[barnmichael]

Although it probably would have been proper for this to go into the Public Forum, I thought I'd get a better response here.
I just got a gift certificate to Amazon.com and thought I'd add to my library.

Does any one have recommendations of good garden railways books? While I'd really like to get Jack Verducci's book, it doesn't seem to be available any more. I see several listed in Amazon, like "Garden Railroading: Getting Started in the Hobby" by Kent Johnson, "Practical Garden Railways" by Peter Jones, " Gorgeous Garden Railways" by Marc Horovitz and Pat Hayward, "Getting Started in Garden Railroading: Build the Railroad of Your Dreams... in Your Own Backyard" by Allan W. Miller, "Garden Railroad Spectacular" by Les Jarrett, "The Large-Scale Model Railroading Handbook" by Robert Schleicher, etc.

If anybody has experience with any of these, I'd like to hear your comments.

Thanks,
Michael

 

[Pete Thornton]

Getting Started in Garden Railroading: Build the Railroad of Your Dreams... in Your Own Backyard" by Allan W. Miller


Alan is an MLS member, although he moved and only drops in occasionally these days. His book is full of photos solicited from us, the members - I think he used 3 of mine. It's a pretty comprehensive book and is worth the money, in my opinion.

 

[ShadsTrains]

"Garden Railroading: Getting Started in the Hobby" by Kent Johnson - A collection of articles for GR magazine. If you already subscribed to the magazine for the past 8 years, it's not worth buying. MLS Review


"Practical Garden Railways" by Peter Jones, No experience with this book.


" Gorgeous Garden Railways" by Marc Horovitz and Pat Hayward, MY understanding is this is mostly a "coffee table" book with lots of great photos and less "how to" content.


"Getting Started in Garden Railroading: Build the Railroad of Your Dreams... in Your Own Backyard" by Allan W. Miller, A great book and as mentioned, written by a member of our forum. We're a little partial to this one here. It's out of print, but looks like it's available used. MLS Review


"Garden Railroad Spectacular" by Les Jarrett. This is a DVD movie and not a book. I've never seen it.


"The Large-Scale Model Railroading Handbook" by Robert Schleicher, etc. I do not own this book, but if I recall correctly, it was somewhat dated. A lot of things have changed since this book was published.


May I suggest a book that isn't necessarily devoted to large scale, but a great reference if you're planning a layout. "Track Planning for Realistic Operation: Prototype Railroad Concepts for Your Model Railroad" - by John Armstrong. This is a great book. Cant' say enough good about it.MLS Review


Also remember, if you buy through the MLS links, we get a comission.

 

[R.W. Marty]

Hi Michael,

You asked for recommendations.

Well, Allan Miller's book is the top pick. Not only because he was a member here and used some of our photos and information but because the book is well laid out and is, as in-depth informative, as a general reference text can be.

If you can still get a copy it is well worth having.
good luck
Rick Marty

 

[ralphbrades]

My recommendation would be for you to buy "Practical Garden Railways" by Peter Jones. It is an "English" book on the subject -but the information held within its covers is suitable for all places!!! I have a well thumbed copy...

regards

ralph

 

[Great Western]

Michael,
As far as books are concerned I found most of the info about large scale garden railroads available - free - on the web. The most important things I recall were not what to do but more what NOT to do.
If I were in your position I would by a book about the railroad which I was modeling or most interested in. Besides which so much helpful large scale info can be read on any Forum.

 

[Allan W. Miller]

Hey, guys, I'm still here...I just don't get around to posting as much. Plus, I'm trying to publish (and grow) an O gauge magazine these days, and that has required a good bit of my time and attention.

That said, I still LOVE Large Scale and am still planning to have some sort of LS layout in my home here in Ohio. Problem is, I bought a ranch-style condo so I'm going to be restricted to having something in half of my double garage. Maybe I'll find enough folks in the local area to get a club going. I sure miss the Tidewater BTO Club that I belonged to back in the Norfolk area!

My earlier book--Getting Started in Garden Railroading--would most definitely not have been possible without the truly great support I received from the MLS Forum (Shad) and MLS forum members. If the book was a success (and I hear that it was, even though I never made a cent from it because I was working for the publisher at the time), it's because so many other folks here were willing to share their knowledge, experience, and talent to make it successful.

That book is long out of print now, I believe, but more importantly parts of it are woefully out of date by now. I really would like to do an all-new edition (with another publisher, of course) and am hoping I can make that wish a reality in perhaps another year or so. There have been a great many changes in the hobby industry in recent years, and I suspect that more may be on the horizon, so it would seem like 2010 might be a good date to shoot for as far as a new book is concerned.

Many of the basic techniques covered in the earlier book are, of course, still applicable, but I would want a new edition to be from-the-ground-up new

 

[Dr G]

Michael,

You have gotten great advice, I own most of the books you mention.

I must put in a vote for Practical Garden Railways" by Peter Jones it is a GREAT READ/DesktopModules/NTForums/themes/mls/emoticons/w00t.gif. It was more entertaining than any railroad book I have ever read. It reads, well, very much like Peter Jones' column in GR magazine--just a bit light hearted and entertaining while providing inspiration and a bit of how to. It is not a step by step book, but it was, of all the books I own, the one that got me off my behind to start "diggin in the garden." It does have that dry English humor, not quite a Monty Python, but more like the James Herriot "All Creatures Great and Small" series on PBS. Peter is truly inspiring.

I also give high marks to John Armstron's "Track Planning for Realisitc Operation""-- I have an original printing that wore out and I went and bought the newer edition.

Hope that helps.