Brass Train Books

There are several books that cover the Brassmodel railroad manufacturers in Japan starting as
Train and associated brass equipment. Most areearly as 1928. O gauge was the main gauge
of the paperback variety. In this discussion we willmanufactured until after the war. Surprisingly, the
review both hardback and paperback brass modelbrass locomotive production has shifted to Korea.
train books. There are numerous model trainTenshodo still produces brass engines but they
books available however, brass model train booksare very expensive; some selling as high as
are somewhat limited.$5,000.00 each.
The brass model train books that I am mostAn Important American Model Train Collection
familiar with will be reviewed in the followingIncluding Lionel, Scale Brass and LGB Models,
tutorial.Vintage Posters & Photographs. [Lehmann
Many catalogs of brass trains have been publishedGross Bahn. Marklin. Magnus. MTH. Sunnyside.
by Pacific Fast Mail (PFM), Balboa, and others.Weawer Models. Key Imports. Winston Link..]. 20
These catalogs ran for several years with the12/2006. This book is also out of print and I had
latest colored pictures of those engines beingto order it from the United Kingdom. This
imported into the United States. This form ofparticular paperback is an auction catalog from
advertisement has ceased and the catalogs haveChristie's of New York. It is difficult to find
become collector items. They are useful inhowever, the color photographs of the various
determining what has been manufactured in thebrass trains are significant. The auction starting
past.price is over priced in my opinion. The collectors
In 1976 "Lenahan's Locomotive Lexicon" by Jamesof these mint trains may think differently.
Lenahan was published which covered HO scaleThe most important book on brass trains is "The
brass locomotives. The first addition was publishedBrass Train Guide Book" by Dan Glasure. This
in 1974 in which only 1000 copies were made.book was just released and the copyright is 2007.
This is a limited book with several additions onAs stated in the front of the book "The Most
brass locomotives produced up until 1976. It hasComprehensive Collection of Brass Model Train
several brass engines from various collectionsData Available". This is a fact. The illustrations of
illustrated in the paperback. All pictures are blacksteam and diesel engines are colored with the
& white. This book can help in determiningcorrect color scheme when painted. There is a
paint schemes for several locomotives.section on brass equipment such as passenger
The third edition of "The Brown Book of Brasscars, freight cars, bridges, towers, etc. No one
Locomotives" was published in 1992 by Johnhas ever collected and published such a
Glaab. The 1st and 2nd edition of the Brown Bookcomprehensive book on brass locomotives. This is
were published in 1980 & 1982 by R. A.an ongoing project. The author is trying to find
Brown. This is a comprehensive paperback withevery type of scale brass locomotive, cars,
both black & white pictures and modelpassenger equipment, structures, bridges, etc.
production with manufacturers listed. It includesimported into the United States and Canada
the Whyte Wheel Arrangement Classification forincluding the importer and Manufacturer.
all types of steam locomotives. It is an excellentInclude with the hardbound book is a Price &
book.Data Guide Volume I. This a 520 page paperback
The Art of Brass in Model Railroading: Volume Iof the most complete listing of imported brass
1982 & Volume II 1986, by Presse Eisenbahn.models and the associated coverage of the
After the Second World War Japan emergedmanufacture, number manufactured, importer,
both as a market for and, later, as an exporterdescription, catalog #, BG-SKU#, railroad/owner,
of brass model trains. Kumata & Companyetc. There are a series of notes for each lot in
Limited, the subject of these volumes, was onemost cases.
of these enterprising manufacturers, with theirIn reviewing the hardbound book I have found
various model trains numbering over a thousand.engines that I did not know had been
This details the rare pieces produced by K.M.T.manufactured. The paint schemes used on various
together with many other outstanding brass railengines and roads is very important for now I
models. I have both volumes and it is extensivecan have several of my brass engines painted
however, there are several brass models missing.correctly. This set of books is helping me with our
The copyright was in 1982. It is out of print and IBrass Locomotive Works business.
had to order it from the United Kingdom as usedThis hobby is truly an art form because of the
books.intricate craftsmanship that goes into building a
It should be noted that there were over 30brass model.