Customer Reviews

Field Guide to Modern Diesel Locomotives

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

 

 

This book follows the same general format as the old Diesel Spotter's Guides produced by Kalmbach. This means that there are pictures, statistical information, etc. about different types of locomotives. You will find extensive coverage on GE and EMD-produced locomotives along with technical data which adds to the presentation. This is not a book of diesel rosters, however. For that, you will need to go elsewhere. Recommended.

I bought this book to bring with me in the field to aid in identifying locomotives. It's of little use toward that end.

The biggest problem is the lack of any systematic identification scheme. The book does not answer questions such as HOW to identify a locomotive using visible features such as truck size, radiators, vents, cab type, etc. It has no schematics, highlighted photos, or side-by-side comparisons of distinguishing features that could be used to identify different models. Locomotives are listed in a table of contents by manufacturer. Each section has copious detail about the common locomotives on the road today. However, you have to already know how to identify your locomotives.

This is a small book (read the dimensions). The font-type is small as well. Nearly all the photographs are of entire locomotives and many are a fraction of a page in size. The visual detail this gives is paltry. There are no zoom shots highlighting the details which you could use to identify the locomotive. There is no appendix with useful tabular information such as a roster table by which you could look up the locomotive numbers by road name. There are just no useful tools for making identifications.

This is an excellent guide to contemporary diesel locomotives. Lots of important information. Photos have been superceeded by McDonnell's LOCOMOTIVES: The Modern Diesel & Electric Reference, but there is still much unique and useful information in this guide. Highly recommended!

THE Guide for Information on Modern Diesel Electric Locomotives!