Ronsbooks.com continues to issue reproductions of industrial catalogs published by SilverLake Images LLC, in their Manufacturers’ Catalog Archive series. These catalogs are soft cover, printed on quality paper, and the photo reproduction is excellent. Each catalog sells for $35.00.

I have catalogs 7, 8, 9, and 10 for review, and Ron’s lists 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18 as coming out in 2021.

The Robert and Schaefer Co. Locomotive Coaling Plants has 72 pages of photos of large mainline concrete coaling plants. I would call them coaling towers. There are numerous photos along with several plans, but all for large facilities. However, there are several large wooden towers as well, along with details helpful in modeling. I did find the electric mechanism used to move coal interesting, but no Chama-like towers.

Heisler Locomotives Volume 1: Geared & Fireless Locomotives has 124 pages of Heisler catalog pages showing Heislers at work and their details, such as trucks, gearing, and engines. After a section that takes you through the things you should consider when buying a Heisler, you learn about their design and balance, features of construction, boiler steaming, large smokebox, roomy cab, and availability of spare parts. Really makes you want to buy one. Then the catalog also features fireless Heislers. You learn what they are, and how they work. You find that they can handle heavy work, use only one crewman, are explosion proof, and are clean, quiet, and safe. This is followed by some 30 photos of 0-4-0 and 0-6-0 fireless Heislers at work. I found this catalog the most interesting.

Trolley Coaches Volume 1: Westinghouse has 90 pages of information on busses powered from overhead wires, what I call a trolley bus. There are pages of photos from around the country of trolley busses with people getting on and off the coaches. We also see the coaches in streets, parks, and other pleasant settings. There is data on performance, and dimensions on each bus, so you know how many passengers they can carry, and how efficient each coach is. The motors, gearboxes and controls are also described. Not sure how many trolley bus layouts we have, but interesting information.

Gregg Railroad Cars has 58 pages of illustrations of freight cars. There are no plans, but plenty of details should you want to model one of the cars in the catalog. Foreign four wheel cars are also included. The sections include boxcars, gondolas, stock cars, flatcars, dump cars, tank cars, hopper cars, and specialty cars, including a chicken car. The last chapter discusses the trucks, wheels, couplers, and hardware used on Gregg cars.

These catalogs are full of data and illustrations that, depending on what you want to research, or model, will prove invaluable. But remember they are designed to sell a product.

Future catalogs include Vulcan Gasoline Locomotives, Western Wheeled Scraper Co., Western Dump Cars, Plymouth Locomotives, and Beyer-Garratt Locomotives. Bob Brown.