Analyzing the origins, growth, and eventual dismantling of the Iowa Central Railway, which traversed the state from Ackley to Zearing and Mason City to Marshalltown, Don Hofsommer examines how this unremarkable, “plain vanilla” railway was an example of the life cycle of the American railroad industry. The Hook & Eye demonstrates its symbiotic relationship with its customers. Born in ambition but never rising far above its obscure origins, the Iowa Central eventually fell to outside competition from railroads based in greater metropolitan areas and was made part of the Minneapolis & St. Louis Railway in 1912.

Drawing the story from station records, annual reports, newspaper articles, and interviews with former employees, The Hook & Eye brings both the industry and human sides of railroading into sharp and memorable view.

Don L. Hofsommer is a native Iowan and professor of history at St. Cloud State University.

The book is in Excellent Condition.  No marks or tears and virtually no shelf wear.

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Univ Of Minnesota Press; First Edition (August 25, 2005)
• Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 192 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0816644977
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0816644971

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Locator box 40,

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Locator box 40,

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Locator box 40

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From the dust jacket: “Abdill climaxes his work with Rails West which follows the same pattern of quaint and wondrous photographs with revealing incidents and biographies, many in the light of the Civil War and other historical guideposts.”

The book is in very good condition.  The spine is tight and there are no loose pages.  The dust jacket shows minor shelf wear and is wrapped in clear plastic.  There are no writings or marks in the book; however, there is a sticker on the inside of the front cover “From the Library of Charles William Briggs, Jr.”  See photos.

Publisher:      Bonanza Books

Published:     1960

Pages:          191

ISBN             9780517060858

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From the dust jacket: Otto Perry took his first train picture in 1913 and didn’t stop for the next 57 years, until at his death in 1970 his collection contained over 20,000 railroad photos covering almost every state, Canada, Mexico and Europe… Following Otto’s death his collection was placed in the Denver Public Library, Western History Department.”  The Preface states, “The over 500 Otto Perry photographs included in this volume comprise less than three percent of his total collection.  However, we have endeavored not only to include many of what we believe to be his finest railroading scenes, but also to make this selection representative of the scope of his coverage of individual railroads in time and geographic location.”

Every page contains one or more black and white photographs with detailed, multi-line captions.  336 pages.

The book is in very good condition.  The spine is tight and there are no loose pages.  The dust jacket shows minor shelf wear and is wrapped in clear plastic.  There are no writings or marks in the book; however, there is a sticker on the inside of the front cover “From the Library of Charles William Briggs, Jr.”  See photos.

Product Information:

Publisher:      Colorado Railroad Museum

Author:          Perry, Otto

Binding:        Hardcover

Published:     1982

Pages:          336

MD Bin 1

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Locator box 25 and 30

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