where do you get your info


brubakes

brubakes

Member
You guys seem to have a very good idea about all the details of the roads you model. I wonder where do you get your information from? I'm not sure were to start looking. I wanna get to know the Nickel Plate and B&O better.

Aside from the roads, where do you get your info on the different locomotives, where they were used, built, primary use, time frame made, ect.... Same questions for rolling stock.
 
Research, Research and more research. It sounds like stuff you hated in school, but as you get into it, it gets fun believe it or not. It gets to be like detective work.
 
I get it from a combination of books I've bought over the years and the web. For example, any NKP enthusiast should have the book The Nickle Plate Story by John Mehor in his collection. It contains pictures and information that you just can't easily find anywhere else. The book is long out of print but used book stores will often be able to get a copy for between $40 and $50, which sounds like a lot, but it's worth it.

The next best place is the railroad's historical society. The Nickle Plate Historical and Technical Society has a great website at http://nkphts.org/home.html that contains tons of information about the NKP. Check Yahoo groups for groups devoted to the railroad too. The NKP has a group at http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/NKP/.

Just remember that Google is your friend for searchng out information. Both the B&O and NKP have lots of sites and tidbits of information on the web.
 
Most of the railroads, particularly the "fallen flags", have historical societies with websites. Some are better'n others, as you might suppose. For example, the NYC doesn't seem to have as much oomph as the one for the C&O, and the Penssy site is simply "the" standard...not unlike the prototype when in its hayday! ;)

Also there are many, many sites that are about yesteryear on the railroads. Here are some:

http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/

http://www.railarchive.net/bakervalve/index.html

http://www.prrths.com/

http://www.catskillarchive.com/rrextra/toc.Html

http://www.alkrug.vcn.com/rrfacts/rrfacts.htm

http://pghbridges.com/basics.htm

http://www.sdrm.org/faqs/boilers/index1.html

Heavy empASis on the steam, but that is my burden, and not possibly yours?
 
If you want to read the Nickel Plate Story but don't want to buy it. Go to your local library and get it through interlibrary loan. I've gotten to read a lot of out-or-print railroad books that way.
 
Selector said:
Most of the railroads, particularly the "fallen flags", have historical societies with websites. Some are better'n others, as you might suppose. For example, the NYC doesn't seem to have as much oomph as the one for the C&O, and the Penssy site is simply "the" standard...not unlike the prototype when in its hayday! ;)

Also there are many, many sites that are about yesteryear on the railroads. Here are some:

http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/

http://www.railarchive.net/bakervalve/index.html

http://www.prrths.com/

http://www.catskillarchive.com/rrextra/toc.Html

http://www.alkrug.vcn.com/rrfacts/rrfacts.htm

http://pghbridges.com/basics.htm

http://www.sdrm.org/faqs/boilers/index1.html

Heavy empASis on the steam, but that is my burden, and not possibly yours?
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Wow, NICE list! Thanks!
 
Printer said:
Google is your FRIEND!
Click to expand...
Or even better Ask.com.

Anyway, "The most important thing for a model railroad isn't the model tracks or trains, but the library of books used for its foundation."

Unfortunately, I've only got one B&O book and zero Nickel Plate books in my collection so I don't have any suggestions on specific references.
 
Historical Society, the pertinent Yahoo Group(s), books. The best is the Historical Society, because if you ask the questions on the Yahoo groups, one of the first things they'll say is "Are you a member of the Historical Society?"

:D

Kennedy
 
brubakes said:
You guys seem to have a very good idea about all the details of the roads you model. I wonder where do you get your information from? I'm not sure were to start looking. I wanna get to know the Nickel Plate and B&O better.

Aside from the roads, where do you get your info on the different locomotives, where they were used, built, primary use, time frame made, ect.... Same questions for rolling stock.
Click to expand...

The Nickel Plate Story, by John Rehor, also the Berkshire Era by the same writer. Nickel Plate Diesels by Peter K. Shepard. There is a three book series by NKP Company Photographer Willis McCaleb published by Morning Sun Books. I have every book made about the Nickel Plate, and I grew up on the NKP Mainline in Pennsylvania.
 
For me I've gotten alot of decent information on Conrail from websites like Conrail Cyclopedia, Wes Reminder Online, and yahoo groups. I would imagine similar sites exist for Nickle Plate Road.
 
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