Hi JB! Perhaps we'll run into you this coming Labor Day weekend?
What does the "majority" in this hobby look for in a book of this type (narrow guage, logging etc.)?
For most, I think it's a desire to feel that "you are there". In the absense of movies a book is as close as we can get. I still contend that the majority of the book should be large format pictures (and lots of them) with basic text.
Think about what the most famous, and most respected, logging book is - John Labbes' Railroads in the Woods. The book is an almost perfect one for our purposes.
The addition of scale drawings and maps brings in the modeling crowd besides adding an extra dimension. By the way, an overlooked aspect of the scale drawings angle is that it encourages many modelers to recreate (and write about) the Sumpter Valley - thus expanding the interest and demand. (This is one area where Mr. Ferrel's book shines, despite it's many other shortcomings)
I see a post elsewhere by someone who says he didn't even know the SVRY exsists! This narrow gauage has it all - Interesting equipment - interesting structures - siginifgant passenger service - scenery from desert to tree covered mountains - logging - cattle - even a bit of mining. Plus geared engines, loaders, camp cars, a long mainline haul and numerous "seperate" companies branching out etc etc etc (Did I mention LOGGING?) oh yeah, and the 250 and 251. Not to mention the fact that if you want to get a "feel" for the line you can pop out to McEwen and marvel at the many accomplishments that have recreated some of the operation.
Lon Wall
PS - The next West Side book is due out this fall, "Spike heads on the West Side - Mile Post 14 through 22" - Part 3 -228 pages, full color, with a forward by Bob Browne
