Customer Reviews

American Shortline Railway Guide (Railroad Reference)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

American Shortline Railway Guide is a great help for any train buff. Over 500 short lines are described: history, current status, number of engines (some lines with full listing), cars, as well as address of owner and radio frequencies. I especially liked the many pictures accompanying the text. There is really one drawback only: The book does not contain any maps. You will need a train atlas or a Rand Mc Nally on the side, unfortunately. Other interesting details are lists of abandoned and non-operating lines as well as addresses of ownerships companies. A must-have for US train buffs, especially in conjunction with the Train-Watchers Guide to North American Railroads (also by George W. Drury).

The short-line world has changed quite a bit in the years since publication. It's time for an update. What the guide does provide is interesting and generally accurate. Edward A. Lewis is perhaps the countries best authority on the subject and has managed several shortlines for many years. I suspect the problems of the book come from Kalbach trying to make it too small - it's glove box format. I'd rather have more information in an 81/2 x 11 format. It has locomotive rosters, capsule histories and other data. What is missing is train operations. Knowing this changes, perhaps the next edition should have an accompanying database of this information, updated by users as it changes. Another missing item are maps. As another reviewer has noted, the photographs could be better.

Very Good Book, enjoyed reading about the different short and regional railroads in the USA and Canada.

Published 21 years ago, this reference to a rapidly changing category of data (shortline railroads) is woefully out of date. Worse, as advertised, buyers assume they are getting up to date information. Far from it. Kalmbach Publishing should be embarrassed to even offer it without a date on the cover.

if a train watcher of any kind you need this book but the black and white pix, or lack of many pix as well as lack of any maps at all shows a distinct lack of effort by Kalmbach; very dissappointing