Narrow Gauge In A Kingdom

"There's a high level of excitement and interest in the Rio Grande's narrow gauge lines today. Perhaps more so now than at any other time since the narrow gauge lines were built. There has always been a certain romance of the rails where 3-foot-gauge trackage is concerned, and even more so with those lines that ran through the scenic wonders of our country, such as the Rocky Mountains. Dreamer and railroad builder General William J. Palmer projected a railroad to Mexico City, but instead his 3-foot railroad went west, to Salt Lake City and Ogden." --From inside of book jacket

Britain’s narrow gauge railways are host to some of the oldest, most charming, varied and extraordinary locomotives to be found anywhere. This book is a fascinating survey of these appealing engines.

This is a comprehensive, illustrated account of the growth and decline of American narrow gauge railroading. It documents a long-gone era, bringing to life ancient steam locomotives, railroads and rolling stock that have mostly disappeared without trace. The basic facts and information on the subject are heavily illustrated with photographs, drawings and maps, presented in an encyclopedia format.

Narrow Gauge Railways of Canada is a survey course about one of the most interesting chapters in Canadian railway history. The late Omer Lavallee's original work was published by Railfare Books in 1972, and soon sold out. Long-sought by collectors, historians and railway enthusiasts, his excellent material has now been expanded (over 40 percent) by the author's long-time friend and collaborator, editor Ronald Ritchie. Omer Lavallee's survey indicates the Province of Ontario, Canada, was the birth place - in July 1871 - of the first narrow gauge steam-operated public railway in North America . . . and the Lingan Colliery Tramway in Cape Breton may have been - in 1866 - the first narrow gauge steam-operated railway in the Western Hemisphere. Two dozen different railway systems are covered within the book's twenty-five chapters. There are 192 rare photographs - including a section of 66 full-color photos - interesting sketches, and informative maps of each line to show route details. These are keyed to an overall map, pinpointing the railway's exact location within Canada. Narrow Gauge Railways of Canada contains listings of railway mileage, chronological and geographical facts about each system, and locomotive information. Several other useful features include: time-mileage charts, 50 diagrams, charts and tables, equipment rosters for virtually all the railways, and gradient profiles of three steeply-graded mountain routes. The book includes a specially-commissioned painting by famed railway artist Wentworth Folkins, illustrating Newfoundland Railway's Overland approaching Port-aux-Basque on the last lap of its 547-mile journey from Newfoundland's capital city, St. John's.