Ron's Books continues to sell reproductions of railroad catalogs published by SilverLake Images, LLC. Each book sells for $35.00. I have samples of the four latest catalogs. Three are devoted to locomotives and one is about cranes.

Ohio Locomotive Crane Company, Volume 1.
Having built several models of self-propelled cranes in my day, I was especially interested in the pages of photos, drawings, plans and data about cranes. There are numerous illustrations of parts of cranes, and many photos of them in use on industrial sites. There are several plans of cranes in the book, and drawings of wheels, trucks, gears, and the controls of a crane. I wish I had had this catalog several years ago. It would have answered many of my questions. 104 pages.

Lima Locomotive Works, Volume 1: Super-Power Steam Locomotives.
This catalog is full of large mainline standard gauge 2-10-2, 2-8-4, and 2-10-4s, built in 1926 and 1930. Photos, diagrams and plans describe these locomotives along with performance data. Not much for the narrow gauge and short line crowd. However, the last section of this catalog illustrates some neat little standard gauge 0-4-0, and 0-6-0 tank engines, and some 0-8-0, 2-8-0, 4-6-2, 4-8-2, 2-8-2, and 2-10-2s. There are the usual photos of locomotive parts, and a lot of data on these super-power locomotives. 72 pages.

Ingersoll-Rand Locomotives.
If you like to take HO Diesel mechanisms and add O scale superstructures to add motive power to your On30 layout, you will find this catalog of value. It describes box-cab electric locomotives used by mainline and short line railroads. There are plenty of photos and plans to help you design your critters. Some of the locomotives are shown in industrial sites such as steel mills. 75 pages.

Baldwin-Westinghouse Volume 1: Electric Locomotives.
The cover on this catalog fooled me. It shows a steel steeple cab electric like you might find on an electric interurban line. However, over half of the book illustrates mine locomotives using overhead wire. There are dozens of illustrations of these locomotives, and their parts. I found the trolley pole information especially interesting. The second half of the catalog illustrates Standard Electric Locomotives for Electric Railway Freight Haulage. Again, lots of parts drawings. The interior views are valuable if you plan to build one of these locomotives. 107 pages.
-Bob Brown.