The Pacific Coast Railway: Central California's Premier Narrow Gauge [Hardcover]

Kenneth E. Westcott (Author), Curtiss H. Johnson (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 296 pages
• Publisher: Benchmark Pubns Ltd (October 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0961546743
• ISBN-13: 978-0961546748
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,372,228 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "...the finest modeling oriented railroad book we have seen., July 5, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Pacific Coast Railway: Central California's Premier Narrow Gauge (Hardcover)

"We tend to assume Benchmark will provide top quality photo reproduction, paper, print quality, page design, and typography. The book justifies that assumption. We tend to assume any book by Benchmark will include an accurate history and comprehensive photographic documentation of the railroad it covers. It does.

"But The Pacific Coast Railway goes beyond that. It includes what may be the most extensive collection of photos, track plans, illustrations, and structure, rolling stock, and locomotive drawings to appear in a single volume about a single railroad. The book contains most extant photos of the line and drawings of almost every siding, spur, and yard. It includes plans of nearly all of the significant PC-related structures, passenger cars, and freight cars, along with drawings of all but two locomotives.

For those unfamiliar with it, the PC was a three foot gauge commom carrier running between the village of Los Olivos, California (about 60 miles north of Santa Barbara) and the wharf at San Luis Bay and an interchange with the Southern Pacific at San Luis Obispo. It began operations in 1876; the last train ran in 1940.

"The Pacific Coast Railway: Central California's Premier Narrow Gauge is as fine a railroad book as you will find, bar none. It earns our highest rating. It is superb."

--Finescale Railroader Magazine Feb-Mar/99

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!!!!!, April 17, 2006

By 

Lloyd R. Evans "bassflyer" (Atascadero CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Pacific Coast Railway: Central California's Premier Narrow Gauge (Hardcover)

I'll keep it short and sweet. This is a b-e-a-utiful book!!
For history buffs, modelers, or just good ol' train lovers!!
I hope they do print more, cuz I'm spreadin' the word about this book!
Hats off to Kenneth and Curtiss and all involved!!!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Why review an out of print book?, April 10, 2006

By 

Kenneth T. Kelley (Santa Ynez, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Pacific Coast Railway: Central California's Premier Narrow Gauge (Hardcover)

I not only can recommend this book, but also feel it's a shame that such a wonderful book about California's Central Coast Narrow Gauge railroad is difficult to find, let alone buy. The 2nd printing has all but been sold out, and for many modelers and train buffs alike, are missing one of the finest books on narrow gauge railroads. Please help many enthusiasts, and yourself, to obtain this book by requesting Benchmark Publications, LTD to publish a third printing. You won't be sorry!