Articulated Steam Locomotives Of North America

Like many other books, Articulated Steam Locomotives of North America began as a modest attempt to chronicle a certain type of locomotive---in this case, the Mallet-articulated locomotive in the U.S.A. This project soon ballooned into unanticipated magnitude. It wasn't long before it became evident that Canadian and Mexican engines could not logically be ignored; they were an important part of the story. After that, one thing quickly led to another. By including the double-truck Fairlies, one was obliged to recognize their single-truck counterparts, as well as several mechanical hybrids which defied accurate classification. Locomotives having geared trucks were indeed articulated; thus, something had to be said about them. Then, there was the booster-engine which temporarily transformed ordinary locomotives into pseudo-articulateds. The latter-day duplex-drive locomotives could properly have been omitted; however, that would have concealed an important episode of motive-power progress wherein one railroad tried to avoid articulation. Consequently, duplex-drive locomotives are included, too.The author's efforts to locate suitable photographs to illustrate this chronicle have been remarkably successful--and there have been few locomotives whose portraits have been completely elusive. Considering the objective was to obtain views of every kind of articulated steam locomotive on every major railroad, this was no easy task. However, the end result is a dazzling collection of over 600 photographs--including more than 32 color views--some of them quite rare.

A glorious, large (10.5 x 14.75") reprint of the 1990 original edition of Gallery Books, a division of W.H. Smith. The present incarnation manifests better resolution & greater contrast in the many b & w photos. Impressive book at a tiny price (a promotional book). An era ended in 1960, when the major railroads in the United States and Canada dieselized.

This book details the history of Norfolk & Western's Y-Class 2-8-8-2 compound articulated (Mallet) steam locomotives from their inception in 1910 through to the last built in 1952. Photos, drawings, maps, tables, and text tell the story of America's most successful and longest-lived compound articulated steam locomotive class.

"This book collects and describes every known North American streamlined - or semi-streamlined - steam locomotive with photographs of every class and every significant design variation and it packages those descriptions with information about the locomotives' origins, service lives and ultimate destinies."--Book

Complete with Travelers Tales boxes, specially commissioned maps & a listing of heritage team locomotives still in action today, this exciting chronicle tells the complete story of how the Iron Horse changed the course of history.

"The GUIDE TO NORTH AMERICAN STEAM LOCOMOTIVES, Revised edition, takes a detailed look at how steam locomotives work, how they evolved, and how engines of various wheel arrangements were developed. Detailed entries for more than 90 railroads provide rosters and follow the development of steam power on each line, including when steam engines were finally replaced by diesels." -- page 4 of cover.