Kalmbach Books My impression: A well produced book, again, surrounding railroad photography. More than impersonal wedgies of faceless machines on a curve. Mr. Swanson collected a wide variety of black-and-white photos which personafies the railroad industry. Buy this book at BN.comWorking on the RailroadBy: Solomon, Brian ISBN: 0-77603-2220-1 Date published: 2006, pages: 160Publisher: Voyageur Press My impression: From the cab to the tracks to the tower, Brian Solomon documents practically every job class on railroads. From the early days of lanterns and telegraphs to two-way radios and CTC control, the evolution of railroad technology is detailed in this book. Roster Lists Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway 2004-2005 Locomotive ReviewBy: Del Grasso, Robert C. ISBN: Date published: 2005, pages: 144Publisher: Great Northern Pacific Publications My impression: A must have for us BNSF fans or any enthusiast in the proximity of the class 1. With build dates, heritage lineations and other tidbits, this book lists every single unit working and otherwise in the BNSF roster.  Official 2004 Edition Locomotive Rosters & News, TheBy: Kerr, James W. ISBN: 0-919295-38-X Date published: 2003Publisher: DPA-LTA Enterprises Inc. My impression: A very pocket-sized, alphabetical list of motive power. Fits in the camera bag and goes out every time with me. New editions each year. Maps and Atlases SPV's Comprehensive Railroad Atlas of North AmericaDakotas & MinnesotaBy: Walker, Mike ISBN: 1-874745-18-8 Date published: 2005Publisher: SPV My impression: The much awaited final installment of detailed railroad maps for the American railfan. Station signs, defect detectors, line heritages, and facility capabilities are documented in this gazetteer sized map. In short, items not found in your gas station map. Buy this book at BN.comMinnesota Atlas & GazetteerDetailed Topographical MapsBy: ISBN: 0-89933-333-8 Date published: 2003Publisher: DeLorme My impression: Not railroad related, but essential in exploring new territory outside the Metro. Railroad Reference BooksBuy this book at BN.comA Guide to TrainsThe World's Greatest Trains, Tracks &TravelBy: Jackson, David (Consultant Editor) ISBN: 1-877019-04-06 Date published: 2002Publisher: Fog City Press My impression: A Christmas present. Not a sit down and read, but a great resource for general information of railroading, railroaders and history. Buy this book at BN.comA Field Guide to TrainsBy: Foster, Gerald ISBN: 0-395-70112-0 Date published: 1996Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Company My impression: A pocket guide of North American locomotives. Separated in to road and yard units. Further separated into B-B and C-C truck configurations. It includes some rolling stock, passenger cars. Pencil drawings point out subtle differences in locomotives to help you identify power while trackside. Buy this book at BN.comModern LocomotivesHigh-horsepower Diesels 1966-2000By: Solomon, Brian ISBN: 0-7603-1258-3 Date published: 2002Publisher: MBI Publishing Company My impression: How can you go wrong with a Brian Solomon book? GE and EMD road units are spotlighted in this book. Technical aspects of each locomotive are entwined in essay-styled writings. Buy this book at BN.comField Guide to Modern Diesel LocomotivesBy: McDonnell, Greg ISBN: 0-89024-607-6 Date published: 2002Publisher: Kalmbach Publishing My impression: Another great detail oriented reference. Breaking locomotives into GE and GM, it is easily navigated. Many full color photographs make this a useful book.