Western Road (ATSF & UP) Book Recommendations

[richard556]

I'm looking for some reference books to provide me with prototype inspiration for some HO modules I'm designing, based on Western Roads in the 1970s/1980s. 

Since I don't live in the US, I'd love some recommendations for books on prototype Western Roads including the ATSF, UP, and WP that feature plenty of prototype photos of trains on railroad main lines in their natural landscape, so I can make sure I am properly capturing the look and feel of the real place, as well as get a good idea of realistic train consists from that period.  A lot of rail reference books focus on close ups of the locomotives, when what I'm after is a wider perspective of the railroad and landscape as a whole.

I have already got some great photo rich reference books on the D&RGW by the likes of Chuck Conway (Heart of the Rockies, Crest of the Continent) and Dale Sanders (Scenic Line of the World) which have provided some inspiration, but would like some similar reference materials for other Western roads to help me select the scenes for my modules.  Any recommendations for other similar photo-rich reference books welcomed!

Richard

[Funnelfan]

 Steve Schmollinger has published several books with fantastic images of western railroads in the 70's 80's and 90's. His books are; Tehachapi; Desert Railroading; Images of Western Railroading; The Feather River Canyon. You will want all of those for sure! Northwest Passage by Rob Leachman is full of fantastic scenery photos of the BN in the Pacific Northwest in the 1970's and 80's. I would highly recommend that one as well.

[gevohogger]

Wheels Rolling - West by Dave Styffe and Ted Benson is an all-B&W classic printed way back about 1978, if you can get ahold of a copy. Lots of 50s, 60s and 70s-era photos in it. Highly recommended.

[edwardsutorik]

Probably the best "book" for railroad scenery is:

www.railpictures.net


Many thousands of photographs, most with a scenic bent. It's also got a very good search system.

While trains and consists change over time, scenery tends not to.

Also useful can be the Satellite view and Street View on Google maps. I used them to study the route of the Union Pacific between Ogden and North Platte. I was particularly interested in the design and location of the mainline crossovers.


I would also recommend investigating railroad maps, preferably finding one for each railroad of interest. This will give you a sense of where each one goes.

Also useful is a railroad atlas. Rand McNally comes to mind. There's a map for each state. I don't think they're published anymore, but old ones are around.




Ed

[riogrande]

Another vote for railpictures.net. It's a great site.

[lvrr325]

Probably any "In Color" book for those roads will have some good photos, too.

[spsf]

Pool Power West by Bob Hanggie is one of my favorites. Basically a picture book and tons of 80s/90s stuff.

[five83]

If you want a good book on the Western Pacific, may I suggest the book titled 72-82: Western Pacific's Final Decade by Benson, Dorn, Sanders, and Stanley. Can't recommend it highly enough. The book's black and white photography is stunning and amazing. The publisher, White River Productions did a great job. This book is what started my interest in western railroading and the Western Pacific.

On a side note, if you want some good books on western railroading, Signature Press; a prominent publisher on the subject recently announced that it's going out of business and is offering a 50% sale on remaining stock. Check out their website if anything interests you.