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Coal Cars: The First Three Hundred Years

Expected Delivery December 1st 2007

"If steam powered the industrial revolution, then it was coal that fueled it." Thus begins Coal Cars: The First Three Hundred Years, Bob Karig's landmark book on the multitudinous variety of railroad cars that transported that valuable "black diamond" commodity from mine to market. Coal was essential to the economy of the United States, and those coal cars were essential to the business of the railroads that hauled it.
Karig begins with a history of the development of the U.S. coal fields and the transportation systems that served them. He then traces the history and evolution of coal cars from their earliest use in England until the end of the steam era for American railroads.

This comprehensive book includes extensive design specifications and drawings, as well as a complete history of the various safety and mechanical appliances used on coal cars. It concludes with a 165-page photographic essay that vividly illustrates the 300-year development described in the text.

Essential reading for all those interested in railroads, railroad history, the history of technology, and model railroading. The book is 420 pages long and contains 732 drawings, photographs, and illustrations.

Coal Cars: The First Three Hundred Years is being published by the University of Scranton Press
Coal Cars: The First Three Hundred Years Qty: Price: $69.95

HARD COAL and COAL CARS
Hauling Anthracite on the New York Ontario & Western Railway

by Martin Robert Karig III

In Hard Coal and Coal Cars Bob Karig tells the story of the coal hauling enterprise of the legendary New York Ontario and Western Railway - the O & W. The story begins with an overview of the development of the anthracite mining industry in Pennsylvania. Increase in the demand for coal led to the development of nine, class one railroads that depended on coal hauling for a significant portion of their revenue. Karig then describes how and why the O&W initially entered the anthracite market and how its business evolved and developed. This background sets the stage for the author's comprehensive discussion of the history of coal cars. The detailed presentation includes not only the history of the cars themselves but also the related technology and appliances. This intensively researched and well-documented book contains a complete illustrated history of O&W coal cars and concludes with a comprehensive coal car identification section. This book is not just for those interested in the New York, Ontario & Western Railway, but for anyone interested in the history of coal cars the important roll the railroads played in the history of Pennsylvania's rich anthracite coal fields.
Hard Cover, Color dust jacket, 81/2 X 11 verticle format, 222 pages, over 200 black & white photos on glossy paper stock. Limited to 1,000 hard cover. $49.95 plus $6.50 P&H
For a limited time only all copies of the book sold through the Old & Weary Car Shop will be signed by the author.

Hard Coal and Coal Cars Qty: Price: $49.95

See reader comments at the bottom of this page!

SPECIAL PRINT OFFER
Note: The match line shown in the scanned image is not present on the print.


Ontario and Western Chapter Member and noted artist Carl Ohlson was commissioned
by Bob Karig to paint this scene from a photograph. Bob then used the art for his new
book's cover. Carl Ohlson is offering his work in a limited run signed and numbered
print. The print measures 11.25 X 14.25 and is produced on a fine quality paper stock.
The price including postage is $24.95
Prints ordered throught this offer will be shipped directly from Carl Ohlson. Please allow approx. two weeks for delivery.

Ohlson's Hard Coal Print Qty: Price: $24.95

Hard Coal and Coal Cars
makes it's bebut at Springfield MA
January 28th 2006
Al Seebach (L) and Bob Karig

I am not surprised by the response to Bob's book thus far. I knew as it was being written it was going to be a hit. See what these folks have to say about it...

Where do I start? The cover, it is from a wonderful watercolor painting by noted artist Carl Ohlson. This alone makes the book irresistible. The title is also great because it is a subject that goes beyond one railroad. It is the subtitle that mentions the NYO&W. The book is absolutely wonderful. In Bob Karig's preface, he says that his goal was to have the reader say "Wow, I didn't know that" and he certainly does. The beginning of the book is a detailed history of the coal industry and it's relationship to the O&W. The photos and illustrations are not only wonderful to look at but also very informative. The section that deals with the actual cars is not just for hoppers. There is information that applies to all freight cars. There are sections on construction, brakes, couplers, lift bars and trucks. I have never seen so much useful information in one place before. Bob has done a great job in his writing, selection of photos and illustrations and in his overall organization of the book. If you have interests in the Anthracite business, railroad coal cars and / or the New York Ontario & Western Railway, YOU NEED THIS BOOK!
Blake D. Tatar
Just finished Bob Karig’s "Hard Coal and Coal Cars" book and have to tell you, it’s one of the best books on freight cars I have read – and there have been many! Beyond the obvious O&W interest (where DID he come up with all that information?) the chapters covering the development of couplers, air brakes, safety appliances and lettering requirements should be mandatory reading for students of railroad equipment on any road.

Bob’s writing style manages to take what could be a dry and lifeless subject and make it easy and interesting to read and follow. The publication quality and photo reproduction is top notch, particularly considering the quality (or lack thereof!) of some of the originals. As always, Carl’s cover artwork deserves praise as well.

Hats off to Bob on this effort – I can’t for his next book!

Bill Schneider

My copy of Bob Karig's new book "Hard Coal and Coal Cars," the history of hauling Anthracite coal on the O&W, arrived today from the Old and Weary Car Shop. I've only had time to skim through the book for a couple of hours tonight, but frankly I can already tell that it is a masterpiece. Our Society is truly fortunate that gifted modelers, writers, and researchers like Bob and others have turned their talents to the benefit of our favorite fallen-flag railroad. Other RR and similar historical groups can only look on the amount and quality of the scholarship that these OWRHS members have produced with mounting envy. Bob builds his story of the O&W's coal-carrying enterprise literally from the ground up, so the early chapters of his book are indispensable for any railroad buff interested in the history of the rail coal transportation business, not just the Old Woman. But for us dedicated NYO&W Railway fans, the later chapters devoted to a systematic documentation of the O&W's all-time coal car roster, from the predecessor New York & Oswego Midland Railroad of the 1870s right up to the 1957 abandonment of the O&W, are alone worth many times the price of the whole book.

Bob's extensive research, illustrated by the amazing drawings and photos found by Bob and those contributors (including the OWRHS Archives and OWRHS member Walter Kierzkowski) who opened their collections to him to accompany his work, is something simply not to be missed.

From the fine cover-art by Carl Ohlson (I bought a signed print!), right through to Bob's extensive endnotes and bibliography, the overall result is nothing less than astounding.

Ron Stanulevich

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