Ron’s Books continues to sell reprints of prototype catalogs by Silver Lake Images, LLC, in their Manufacturer’s Catalog Archive. Each catalog sells for $35.00.

General Motors Electro-Motive Division Volume 1 contains 122 pages of mainline and switcher Diesel locomotives in the early days of the company. It has chapters describing the benefits of Diesel locomotives and introduces the SD7 six-motor switcher and Electro-Motive’s F3 Diesel. It also describes the Train of Tomorrow and tries to convince America’s railroads that passenger traffic is profitable. While not a lot for the narrow gauge modeler, I found the description of early day Diesels and promotion of their use interesting.

ALCO Locomotives Volume 1 has 102 pages of data on ALCO Diesel and steam locomotives. There are many details of Diesel interiors shown, and the steamers range from little 0-4-0s to giant 4-10-2s. Contents list Diesel Switching Locomotives, Montreal Locomotive, Freight Locomotives of The Delaware & Hudson, and Three Cylinder Locomotives.

Industrial Brownhoist Corporation Volume 1: Locomotive Cranes. This catalog has 108 pages of data and photos of cranes at work. There are cranes pile driving, loading, and unloading material; digging the earth; lifting a boat, wagons, and trucks; and clearing up wrecks. The book is full of parts illustrations perfect for those of you who want to build a locomotive crane. Great inspirations.

Bucyrus-Erie Company Volume 2. This catalog has 76 pages of draglines, cranes, and loaders. It also has a history of Bucyrus and the excavating industry titled Shaping the Earth for Better Living. Again, mostly large excavating machines, but with a smattering of little steam shovels and cranes worth modeling. The industrial excavation scenes are also worth looking at, some would make layouts on their own.

All four of these catalogs are printed on high quality paper with excellent photo and drawings reproductions. Keep checking the lists of these catalogs for something you may want to model.
-Bob Brown.