Southern Pacific Archives - Southern Pacific Railroad History Center

Birth of California Narrow Guage – MacGregor W-14

Chip Savoye — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 23:55:44 +0000

This long-awaited study, the magnum opus of a leading railroad historian, describes the conception, construction, and early operation of the first narrow gauge railroads in northern California. It is lavishly illustrated by some 600 photographs and drawings, almost three-quarters of which have never before been published.

The topic is approached through an unusual lens: the history of the relatively small but extraordinarily inventive contracting and engineering firm of the brothers Thomas and Martin Carter. The Carters were able to reduce the cost and complexity of light railroad construction to the point where local narrow gauge lines could initially compete with the state’s notorious railroad monopolies.

Pioneering a mobile manufacturing operation that could supply locally funded short lines with rolling stock (which traditionally came from East Coast manufacturers), the Carter Brothers began with a line to serve Salinas Valley wheat farmers, desperate to achieve an independent means for conveying their crops to the wharf in Monterey. The narrow gauge railroad that resulted was an act of political and economic defiance, but ultimately a hopeless assault on the “Octopus”―the Central Pacific and Southern Pacific Railroads.

Rallying around the example set in Monterey, a narrow gauge movement in California flourished in the mid-1870s, with the rapid launching of five more companies―the North Pacific Coast, the Santa Cruz Railroad, the Santa Cruz & Felton, the Nevada County Narrow Gauge, and the South Pacific Coast―all of which drew on the Carter Brothers for manufacturing and engineering. Soon, Thomas and Martin Carter were not only selling railroad supplies and engineering to all six short lines, but had won management positions with the strongest, the South Pacific Coast. Until personal and financial disaster overtook them in 1880, the Carters were at the forefront of not just a new business, but a new technology.

Used, Very Good Condition

W-14

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Snowbound Streamliner – Rescuing the 1952 City of San Francisco – Church

Chip Savoye — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 23:45:27 +0000

A thorough history of the 1952 City of San Francisco which became buried in an Avalanche high in the Sierras stranding passengers and Crew

Used Very Good condition

W14

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Cab Forward The Story of Southern Pacific Articulated Steam Locomotives – Church Autographed

Chip Savoye — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 23:35:40 +0000

A thorough description of a remarkable steam locomotive made and used exclusively for the Southern Pacific. This book covers all the classes of Cab Forwards, in addition to the conventional AC9. Included are construction photo’s, design description and general locomotive layouts on fold out pages. There is no finer book on Cab Forwards. Robert Church is a noted Southern Pacific historian and author of several authorititive books on other SP locomotives.

Signed by Author. Great Condition

W-14

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Rails Around Lake Tahoe – Steam Trains and Steam Boats Ferrell W-16

Chip Savoye — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 00:24:17 +0000

No area of the American West saw such a diverse accumulation of railroads as the Tahoe and Truckee basins of the Sierra Nevada. Lake Tahoe itself is nestled amid the towering pine-covered mountains along the California and Nevada state lines. Its waters provided transportation for not only the timber, but for passengers, mail and freight aboard the many steamboats that plied its blue waters.

In this beautiful setting, logging railroads and steamboats of the Carson & Tahoe Lumber & Fluming Company brought the huge logs to lakeshore sawmills. The Lake Tahoe Narrow Gauge Railroad and its connecting Clear Creek Flume took the timbers, lumber and cordwood up and over the divide for the Comstock Bonanza towns. By the late 1890s, most of the virgin stands had been cut. In the early 1900s, tourists began to flock to Lake Tahoe. They rode on a new narrow gauge, the Lake Tahoe Railway & Transportation Company. Eventually the Southern Pacific took over the property and converted it to standard gauge. The SP branch was abandoned in 1941.

Great Condition

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To Donner Pass from the Pacific by Duncan W-16

Chip Savoye — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 00:15:07 +0000

A map history covering 150 years of Californias Lincoln Highway.

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Backwoods Railroads of the West Richard Steinheimer W15 A

Chip Savoye — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 19:56:44 +0000

Beautifully done oversized volume showcasing Richard Steinheimer’s brilliant black and white photos of Western railroads. None of the 204 photos had been published before and their craftsmanship is complemented by sheet-fed rotogravure printing. The photos capture the whole canvas of western railroading: lumber and mining railways, short lines, branches, and — of course– the narrow gauge. There are steeple-cab motors breasting a 4 percent grade, Shay gears leaving their inimitable trail of lube oil down Sierra slopes, and bulky Baldwin hoods toting iron ore out of the Eagle Mountains. Join Steinheimer at trackside to enjoy the light rails, small locomotives and big scenery. 178 pages with index.

good condition

W15

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Southern Pacific Bay Area Steam Harre W. Demoro

Chip Savoye — Thu, 01 Jan 2026 19:23:37 +0000

A noted rail historian, Mr Demoro has collected rare vintage photos of Southern Pacific’s steam locomotives covering all eras, from t wood-burning engines to the giant cab forwards and colorful Daylight engines. Included are many never before published photos not only of the Daylight but also the Pacific Limited, Santa Cruz locals, San Francisco Peninsular commuter trains and the steam powered suburban trains in the Oakland and Berkeley area. There are also sections on the Northwestern Pacific , and photos of the steam ferries and electric suburban trains and terminals that connected to the SP, so that the reader sees a balanced portrait of the area in steam’s heyday, including the West Oakland roundhouse, Bayshore Yard, and the Oakland Pier train shed. 143 pages.

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Southern Pacific Daylight Locomotives Robert J. Church

Chip Savoye — Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:31:47 +0000

The book describes all of the 74 SP 4-8-4s, and the 11 Cotton Belt transfers, through informative text and extensive photographic coverage. The development, construction at the locomotive works, differences between the eight classes, including roster information, diagrams, and drawings of each class, subsequent development and tests, maintenance procedures, and the system-wide use of these powerful high-speed locomotives are described in 21 fact-filled chapters.

Researched through interviews with SP officials, examination of surviving Southern Pacific records and other sources, and with images from many amateur photographers and collectors, this is a well-documented and outstanding book. Its 731 photos, most never before published, together with 39 drawings, detailed rosters, painting and lettering information, and full bibliography, make it unusually complete and authoritative. Steam locomotive enthusiasts, and particularly fans of the Southern Pacific, are sure to enjoy this book

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The Ski Train Steve Patterson and Forrest Kenton W-3

Chip Savoye — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 22:55:57 +0000

Paperback. Condition: very good condition. Revised Edition. New softcover in glossy printed wraps. Text is clean and free of marks or underlining. (8.5 x 0.3 x 11 inches) Includes photos, art prints, and a bibliography. 80pp. Fast shipping in a secure book box mailer with tracking. For over 60 years the Rio Grande and its successors, Southern Pacific and Ansco Corporation operated ski specials from Denver. Here is the story of how Colorado’s billion-dollar ski industry started from passenger trains, and how and why the ski train served the state for so long. The authors examine operations and equipment, and review other past and present North American ski trains.

Box w-3

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Southern Pacific Steam Locomotive Compendium Diebert, Strapac W1-A

Chip Savoye — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 22:12:30 +0000

Lists all known Southern Pacific Railroad steam locomotives with brief histories. Includes all constituent and predecessor companies plus controlled companies that retained a separate status including those in the last named category in Mexico, a subject where data is often hard to find. Note although brief details are given of absorptions etc., this is not a corporate history. What it does provide, however, is the best account of its subject meaning that it is, rightly, regarded as the standard reference and comes highly recommended.

Shade Tree Books; First Edition (January 1, 1987)

Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 426 pages

W1-A

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