Book suggestions needed for Pennsy RR, Lake freighters, steel industry

[2-8-8-0]

Hey folks.

I guess im not the only person who decided to switch subjects, but this time its a pretty big switch. I live on the shores of Lake Erie in Ashtabula, Ohio, just another rustbelt city. But Lakes, railroads, and steel industry sure do give some food for thought for the layout (notwithstanding I love to build ship models!)

I plan on a more or less freelanced layout. There will be a prototype (ore moves from mine to docks on Superior, comes via laker to Lorain or Cleveland or wherever on Lake Erie, to waiting steel mills...oo, Hullets!) and I actually have a track plan, that frighteningly enough, will work for the area i have in mind.

What i need is some suggestions for a few books to become aquainted with the PRR (I have Pennsy Power, need something(s) on rolling stock circa 1945-1950) as well as books that would be of use to a modeler for steel mills, ore docks, DM&IR (for the Superior part) and the lake freighters themselves. A Duluth inspired ore dock and associated operations, as well as unloading facilities and steel mills in "Ohio" will make for plenty of operations, and the plan i have insures opportunities to see trains just running from here to there. For my part, this will be as much a diroama focusing on the steel industry in general and the big oreboats in particular, but one which will be built with an operating railroad in mind.

Thanks!

[GonzoCRFan]

This one is pretty good, and close to the area you're planning:

http://www.amazon.com/Steel-Remembered-Photos-LTV-Collection/dp/0873389115

Dean Freytag's "The History, Making, and Modeling of Steel" is excellent, if you can find a copy.

[Chris333]

You might want to join up here:
http://todengine.websitetoolbox.com/

I live in Warren, close to Youngstown.
Here is a map of Cleveland in the 1940's:
http://chris333.fileave.com/Cleveland%20map%20left.jpg
http://chris333.fileave.com/Cleveland%20map%20right.jpg
(big files)

I also like "Trackside in the Rust Belt".

[ñiao]

Not a book, but a website: http://prr.railfan.net/

If you need building plans: Trackside on the Pennsylvania Vol. 1 & 2 by Jeff Scherb (meanwhile also on two CDs). These books contain standards for buildings, signals, bridges, ...

[asarge]

Motorbooks International has several books on the ore docks and Great Lakes Ports and Freighters. Hobby shops can order from Walthers and you probably could order thru the major book stores. Morning Sun Books has a 3 volume series on Freight and Passengfer equipmen on the Pennsy, but it does cover all era's and finding Volume I will be a challenge.

Also, Arcadia Publishinfg has loads of books covering the entire country and some decent railroad and transportation books
www.arcadiapublishing.com

[Shipsure]

http://www.putinbayphotos.com/modboats/modboats.html

there are a lot of web resources and on line drawings you can get with some digging.  This site has some photo's of models that may or may not fit the bill, but you get an idea of the variety beyond the normal ore freighter.  I'll do some digging, I know a few sites that have good references.

Joe
MTL

[AlkemScaleModels]

Hey folks.

I

What i need is some suggestions for a few books to become aquainted with the PRR (I have Pennsy Power, need something(s) on rolling stock circa 1945-1950) as well as books that would be of use to a modeler for steel mills, ore docks, DM&IR (for the Superior part) and the lake freighters themselves.....
Thanks!

Well, if you can wait about 9-10 months my book on Steel Mill Modeling should be coming out from Kalmbach Publishing.

BCK

[womblenz]

Hi Guys

While not PRR 2 books i have on hand with great info on docks and cars
First the dock

http://www.amazon.com/Great-Northern-Railway-Superior-Archive/dp/1583880739/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1245669005&sr=1-2

from this I got plans for my dock there yards drawings and some good info

Second is rolling stock

http://www.amazon.com/Great-Lakes-Ore-Docks-Cars/dp/1583882022/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1245669005&sr=1-1

This drawings and car years and numbers made and who had what very useful

Thrid is an ore boat kit i plan to get and build

http://www.bearcomarine.com/resin.htm

I think i may have enough room to put 2 of these beside my ore dock  :

Here's a link to my ore dock thread

http://therailwire.net/forum/index.php/topic,13882.0.html


Cheers Warren