Customer Reviews

A Field Guide to Trains of North America (Peterson Field Guide Series)

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

 

 

The wonderful thing about this book is the author's use of drawings to identify the train engines. By using this technique, you skip distracting details and logos, and concentrate on the specifics that are important in making the ID. There is just enough history and background to make this an indispensible tool for the railfan.

This book is exactly what I had been looking for. In a small volume, it give more than enough information on virtually all diesel locomotives still in service so that even the most novice rail fan can correctly identify these locomotives. If you love trains, I would highly recomend this book.

This was misrepresented as a guide similar to those in the Peterson's Field Guide series. I expected at least a comparable quality to this so-called field guide, only to find a thin volume, with s singlr line drawing, no photos, and very limited descriptions and over priced. One would be better served doing an internet search for better info and representation.

Locomotives are complicated so having a book that fits into your back pocket to help quickly and easily identify a locomotive (or rolling stock) is invaluable for me. Certain things have purposefully been omitted and I have no problem with that. If the author had included everything that many readers would have liked to have seen, it would be enormous and not much of a field guide. I would love to see this book released in a Kindle or iPad format so I could still identify something and look up additional information if needed.

This is an extremely well written and illustrated book at a very reasonable price. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys watching trains.

I find this book a valuable tool for the novice/beginner to understand the parts of locomotives, as well as the seasoned railfan for a quick reference guide. If they could improve it by coming out with an updated version with the newer locomotives that have come out since the mid/late 90's to now, it would be a great book. As for those who wish there were color photos, I don't know. This is really for people who spot or photograph and really are looking at external visual cues to differentiate between locomotives. On the other hand one could have color drawings to make the imagery more clarified and interesting.

Here's hoping for a color updated version...

This book is in B/W only. The only problem I have with it is that while the discriptions of each engine are complete, reference points listed above each item are not referenced. Being rather new to trains I found this lack of identification made this less then a truly worthwhile resource.

Where to begin.
First rough drawings are not enough to pick out the difference between locos some high hood EMDs. Real photos with arrows pointing towards real parts of a real loco would be better. I bought the book used thank goodness. And it will be up for sale soon. The information reads like it was taken from Wiki. Vague and incomplete.
I agree with the the other reviewer that the internet and forums are a better source. I will keep looking though since I need a reference that is portable and doesnt require an internet connection.

Having recently become serious about model railroading in the diesel era, this book is exactly what I needed. Going to toy train shows and seeing row upon row of locomotives for sale can be rather daunting, but this little book is the perfect companion for just such a trip. It's concise, well illustrated and easily fits in my pocket. Perhaps one of the best purchases I've made in this hobby.

The book is easy to use and is well organized. Drawings, not pictures, so the identifying features are visible, instead of the logo's and paint schemes. The descriptions are concise but thorough. I find it to be helpful and informative

Being a lover of trains, I have often wished there were a small, concise recognition guide for the various locomotives one sees through out North America. A Field Guide to Trains is Mr. Foster's attempt to fill that very niche. Even though the book's title implies that is devoted to helping one recognize various types of boxcars, passenger cars and locomotives; it really is devoted mostly to aiding one in the recognition of diesels. Rather than using photographs or color illustrations, the author makes exclusive use of nicely detailed skethes in his effort to help identify the various kinds of engines one might see pulling a frieght train through town. Well placed arrows in these illustrations point out the details that distinguish one locomotive from another. Concise, well written text accompanies each illustration giving such details as the horsepower, date of manufacture, and the number built. The only serious criticism I have of this work is the author's complete disregard for the large amount of rebuilt GP7's, GP9's and SD24's as done by Illinois Central's Paducah, Kentucky shops, as well as the numerous rebuilds of these types done by Burlington Northern and other large railroads. However Mr. Foster does include at least one drawing of Santa Fe's rebuilt CF7's, as well as a drawing of the extremely rare EMD RS1325 switcher as used by the Chicago & Illinois Midland. I highly recommend this book for those who are looking for a simple and effective way of identifying the various locomotives used by today's railroads