A nearly forgotten gem of steam locomotive technical history is

Quote:

The American Steam Locomotive, Volume 1: The Evolution Of The Steam Locomotive

by Frank M. Swengel, published by Midwest Rail Publications Inc., Davenport, Iowa, 1967. Copies are available from www.abebooks.com and other used-book sellers.

Each pair of pages has a short essay with unusually good insights into steam locomotive technical development.

The title implies that Swengel planned to write a Volume 2. I've searched the internet numerous times, but haven't found any other info on Swengel. Does anyone know anything more about Swengel, especially if his notes and papers survive somewhere?

Thanks!
Doug Debs

A search of the WorldCat database (world's largest network of library content and services) resulted only the book mentioned in your query.

This negative evidence does not necessarily preclude his notes and papers being available at some site or sites not included in the WorldCat database. However, it strongly suggests that any additional books contemplated by Mr. Swengel never saw publication.

Does anyone know if MR Frank Swengel worked for Davenport or Porter?

maybe his experience came from there.

Published date is only about 20 years after the last Iowa loco's went to canada


dr

Last Friday I discovered that the R&LHS Winter 2001 Newsletter http://rlhs.org/rlhsnews/htms/nl21-1.htm has an article by Robert A. LeMassena "The First 4-8-4 and 2-6+6-4 (almost)", which includes a photo attributed to the "R&LHS Frank M. Swengel collection".

I have written R&LHS archivist Jackie Pryor about this collection:
- Where is the Frank M. Swengel collection located? at CSRM, Sacramento, CA?
- Does the collection include notes and papers, or only photographs?

I will report back when I have more info.

Any further info would be greatly appreciated as well.
Thanks!
- Doug Debs

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