The Home Machinist!

A posting and a further conversation with Whitey had both of us thinking: We could use a thread on what books are out there for the live steamer. I have a bunch, so I looked them up and that led to more and to more.

So here's a list to start with. Add as you see fit. Books on machining should probably go in a thread in the General forum.

The first one is the book that got the whole discussion started (while technically, not about model engineering, I think that it's a must read):

'LBSC' HIS LIFE AND LOCOMOTIVES
http://www.amazon.com/LBSC-LIFE-LOCOMOT ... 685&sr=1-1

Simple Model Locomotive Building introducing LBSC's TICH
http://www.amazon.com/Simple-Model-Loco ... 816&sr=8-1

Betty The Mongoliper 2-6-2 3.5' Gauge
http://www.amazon.com/Betty-Mongoliper- ... 845&sr=1-7

Princess Marina LMS 2-6-0 Mogul 3.5' Gauge
http://www.amazon.com/Princess-Marina-2 ... 845&sr=1-8

Speedy GW 0-6-0 Tank Engine 5' Gauge
http://www.amazon.com/Speedy-0-6-0-Tank ... 845&sr=1-6

The Live Steam Book
http://www.amazon.com/Live-Steam-Book-L ... 463&sr=1-4

'Maisie' - Words and Music
http://www.amazon.com/Maisie-Words-L-LB ... 463&sr=1-5

LBSC`s Famous 4-4-0 Virginia Live Steam Locomotive Construction
http://www.amazon.com/LBSC%60s-Famous-V ... 514&sr=1-1

Manual of Model Steam Locomotive Construction by Martin Evans
http://www.amazon.com/Manual-Model-Stea ... 556&sr=1-1

The Model Steam Locomotive: A Complete Treatise on Design and Construction
http://www.amazon.com/Model-Steam-Locom ... 556&sr=1-4

Model Steam Locomotives Henry L. Greenly
http://www.amazon.com/Model-Steam-Locom ... 608&sr=1-2

Building the Shay by Kozo Hiraoka (Jun 1982)
http://discoverlivesteam.com/books/shay.html

Building the Heisler by Kozo Hiraoka (Jun 1986)
http://discoverlivesteam.com/books/heisler.html

Building the Climax by Kozo Hiraoka (1989)
http://discoverlivesteam.com/books/climax.html

Building the New Shay by kozo hiraoka (2007)
http://discoverlivesteam.com/books/newshay.html

The Pennsylvania A3 Switcher by Kozo Hiraoka (2001)
http://discoverlivesteam.com/books/penn_switcher.html

Civil Engineering for Outdoor Railroads
http://discoverlivesteam.com/books/civi ... ering.html

Falk No. 1 Locomotive
http://discoverlivesteam.com/books/falk.html

How (not) to paint a locomotive
http://discoverlivesteam.com/books/pete ... paint.html

So You Want to Build a Live Steam Locomotive?
http://discoverlivesteam.com/books/SYWTBALSL.html

MODEL LOCOMOTIVE VALVE GEARS - M.EVANS
http://shop.ajreeves.com/model-locomoti ... -450-p.asp

MODEL BOILERS & BOILER MAKING
http://shop.ajreeves.com/model-boilers- ... -459-p.asp

LOCOMOTIVE VALVES AND VALVE GEARS
http://shop.ajreeves.com/locomotive-val ... -464-p.asp

MAINTENANCE & MANAGEMENT OF SMALL LOCOMOTIVES
http://shop.ajreeves.com/maintenance--m ... -442-p.asp

ROB ROY & WILLIAM
http://shop.ajreeves.com/rob-roy--willi ... -445-p.asp

Painting & Lining Models by R.C. Rogers

Beginners Guide to Model Steam Locomotives by T. Coles

Model Boiler Making by E.L. Pearce

Laying Out for Boiler Makers Lindsay

Model Boilermaking, Design & Testing - Pearce

Model Locomotive Boilermaking - Farmer

Walschaerts Valve Gears - Greenly

Steve

Steve thanks a lot for the list. It will help a bunch. Whitey

"Building Small Steam Locomotives, A practical Guide to Making Engines for the Garden Gauges" By Peter Jones

http://www.amazon.com/Building-Small-Steam-Locomotives-Practical/dp/184797029X/ref=pd_sim_b_5

The Valve Gear design book (originally two books) "Design Procedures For Walschaerts & Stephensons
Valve Gears" by D. L. Ashton are a valuable source on info. His notes clear the air on the mysteries
of valve gear designs.
http://www.teepublishing.co.uk/
Also, being as we are neccessarily machinists, don't forget the "Machinery's Handbook".
The machinist's Bible. Any of the older second hand editions will do very well.
RichD

_________________
Happy Rails !
RichD
Colorado Midland Ry Ten Wheeler U/C
Kerr Stuart Wren NG 0-4-0 U/C
www.csppry.org
Imagination is your best tool.

Any live steamer would enjoy 'Master Railroad Builder' by the late Steve Booth. ISBN 0-941178-03-X

Lots of people the west coasters will know, and lots you won't. (I'm on page 255 )

_________________
John Brock

Wow !! that book is not cheap. What does it cover just different pic's or does it get into building and construction etc. It seems in this modern age. You can't even see the table of contents. Whitey

It was expensive when new, so I guess it makes sense it is expensive now. I didn't realize it was quite that expensive though. I probably wouldn't buy one sight-unseen Whitey, but someone in a club around you might have a copy they'd let you take a peek at. I would describe it as an 'inspirational overview' of the larger gauges (7.25" and up, there's not much on sizes below that). It is definitely not a 'how-to', but more a heavily-illustrated survey of what's been done. Here is a chapter list:

1. Roots of Steam
2. Disney Magic
3. Centerville & Southwestern -- two inches of cream
4. Scale and Gauge
5. Tipsico Lakeshore - the semi-scale approach
6. Narrow Gauge
7. Diesel Designs
8. Craftsmanship in Steam
9. The Electric Connection
10. Rolling Stock
11. The Right Track
12. Bridges and Tunnels
13. The Structural Touch
14. Signals and Communication
15. Wabash, Frisco & Pacific
16. Playing the Railroad Game

_________________
John Brock

John thank you very much. Whitey

Just for information. I got a book off E-bay MODEL STEAM LOCOMOTIVES by Greenly's and revised by Ernest Steel.A very,very informative book for a novice with Lot's of drawings etc. I think great for twenty bucks. Whitey

Of all the books on the list, the first one I would get would be Joe Nelson's "So You Want to Build a Live Steam Locomotive." The next book I'd recommend isn't a book. If you can pick up any copies of Don Young's magazine, "Locomotives Large and Small" I'd grab them.

Good first book. Covers a lot of the non-construction questions for the novice that you won't find anywhere else, as well as construction.

Even if you are not building one, I would recommend:
Simple Model Locomotive Building introducing LBSC's TICH

It's interesting (in LBSC's witty British style) and has a lot of good information for the novice.

I'm just finishing up Kozo's Pensy switcher book. Also good for the novice, but he doesn't go into as much detail as LBSC does on each part.

Steve

Thanks Steve and others. Have started to ge a couple of them in including the shop shed and road. and they sure help a novice. Thanks again. Whitey