I would be curious to hear anyone's recommendations or candid evaluations for books that cover Great Northern passenger cars, particularly the lightweight era. I am interested in seeing a variety of styles of car including head end cars and I am interested in seeing different paint schemes. I am not too hung up on color photos vs. B/W photos because I know what GN's colors were. Thanks, Adam
If you can find one I'd recommed THE OFFICIAL PULLMAN STANDARD LIBRARY VOL.3 GN.NP. SP&S by Randall and Ross printed in 1987 There was a whole series done on on passenger cars of all the major railroads.
I second the recommendation of big old articulated GN.2-8-8-0. I have the Santa Fe book and it seems completely complete for Pullman-built lightweights. (I don't know offhand how many Budd, ACF and other brands GN may have had. The answer to THAT question would be Car Names, Numbers and Consists ed. by Robert J. Wayner. 1972, Wayner Publications, New York. 249p. "This book is a record of the streamlined and lightweight passenger-train cars built and operated in the United States." Organized railroad by railroad, listing car numbers and specifications as they were built and the consist where cars were built for use in a specific train. Limitation: does not cover heavyweight cars operated at the same time and in the same trains as the streamlined cars. With emphasis on car building and acquisition, does not cover much of changes in usage and consist of cars after the original delivery.
There is a book by Charles Rudiesel "Burlington Northern Passenger Cars" that has photos of both sides of most of the GN passenger cars. There are floor plans and interior photos too. The photos are B&W . The book is out of print but maybe a copy could be found on the net.