I am in the process of writing the complete chronicle of Wilmington and Western's former Mississippi Central #98. It's my deepest hope to publish this as a book. Have any books been written about a single locomotive?

Also, while I have everyone's attention. I'm looking for photos and stories about 98.

Thanks,

Tom,

yes quite a few, for example there is a book about 01 1052. Whilst 55 of this german 3-cylinder pacific had been built, the author took the history of the single locomotive for personal reasons (death of a family member in a train accident with this locomotive), but he widened the theme to describe the class 01.10 in general.

Whilst many books have been written about the 01.10 class since then, this is the thinnest yet quite nice. Probably you take the hint spreading the theme to gain more interest, as somebody must believe financing the print is worthwile and then somebody must buy enough of it afterwards..;-)

Surely Mississippi Central / Wilmington & Western #98 is not one-of-a-kind engine and you may go deeper into the make and fate of her sisters?

Mike

Tom,

Locomotive 315, The Lives, Times, and Rebirth of an 1895 Steam Engine. This was put out by the Durango Railroad Historical Society, George F. Niederauer, Chief Author & Editor. This is a very heavy and comprehensive book in three parts. It should be the guide for any future books of this type.

Bernie Perch

Mike and Bernie,

Thanks for your answers. I will try to check out those books. My history of MSC/LE/W&W 98 is a much deeper story than just the facts and figures about 98. It includes the history of what was going on around her at the time, The rise and fall of passenger service on the MSC, the LE and Spence himself, the long road to restoration at W&W and all of the ins and outs over the last 40+ years at W&W. I call it collateral history, there is a lot of collateral history in my story.

I believe that there is also a book that was written quite a few years back about Southern Ry. 4501.

On the other hand, books written entirely about a single class of engine exist as well such as the Big Boy, Challenger and Mighty 800 books by Kratville, the PA4 Locomotive book, and a book whose title escapes me but about some B&O class, I want to say class Q, whatever that was. It was heavily advertised in Trains at the time and was described as being the first in a series that would attempt to be the definitive works on each class covered. I don't recall seeing any others beyond that first one.

Steve

Hi
Another book written about a single class locomotive , is Thoroughbreds by the late Alvin Staufer . This book covers the New York Central Hudsons , along with the Boston & Albany Hudsons . Pat.

Two Foot Cyclopedia; SR&RL #23,
Two Foot Cyclopedia; SR&RL #10,

Not hard back books, ring bindered 11x17 card stock front covers.

Contain mostly the blueprints and original order forms, spec sheets, etc.., but about 2% text (one or two pages).

Greg Ames wrote a book about "Old Maude," B&O #2400, the first American Mallet locomotive, an 0-6-6-0 built in 1904. The title was "Old Maude - A Life & Times." It was published in 2006.

Several books on "the world's most famous steam locomotive," LNER 4472 Flying Scotsman....

David P. Morgan's book on SR 4501..........

Not a book, but a long article was written about Timken 1111, the famous "4 Aces", which eventually became Northern Pacific #2626. I am not 100% sure who wrote the article on the 4-8-4, but perhaps it was also David P. Morgan of TRAINS Magazine.

Les

For a general type of locomotive, George Harlan's book about Cab Forwards (starting with NPC 21).

Hi
The Norfolk and Western Class J by Kenneth Miller
The A Norfolk and Western Mercedes of Steam by Ed King
Canadian Pacific Mighty No. 8000

That was a hardcover Kalmbach book by David P. Morgan on 4501.

Two narrow gauge steam locomotives with (softcover) books about them include:

D&RGW 2-8-0 346 (Locomotive 346-The First 100 Years)

WP&Y 2-8-0 69 (Locomotive 69-From Alaska To Nebraska) which written when this locomotive operated at the Stuhr Museum in Nebraska.

I think 98 is worthy of a "single Locomotive book" about her "life story". Good luck with the project Tom-I would definitely buy a copy!

Regards,
Jim Robinson