Customer Reviews

Steam's Camelot Southern and Norfolk Southern Excursions in Color

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

 

 

I was lucky enough to ride a couple of NS steam trips. I have ridden behind 1218 and chased other trips. To me, it doesn't seem like that long ago, but it indeed has. There's a whole generation who has heard of the Souther and NS steam programs as ancient history. Fine race horses like the 611, 1218, 722, 2716, 610, etc, are all cold metal now.
For those who missed it all, my condolences. For those who were there, many don't know the full story. Goodness knows I didn't know it all.
Anyone with ANY interest in this fine company-supported steam program should read this book, cover-to-cover. It has excellent photos, very well-written text, and it's entertaining as heck. It's like a well-done extended article in "Trains" or "Railfan" magazines that you don't want to put down. I read it all in one sitting. It's THAT good. It answered all kinds fo questions I'd had, and I completely understand how it all came to be, and moreso, how lucky we all were to have it around for so long.
If there should be a ulogy to the Southern/NS steam program, it should be read from THIS book!

I ordered this title unseen and hoped for the best-- I was very pleased with the content and primarily the outstanding photographs. This book provides not only history of the rail system, but is written in such a way that will engage readers of various ages.

The synopsis on Amazon was very helpful, also.

Okay, this book doesn't quite merit five starts, but I can't give it four and a half. Anyway, it is very good.

What it is is a history of the Southern and later Norfolk Southern steam excursion programs, starting in the 1960's and running until 1995. It contains both amusing anecdotes and sobering analyses. There are a good number of color pictures. It gives you a good accounting of all of the steam locomotives used (I didn't realize there were so many), plus something on their designs, histories, operational characteristics, triumphs (e.g., climbing Saluda), and troubles (e.g., the Great Dismal Swamp derailment, various breakdowns). Somewhat refreshingly, it also gives some perspective on many of the people involved. There's a table of all of the steam excursions.

What it is not is an overly technical treatise on the locomotives used, their restorations, repairs, modifications, etc. Also, there's not a whole lot on the coaches used or the excursion routes. But I think most of its apparently-intended audience will find it just right, or nearly so.