Used Books Archives - Southern Pacific Railroad History Center

Colorado Midland Cafky W10A

Chip Savoye — Wed, 13 May 2026 00:04:01 +0000

Classic and definitive history of the Colorado Midland Railway, this book is widely considered the best one on this mountain link in the transcontinental system. With 5 maps in rear pocket (Colorado Midland Railway system map, the Leadville Mining District in 1905, Aspen and vicinity, East and West approaches to Hagerman Pass, and a map/profile/railroad chart of the Colorado Midland Railway). Illustrated throughout with black and white photos. There are also 4 full color page sized illustrations by Howard Fogg and Philip Ronfor that are overlaid with a translucent sheet featuring embossed webs and spiders, an emblem of the Ute Indians who are natives of the area. The railroad was a link in the transcontinental system, an example of spectacular engineering, and rail buffs love it. The Colorado Midland went out of business in 1921 and, at the time, constituted one of the largest business enterprises in the State of Colorado. It had less than 350 miles of track when it was abandoned, and only 63 locomotives remained on its roster. By rights this railway company should have been long forgotten, yet the opposite has occurred. Thanks to its incredible career, the spectacular Rocky Mountain topography it traversed, the very great difficulties of operation, and because it represented the largest abandonment then recorded in American railroad history, it is still studied and loved. (Wynar 6600. “A lost cause of impressive dimensions.”) 467 pages.

W 10A

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Great Railroad Photographs Beebe W 10A

Chip Savoye — Tue, 12 May 2026 23:57:37 +0000

Oversize hardcover in glassine dj, in printed publisher’s cardboard box. 1964, oversize hardcover edition, Howell-North Books, Berkeley, CA. 243 pages. Printed on the finest coated stock. B&W / full-color photos. This title brings together great photos, remarkable text, and superior printing. Offers a look back at another time in our history.

W10A

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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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Nevada Northern Railway Bassett W-16

Chip Savoye — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 20:39:24 +0000

The Nevada Northern Railway is the sole survivor from a grand era when railroads served mines throughout the state. Built in 1905-1906 to develop the incredible copper deposits of the Nevada Consolidated Copper Company in White Pine County, it was–and still is–a workaday railroad. Although its primary purpose was to haul ore, it eventually served the community with a daily passenger train between East Ely and Cobre until 1941. Over 4.5 million people rode the trains, and a mountain of copper ore was moved. In 1983, the Nevada Northern Railway ceased operating, and two years later the entire ore line, including the railroad’s yard and shop facilities in East Ely, was donated to the White Pine Historical Railroad Foundation that now operates the railway as a museum. Instead of relics in glass cases or repainted old equipment on static display, the museum preserves a working steam railroad, delighting train enthusiasts year-round with passenger service and special seasonal excursions.

Used Very good condition W16

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The Catechism of the Locomotive by Matthias N. Forney

Chip Savoye — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 02:17:26 +0000

Collectors Book!!!

from the introduction: ” this book is intended for a large class of readers… It is evident, therefore, that the only way to adapt the book to all the classes for whom it was intended was to make it so plain that the ‘wayfaring man’ will have no difficulty in comprehending it.” Great Reference book. Many diagrams and pictures.

Based upon George Kosak’s “Katechismus der Lokomotive.”
Original Book. Excellent condition for its age.

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0008C485I
Publisher ‏ : ‎ The Railroad Gazette
Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 1, 1897
Edition ‏ : ‎ First Edition
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Print length ‏ : ‎ 609 pages

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MOTIVE POWER of the UNION PACIFIC by William Kratville and Harold E Ranks 1st ED W-2

Chip Savoye — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 00:59:59 +0000

The product is a first edition book titled “MOTIVE POWER of the UNION PACIFIC” by William Kratville and Harold E Ranks. This book is focused on the topic of motivation, likely providing insights and inspiration on how to maintain and enhance motivation in various aspects of life or within the context of the Union Pacific railway. With its special attribute of being a 1st edition, readers can expect a unique and possibly valuable perspective on the subject matter.

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Railway Across the Equator the Story of the East African Line. Anin and Willetts W2

Chip Savoye — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 00:51:10 +0000

Fascinating and colorful history of the construction of the East African Railway, a series of lines that once connected Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania under British rule and which still serve various parts of these countries. The authors provide an objective history of the extraordinary engineering efforts, the economic impact, the African and British personnel involved and the continued utilization and changes through the 1980s. Every aspect of the railway is here — from the man-eating lions that terrorized the workers to the fine china that once decorated the tables. Illustrated throughout with full color as well as vintage black and white photos. With maps. 192 pages.

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Recent Locomotives (1886) Enlarged Addition by Newton Gregg W-2

Chip Savoye — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 00:38:39 +0000

Used. Very good condition

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Denver and South Park by M.C. Poor W-5

Chip Savoye — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 23:14:47 +0000

The rich history of the Colorado narrow-gauge railroads is well researched in this volume of “Denver South Park & Pacific” by M.C. Poor. This book offers an unparalleled deep dive into the legendary Denver South Park & Pacific Railway, a pivotal force in the development of early Colorado transportation. A must-have for railway enthusiasts, historians, and collectors of Western Americana, this book brings to life the challenges and triumphs of a bygone era.

This comprehensive historical account is packed with fascinating details, including extensive text, period photographs, detailed maps, and original timetables, offering a vivid portrayal of the DSP&P’s operations and impact. From the intricate network of the Colorado Central Railroad to the Denver & Rio Grande, this book covers the vast landscape of Colorado’s railway past. Explore the engineering marvels, the rugged terrain, and the dedicated individuals who built and operated these iconic trains. Discover the stories of the Georgetown, Breckenridge, Leadville, and Fairplay lines, making this an essential resource for anyone interested in Colorado history, rail transport, and classic American railroads.

Very good condition. Dust jacket is slightly fadec

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