tional era,” the most popular modeling period. The narratives beginning each chapter tell the story, the pictures tell the story, and the excellent captions tell the story. There is more to Off the Main Line than train photos. There is a con- tinuum of railroad history, and part of that record is given here. The photos are an eclectic array, yet everything is familiar, comfortable and, yes, modelable. We have seen rail- roading that looks and works like this in countless books and magazine arti- cles, in slide shows, and on hobby shop shelves and so many layouts. It is the traditional era in its prime. It is under- standable and intellectually accessible whether one lived through it or not, or traveled where Hofsommer did. The range of subjects runs from the final days of steam in Iowa to first genera- tion diesels, to Rio Grande narrow gauge, to Geeps and covered wagons on rumbling freights on well-maintained track. Santa Fe in Oklahoma is in here, as is Burlington Northern (but not BNSF). Iowa had a few interurbans that lasted a long time, and Don Hof- sommer got to them before the wire came down. We have long trains, short trains, pre-Amtrak passenger trains, RDC’s, shots of open-country trains and pictures down by the depot. Many of the photos are of railroads and routes seldom treated in the gen-
eral model and railfan press. In them you may find inspiration for a scene or detail on your layout, or perhaps a sub- ject for a completely new modeling ven- ture. Best of all, much of the railroad- ing on these secondary mains and branches–illustrated as it was before trucks absorbed the small town freight business to leave us with so many rust- ed or pulled-up sidings and empty rights-of-way–is nicely sized for mod- eling. It is already edited down, so more adaptable to our layout rooms. Hofsommer closes with a few photos of the Iowa Interstate, a Class One act if there ever was one, a few shortlines, and a more-recent visit to New Eng- land; these are reminders that there are still small railroads on today’s mega-merger map. As expected, the photography is ex-
cellent, and it is reproduced on high- quality, glossy stock. Moreover, the com- position in the pictures is worth studying to improve what you can do with a lens, a railroad and the places tracks go whether they are full size or on a model. Enhancing the artistic ele- ment of Off the Main Line, except for the cover, the book is all black and white. Believe me, this works for the era and subjects. You will soon find fa- vorites among the pictures on these pages and go back to them often “just to look and enjoy.”–BILL SCHAUMBURG
(1046) Nubble Lighthouse
$324.95 Bollinger Edgerly Scale Trains
It’s not just a model, it’s a piece of history.
H 03220
32
MAY 2014
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100