Previously thought to be out-of-print, we are happy to announce the return of a trio of Thomas R. Lee’s Westward books! Order the titles together to save more! Museum Members receive their discount in addition to the discounts listed below!
Rock Island Westward Volume 1: Memories of the High Line
This is a high-quality, well-research book by the author who lived on this Rock Island route. The Clay Center Line extended northwest from McFarland, Kansas, on the Golden State Route, to Belleville, Kansas, on the Rocky Mountain Line. Very little has been written about this important Kansas subdivision which the railroaders called the High Line. The author lived next to the Clay Center Line for 25 years. The result of several years research and numerous interviews to supplement the author’s own extensive photo collection, records, and memories of the line. Detailed narration of train operations and motive power assignments enhance the 396 photographs which show all aspects of the line, including floods and wrecks. From the COLORADO FLYER, streamlined Rockets and local passenger trains to the Red Ball freights, powered by 4-8-4 Northerns in both the 5000 and 5100 series or diesels of all types, the full story is told from construction to shutdown in 1980 of this portion of the Rock Island’s history. By Thomas R. Lee. T. Lee Publications, hardcover with jacket, 256 pages, standard portrait format, 11 x 8.5 x 1 in., 396 photographs (35 in color), with timetables and detailed text. $59.95. Click Here to order.
Rock Island Westward Volume 2: Rails to the Rockies
Volume 2 in this series provides a fascinating history of the Rock Island’s Western Division which stretched form Council Bluffs, Iowa to Colorado Springs and Denver, Colorado and eventually east to Des Moines, Iowa. Although packed with photographs, the book is not a pictorial but a solid history of the Division, the numerous subdivisions, the yards and stations, and all passenger train operations (including the Rocky Mountain Limited and Rocket as well as the Mountaineer and Colorado Fast Mail). There is also information on the passenger trains of the Chicago, Kansas & Nebraska, a predecessor to the Rock Island. Illustrated throughout with hundreds of black and white photos by leading rail photographers plus an 11 page color section plus several maps and gradient profiles. End papers show detailed map of the Rock Island. By Thomas R. Lee. T. Lee Publications, hardcover with jacket, 280 pages, standard portrait format, 11 x 8.5 x 1 in., Many photographs (including some in color), with timetables and detailed text. $59.95. Click Here to order.
Turbines Westward
Fascinating history of the Union Pacific’s unique fleet of gas turbine electric locomotives with photos of all 59 of the engines in action and at rest. The book also discusses the predecessor steam turbine electric locomotives and how their weaknesses led to the development of the gas turbines. Illustrated throughout with black and white photos and schematic diagrams. By Thomas R. Lee. T. Lee Publications, softbound, 180 pages, standard portrait format, 11 x 8.5 x 1 in., Many photographs (including some in color), with timetables and detailed text. $39.95. Click Here to order online.
Order Rock Island Westward Volumes 1 & 2 together and save 5.75% off the regular individual title price! $113.00 (reg. $119.90). Click Here to order online.
Order the Thomas R. Lee Westward Trio which includes Rock Island Westward Volumes 1 & 2 and Turbines Westward and save more than 10% off the regular individual title price. $142.00 (reg. $159.85). Click Here to order online.
