Historical Archives - Southern Pacific Railroad History Center

Rock Island Recollections Olmstead (JD)

Chip Savoye — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 22:46:36 +0000

Black and white pictorial showcasing the Rock Island during the 1950s when the early adoption of diesels gave it a temporary economic boost. Come see what was considered one of the most notable and diverse collection of first generation diesel rosters dominated by GP7s, 9s and 18s. This book focuses on the Rock Island in eastern Kansas, Illinois and Minnesota. 112 pages. JD

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New York Central Solomon, Schafer (JD)

Chip Savoye — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 22:41:42 +0000

New York Central Color History

(JD)

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Everywhere West, The Burlington Route, Dorin (JD)

Chip Savoye — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 00:38:11 +0000

Fascinating pictorial history of the Burlington Route, from its start as the tiny Aurora Branch Railway through to its 1970 transformation into the Burlington Northern. Chapters cover its formation, the standard era of passenger service, gas-electric motor cars, Zephyrs, transcontinental streamliners, commuter trains, freight and mixed trains, coal trains, subsidiaries, and the merger. Illustrated throughout with black and white photos. With maps, station list, timetables and ads. 174 pages with index. 1976 first edition (JD)

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Diesels to Park Avenue, The FL-9 Story Snopek and La May JD

Chip Savoye — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 00:30:17 +0000

“Diesels to Park Avenue: The FL9 Story” by Joseph Snopek & Robert LaMay is a signed book published in 1997 that tells the story of the conversion of the old Delaware & Hudson Railroad line to the FL9 trains on the NYC Metro’s Park Avenue line. The book provides a detailed account of the transition from diesel to electric trains on this iconic route, offering readers a behind-the-scenes look at this historic change in railway operations. With the authors’ insights and personal touches, this book is a must-have for anyone interested in the history and development of urban rail transportation. JD

Good condition

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The Milwaukee Road in Color, V2: TRhe City of Milwaukee Koeller (JD)

Chip Savoye — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 00:22:01 +0000

Book consists of all-color photographs taken entirely in the namesake city of the Milwaukee Road. This book contains the most impressive array of steam and first-generation diesels ever contained in a Milwaukee book. The intriguing saga of the Milwaukee is encapsulated in this colorful look at the road from the 1940s to its demise. Contents: Vintage Milwaukee Road, pp. 5-19; Speedrail, pp. 20-21; Down at the Depot, pp. 22-37; Twilight Years at Clybourn Street, pp. 38-47; The Depot at Night, pp. 48-54; The New Station and Amtrak, pp. 55-65; Milwaukee Shops, pp. 66-86; The Hump Yard, pp. 87-91; Cut-Off Tower, pp. 92-100; In and Around Milwaukee, pp. 101-128. Hardbound w/dust cover, 8.5×11, 128 pages, 250+ all-COLOR photographs with captions. JD

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Florida’s Great Ocean Railway, Building the Key West Extension, Gallagher (JD)

Chip Savoye — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 00:17:44 +0000

The building of Henry Flagler’s Florida East Coast Railway extension over water to Key West from 1905 to 1916 was s triumph of engineering and logistics. The Keys were remote and with little means of communication. The massive amounts of materials had to be moved with steam power. This book tells the story of the planners and their plan and its execution. It has 250 old photos, most of which have never been published before.

2003, first edition , dust cover jacket with no shelf wear JD

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Denver’s Railroads Forrest and Albi. (JD)

Chip Savoye — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 21:07:18 +0000

1981, 1986, revised edition. Sound binding, dust jacket has minimal shelf wear. JD

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The First Two-Foot Gauge Railroad/The Billerica & Bedford of Massachusetts, 1877. Railway Gazette (JD)

Chip Savoye — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 20:56:15 +0000

Originally printed in 1870 in The Railroad Gazette, this article was reprinted in 1950 by the Railroadians of America as Book No. 4. It describes the proposed railroad, its locomotives and rolling stock and its permanent way. The railroad, which finally opened in 1877, was unfortunately short-lived — it was bankrupt by 1878. It had two locomotives, four passenger cars and seven freight cars, all of which were sold to the Sandy Hook and Rangely Lakes Railroad in Maine. It is of interest because it is the first known 2-foot gauge railroad in the United States. Illustrated with schematic diagrams of the locomotives and rolling stock as well as line drawings of equipment, rail, and trackside structures. With maps and gradient profiles. 27 pages. Scarce.

Stapled binding and covers are sound, covers have partial heavy soot; some soot at page edges but no text or images are sooted. JD

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Principles of Railroad Transportation Johnson and Van Metre JD

Chip Savoye — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 20:48:38 +0000

Principles of Railroad Transportation by Emory Richard Johnson and Thurman William Van Metre is a classic, non-fiction work from the early 20th century that serves as a foundational text on the subject, covering the history, operations, and economic principles of railroads, including topics like traffic, communication, and the shift from steam to electric power. It is considered a culturally important historical document, with modern reprints available that preserve its original archival format, though they may contain imperfections from the original scanning process.

Part of Appleton’s Railway Series. Sound binding, front cover is loose.

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