Hello all! As you may know I have not posted much in the way of modeling because for the last year and a half I've been busy writing a book about the Milwaukee Road in Central WA. I'm getting to the end of this journey as writing comes to a close and the manuscript soon will go into editorial and content review. I hope during this time to get back into doing some heavy modeling and completing some much needed projects. For those that might be interested in following the release of my book you can log onto: The Desolate Bliss of the Milwaukee Road and join the mailing list. Additional information about the book will be distributed through the mailing list. Looking forward to posting some modeling updates!
Received my mailing list confirmation this afternoon! Now awaiting that delivery notification! Boxcab E50
Thanks for making this happen Greg!! This is my favorite section of Milwaukee Road territory!! Can't wait!!!:teeth:
Thank you everyone for your support! Hemi, at this time I do not have a MSRP simply because the book has not gone through its editing phase, i.e. I will be sending it out for content review to a few knowledgeable people. I’m going to do my very best to make sure there are no mistakes in content. I'm sure there will be some changes (it’s inevitable when you’ve got over 300 pages you’ve created and tons of paperwork/notes everywhere) which will probably change the page count a bit. The cost per a book really comes down to how many pages your printing and how many copies of the book are printed. Also, I have not received all the photos I've been promised. I'm waiting on a few folks to send me stuff, stuff I'm suppose to get sometime in May. Depending on what is used will also change the page counts. At this time it is just too early to tell. As soon as I have a better idea I’ll let you all know. As far as release date, I'm hoping to be able to start taking preorders later this summer. The goal is to have it available for shipping sometime this fall. And yes, you can have a signed copy!
As we head towards the New Year I thought I'd post an update to my book. I'm not where I was hoping I could be in terms of getting the book released by this Christmas. The good news, the manuscript is done and in the hands of a few editors. Once I get it back, which should be by Jan 2010, and the necessary corrections made the manuscript will be sent to a few knowledgeable Milw historians for their review of the content. I want to ensure my knowledge and reporting is as correct as possible in order to publish a book that I hope will become a favorite to many milw fans. I'm hoping to have a much better idea as to a date for when I can begin taking pre-orders sometime during the first quarter of 2010. I appreciate all of those who have signed up on my mailing list at my website for the book. It continues to give me a good idea as to the interest level for my book and further keeps me working diligently to get the book done. With my real job slowing down during this time of year, which is normal, I’ve gone into full swing with this project to make sure I can meet my goals. Merry Christmas to all and here’s to a wonderful New Year!
Finances and all considered, I've thinned my book "wish list" a lot this year. Only those few I must absolutely have remain. This one is a MUST have! Boxcab E50
There is a good chance I'll be at the Evergreen State Fair Grounds this Feb. during the train show. I'm hoping to bring the most up to date electronic copy of my planned out book and have it available for preview viewing on a TV screen. While it is still under editing for some grammar and such the layout is complete. I hope to have all the corrections made in the way of grammar before the show. It still must go to for a review period by some other knowledgeable milw folks for content review but I think displaying what has been achieved will be of interest for those curious about the book. I'm hoping doing this will help me gauge the interest level for the book a little better on a local level. As I’ll have a mailing list signup sheet on the table. Being that the books content is limited to a small geographical area it is making it hard to pick a printing run number at this time. But I also thought I’d post a few still shots taken from my phone’s camera. These pics were not meant to be taken in a way that the text could be viewed clearly for reading. I simply took some quick pics as I was working on it just to give a preview of its layout. Sorry my regular is not camera with me to take better pics but nevertheless I thought I'd give my favorite forum a quick preview!
Beverly-Hanford Hi there! I've just given a quick lok at your website about your book and it looks really cool! I was only wondering if there will be any section related to the Beverly-Hanford branch... I've bought almost every book available on the MILW from Amazon.com (mainly books from Stan Johnson) and he just mentioned the branch line in a few lines... Will you talk abut that bracnh line in your book? I am really interested in those tracks, mainly because I have never understood if they were built during the II WW to serve the Hanford complex or what... Anyway, if anyone here can give me some news about that branch line I will be grateful! Thank you Edoardo
Some information about the Hanford branch and its operations is covered in the book. The info will be found within the Beverly Chapter as for the most part almost all of the billing for the line was done at Beverly. Hanford originally served a small orchard/agricultural community before the government came in and took it over in 1943. So the tracks were there well before WWII. Actually if I remember correctly surveying for the line began towards the close of the construction of the mainline and was built not long after. When the government came to take it a lot of the line was reconditioned/upgraded, includling some trestles. There were a few other small stations along the line to Hanford from Beverly Jct. but they are not really discussed in the book in any great detail. I briefly mentioned some details about the line before the government took and then go into some detail about when and why the government took it and then some additional details about the clerking staff and the kinds of train moments that traveled down the line. Unfortunately my focus was mainly along the mainline and I did not go very far with the Hanford line. I also plan to show in my book a few photos of a couple trains traveling the Hanford line which might be of some interest. Thanks for checking out the site!
Thank you! Hi Greg! Thank you for the precious infos about the Hanford branch... I think I will buy your book anyway: compared to Stan Johnson's "Lines West" it looks like more "recent" about the story of the MILW in Central WA! Do you know anything about the price? I mean, not the exact price, but let's say... Something "around" the MSRP price? 30/40 USD? Do you think will it be possible to buy it online?
My book is organized so that each chapter covers a station along the line. Each chapter is then organized in chronological beginning with construction and ending with abandonment. Some chapters also have some inserted info such as derailments and special events, which may or may not fall exactly in order with the majority of the chapter. It will be available for purchase online. The book's website is The Desolate Bliss of the Milwaukee Road As for a range, I'd rather not say at this time as I don't want what I say to come back and bite me due to factors out of my control. I'll have a much better idea once I send it to the printer because by then all editing reviews will be done.
Greg- If you are in Monroe next weekend I, as well as I am sure Peter, would love to see what you ahev done. I think I might have to dig into my posket and pull out some dead presidents for this one. Stop by the UNW and say hi!
