All four of the enormously popular Thomas board books are here: Go, Train, Go!; Stop, Train, Stop!; A Crack in the Track!; and Blue Train, Green Train. Boxed together in a nifty little “lunchbox,” these four books are a feast for Thomas’ smallest fans. The box features a sturdy handle and a velcro close and is perfect for Thomas lovers on the go.

    Tells the story of a young boy who lives with his family in a cottage at the edge of his Grandpa's farm. To make visiting each other easier, they build a miniature steam railway between their houses. 96 pages with 14 pages of simply explained technical diagrams and 30 watercolour pictures. Age 6 to 12 years.

    The opening of the pioneering Liverpool and Manchester Railway in 1830 marked the beginning of the railways’ vital role in changing the face of Britain. Fire and Steam celebrates the vision and determination of the ambitious Victorian pioneers who developed this revolutionary transport system and the navvies who cut through the land to enable a country-wide network to emerge. The rise of the steam train allowed goods and people to circulate around Britain as never before, stimulating the growth of towns and industry, as well many of the facets of modern life, from fish and chips to professional football. From the early days of steam to electrification, via the railways’ magnificent contribution in two world wars, the checkered history of British Rail, and the buoyant future of the train, Fire and Steam examines the social and economical importance of the railway and how it helped to form the Britain of today.

    Full color.

     This remarkable large-format reference is a revised, updated and expanded work based on the author's Field Guide to Modern Diesel Locomotives. Locomotives covers all mainline models built for North American railroads from the mid-1 970s to today, from EMD Dash 2s and GE Dash 7s to the latest 70 Series and Evolution Series models, as well as Green Goats, Gensets and mainline passenger electric-powered locomotives. Containing nearly 300 photographs of the more than 120 featured locomotive models from every locomotive manufacturer, this is the definitive reference for the North American rail fan. Greg McDonnell provides concise yet comprehensive information on each model, along with easy-to-read tables of production totals, build dates and mechanical specifications. (200903)

    This illustrated book offers a colorful look at the Keystone States historic railroads, the men who built and ran them, and the engineering feats that made them possible. Railway historian Brian Solomon also shows readers the legacy those railroads have left in the form of todays historic tourist roads, museums, and destinations. Railroads of Pennsylvania travels from Scranton, home to Steamtown USA and the Laural Line trolley, to Altoona, the heart and soul of Pennsylvania railroading; from East Broad Top, one of the nations best-preserved historic railways, to the famed Horseshoe Curve, which still hosts 50 trains a day; and to current operations like the Delaware-Lackawanna Shortline with its gleaming fleet of Alco diesel locomotives. Illustrated throughout with beautifully detailed modern photographs, black-and-white archival images, and specially commissioned maps, this book is at once a handy guide to Pennsylvanias railroads and a thoroughly enjoyable tribute to the states key place in railway history and lore.

    This book highlights Chicago's six major railroad stations and the trains that served them. Included are Dearborn Station, Grand Central Station, Central Station, La Salle Street Station, North Western Station, and Union Station. During the heyday of passenger trains, Chicago was the undisputed rail center of the United States and its railroad stations were the gates to everywhere. Chicago's railroad stations featured superb architecture with marble floors and staircases, while restaurants, newsstands and shops filled the concourse areas. Steel latticework beams helped support glass-domed roofs and public address systems echoed train information throughout the high-ceiling stations. Huge station clocks loomed above the brass and neon train bulletin boards that listed "On Time" trains. Beyond the boarding gates, the constant parade of trains sounded with clanging bells and rumbling steel wheels. Historic photographs feature name trains like Super Chief, Capitol Limited, 20th Century Limited, Broadway Limited, California Zephyr, Hiawatha, 400, and City of Denver. Included are maps, station drawings, timetables and promotional advertising.

    This never-ending workday unfolds hour by hour in The Railroad Never Sleeps, a remarkable photographic chronicle of North American railroading over twenty-four hours. On May 10, 2007, the anniversary of the Golden Spike ceremony marking the completion of the first U.S. transcontinental railroad, several of todays top railroad photographers set out for every corner of the continent to capture the railroad in action at every hour of the day and night. The result is a magnificent portrait of railroading across the vast canvas of North America, from rural outpost to urban center, port city to Great Plains, dawn to dusk to deepest night. The breathtaking photographs and detailed captions depict every type of railroading--heavy-haul unit trains, intermodal, modern passenger and commuter lines, short-line services, and more. Together they create a complete picture of the motive power, rolling stock, workers, and operations that keep North American life and business on the rails.

    To witness the amazing parallel development of the railways in Japan, happening at much the same time as America was connecting its vast hinterland to the East and West coasts, is an eye-opening realization. Early Japanese Railways, tells the fascinating story of the rise of Japanese rail amidst a period of rapid modernization during Japan's Meiji era. Leaving behind centuries of stagnation and isolation, Japan would emerge into the 20th century as a leading modern industrialized state. The development of the railways was a significant factor in the cultural and technological development of Japan during this pivotal period. Free's rare photographic and historical materials concerning Japan's early railways, including a print showing the miniature steam engine brought to Japan by Admiral Perry aboard his "Black Ships" to demonstrate American superiority, combine to form a richly detailed account that will appeal to students of Japanese history and railway buffs alike. This one-of-a-kind book, Early Japanese Railways 1853–1914, illuminates for non-Japanese-speaking readers the early history of Japanese railroads and in the process the fascinating story of Japan's prewar industrial modernization. Anyone interested in train history or model trains will find this book a fascinating read.

    Published twice a year, these special Summer and Winter editions are based on the June & December issues of the monthly European Rail Timetable.  As well as extensive rail and ferry timings for the whole of Europe, they include a guide to European rail passes and a special section containing invaluable country-by-country travel information.

    Tony Koester walks you through design, options, lighting and wiring considerations, the where and when sequence, as well as the all-important construction techniques.

    Through the pages of Steam Echoes of Hamilton, take a trip back to the railway activity surrounding the steel manufacturing centre of Canada. In addition to the variety of industrial switching and downtown operations, you will enjoy exploring the Hagersville Subdivision southward from Hamilton. Take a branchline train ride through Caledonia and Jarvis to the scenic north shore of Lake Erie. Watch the small engines and mixed trains amid the scenic surroundings of Simcoe, Port Rowan and Port Dover.

    Are the people on the train just ordinary passengers like you and me or could they really be the stuff of fairy tales? Another enchanting illustrated story book by Hannah Frank. Illustrated by Fred Falk (USA).

    For this volume, author and illustrator Mark Wegman has researched original railroad drawings and in some cases even paint chips to render more than 160 profiles, front and top views, and interior layouts depicting the steam, diesel, and electric locomotives, along with passenger cars, of three dozen of the nation’s most celebrated trains of the golden age.Accompanying the author’s drawings are histories of each train, period photographs, postcards, menus, luggage stickers, vintage print ads, and detailed captions.The book is a lavishly appointed journey back in time to the bygone heyday of passenger-train travel.

    You'll learn how to realistically recreate and incorporate industries such as ethanol, cement, canning, and sugar beets into your layouts through prototype photos and modeling suggestions. A history of each industry is also included.