There is a lot of Northwestern Pacific information in this book in addition to the many photographs. Most of the book contains Black-and-White photographs, extensive text and captions. There are some aerial photographs, photographs of the many NWP wrecks from both the steam and diesel eras, a corporate chart, tables of statistics and much more. Color photographs are from more recent times including the later Southern Pacific ownership era and divestiture era.
From the beginning 'boom years' of Northern California's lumber traffic to the demise of the Redwood Empire's "Lifeline", this is the 50-year story of the Northwestern Pacific Railroad from 1951 to 2001.
The 416-page book documents the challenges and rewards of the Southern Pacific Railroad's unique subsidiary, including excerpts from former NWPRR employees 'who were there.'
• 307 photographs with 300 previously unpublished
• 103 color photographs and 83 full-page images
• 167 oral history excerpts from NWPRR employees
• 54 tables and charts documenting car-loadings, motive power, and projects
Contents:
Tables, Acknowledgements, Introduction, Foreword, pp. 6-11;
Part 1: Wooden Axle Railroad
North Coast Early Railroad Development, pp. 12-23;
A Five-County Right-of-Way, pp. 24-31;
Part 2: Investments
New Leadership, pp. 32-89;
Dieselization, pp. 90-115;
Business Boom and Disasters, pp. 116-133;
Plans and Upgrades, pp. 134-179;
Part 3: Challenges
A Formidable Adversary (the Weather/Flooding), pp. 180-215;
Passenger Train Operations, pp. 216-269;
New Directions, pp. 270-319;
A Slow Slide, pp. 320-355;
Part 4: Divestiture
A New Enterprise, pp. 356-375;
A Public Intervention, pp. 376-393;
Afterword, pg. 394;
About the Author and the NWPRR Historical Society, pp. 395-396;
Appendix, pp. 397-399;
Bibliography, pp. 400-407;
Index, pp. 408-415;
A color picture of a stainless steel observation car on the REDWOOD, pg. 416.
The author is a past president of the NWPRR Historical Society and a transportation professional.
Northwestern Pacific Historical Society, hardcover, 416 pages, standard landscape book 10 x 8 in., Color and Black-and-White photographs, illustrations, charts, and maps.
