Locomotives: The Modern Diesel and Electric Reference [Hardcover]

Greg McDonnell (Author), Jerry A. Pinkepank (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 12, 2008

The essential photographic reference to modern North American locomotives.

This remarkable large-format reference is a revised, updated and expanded work based on the author's Field Guide to Modern Diesel Locomotives. Locomotives covers all mainline models built for North American railroads from the mid-1 970s to today, from EMD Dash 2s and GE Dash 7s to the latest 70 Series and Evolution Series models, as well as Green Goats, Gensets and mainline passenger electric-powered locomotives.

Containing nearly 300 photographs of the more than 120 featured locomotive models from every locomotive manufacturer, this is the definitive reference for the North American rail fan. Greg McDonnell provides concise yet comprehensive information on each model, along with easy-to-read tables of production totals, build dates and mechanical specifications.

(200903)

Editorial Reviews

Review

McDonnell broadens the conventional coverage ... Stupendous color photographs, explanatory text, and graphic data are provided for each model. (SciTech Book News 200812)

There is no better authority on modern power than Greg McDonnell, and this book is an absolute must. (Jim Boyd Railfan & Railroad 200812)

After spending some time with this book, I've come to see the diesels sand electric locomotives in a different light. (Brenda Stant Engineers and Engines )

[This] latest edition is more comprehensive than the 2002 version and features electric engines for the first time. (MTH Railroaders Club magazine )

Buy two copies, and toss one in your car, and put the other on one your coffee table. (Jim Wrinn Trains )

About the Author

Greg McDonnell is the author of ten books on a wide range of transportation subjects, including Canadian Pacific and Lake Boats. He is also a professional photojournalist for railroad publications in the United States and Canada. He received the Railway and Locomotive Historical Society's Fred A. and Jane R. Stindt Photography Award for significant contribution to the photographic interpretation of North America's railroading history. He lives in Cambridge, Ontario.

Jerry A. Pinkepank is the author of the original Diesel Spotters Guide and founder of the diesel locomotive news magazine Extra 2200 South. He lives in Seattle, Washington.

(200811)

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Boston Mills Press (September 12, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1550464930
• ISBN-13: 978-1550464931
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 11.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #267,781 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Diesel kaleidoscope, March 22, 2009

By 

Robin Benson - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Locomotives: The Modern Diesel and Electric Reference (Hardcover)

I haven't bought a Greg McDonnell train book since 'Heartland' and 'Signatures in steel' in the nineties but seeing his name on this large title convinced me. I've always loved his train photography because he has the creative knack of taking beautiful compositions with that little bit extra: perfect framing.

The fact that this book, for the armchair rail fan, presents photos for reference is no reason to skimp on image quality and three hundred throughout the pages generally achieve both aims. I was particularly pleased to see so many photos of clean units so you can check out the detail of the trucks or cab design. You'll even see photos of clean SP units from years ago when they used that incredibly dirty looking blue/gray paint scheme (actually, nothing wrong with the color, it's just that they never bothered to clean them).

A couple of really neat spreads caught my eye with exploded type photos of a GE AC6000CW, SD90MAC-H and EMD SD70ACe and photos of twelve different trucks. A simple sort of visual idea that works well. The inclusion of passenger loco units was a good idea.

Overall a very impressive book with a ton of information in photos and text. Plenty of specs about various models, too. My only criticism, very common in transport books, is the habit of writing long captions in one paragraph and some in the book are really long in several lines set to the type area width.

Congratulations to Greg McDonnell for delivering the goods with this one.

***SEE SOME INSIDE PAGES by clicking 'customer images' under the cover.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Big Movers, October 24, 2008

By 

Robert P. Vaccaro (Holtsville, New York) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Locomotives: The Modern Diesel and Electric Reference (Hardcover)

If you are a true train buff especially if you are interested in Diesel Locomotives, than this publication is a must have. The author has truly provided you with a great deal of info on GE, EMD and the smaller guys locomotives. The photos that go with the text could not have been better anywhere else.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Locomotives: The Modern Diesel and Electric Reference, November 11, 2008

By 

D. Innes Cargill - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Locomotives: The Modern Diesel and Electric Reference (Hardcover)

For anyone interested in current day diesel locomotives this is the book for them. Beautifully bound, great colored pictures and for railroad history buffs, excellent information on the companies who still build these prime movers.