Encyclopedia of Western Railroad History: Volume IV-California [Hardcover]

Donald B Robertson (Author)

Book Description

Series: Encyclopedia of Western Railroad History | Publication Date: January 1, 1998

Distributed by the University of Nebraska Press for Caxton Press

This book includes 368 pages of maps, photographs and technical data on the history of railroading in California. There are detailed reports on dates of operation, mergers, miles of track, maximum grade, gauge and rail weight. It also includes the histories of thousands of locomotives.

Editorial Reviews

Review

The 8-by-11 text, written in way to please both railroad buff and the lay person. -- Don Denevi, Palo Alto Daily News, CA, July 11, 1998

About the Author

Donald B. Robertson was born and reared in Nampa, Idaho. He was a proofreader for the weekly newspaper in high school and during the summer of 1941 he worked on the local section gang of the Union Pacific. The war years, 1942-46, were spent in the merchant marine where he was ship's purser. In 1948 he graduated from University of Idaho. Railroad history became a hobby about 1968 and became a serious advocation in 1970.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 354 pages
• Publisher: Caxton Press; First Edition edition (January 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0870043854
• ISBN-13: 978-0870043857
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,168,490 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Handy for the Railfan, May 7, 2000

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Joel M Sax - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Encyclopedia of Western Railroad History: Volume IV-California (Hardcover)

The amount of work which went into this work is incredible -- Robertson has not only listed every California railroad, but he has also accumulated huge lists of every engine that ran on most of these roads. To give the entries more context, he has included details about U.S. and California history. The only flaw is that he sometimes sends you to other books in the set for details on important California Roads like the AT&SF. Most railfans will appreciate what he has offered, nonetheless!