Dear Modelers and Railfans, we got a call today from Monte Vista Publishing. They told us their new book, "Britsh Columbia Railway to BC Rail" (Volume One June 1984 thru 1987), written by Jeff Ainsworth and Brian Elchlepp, is shipping to us next week!

Many of you may remember John Garden's great coffee table book "BC Rail" which is now out of print. Well this book is going to be of similar magnitude. It will be a must have for all British Columbia Railway fans.

The hardcover book will be Britsh Columbia Railway to BC Rail... has been totally rebuilt using 9 x12 Landscape format as a basis. The first volume of Britsh Columbia Railway to BC Rail should go to press in September 2009 and be ready October 2009. This first volume by Brian A. Elchlepp and Jeff Ainsworth will cover June 1984 to the end of 1987 in chronological order.

This book is all color and is quite a departure for Monte Vista Publishing, Rather than having each engine's statistics shown at the top of each page, they including the build information in a roster type format along with descriptions of each class . Unlike most Monte Vista Publishing books where every photo is full page in this case 11.5" wide by 7.5" tall, we have saved this size for action type shots only, Roster shots showing engines at rest in yard or at engine facilities do not require this huge dedicated space. There is at least one roster type photo for every class presented in the book (usually there are at least two different angles)

These roster photos (in full color also) are 5.5" wide by 3.75" tall - usually. Additionally, there are several pages of text that Brian has put together providing a brief history of BC Rail and its predecessors - PGE (Pacific Great Eastern) and BCR (British Columbia Railway) as well as his own personal "discovery" of this unique railway. In addition to detailed captions, that provide a look into BC operations with details about a particular engine, consist, the train, or the area.

Also included will be examples of daily "Line-ups". These provide the train crews with information on the trains operating on a particular day, their direction and schedules. Timetables for various sub divisions will be shown also, however, we are working on a better way to present this information, rather than just scanning a timetable and placing it in the book.

PS: If you click on the book below (SKU # 1016-50001) you will see additional sneak preview pictures from the book.

You will also see mention at the bottom of the page of a second book, Monte Vista Publishing will in late 2010 release "Britsh Columbia Railway to BC Rail (Volume two 1988 to 1991)". We also taking reservations now below.

And finally below that you will see their third Volume of their British Columbia Railway books, whose working title is "British Columbia Railway (1972 to 1984) BC Locomotive Power - Alco & MLW". And we will accept pre-orders now as well. It should be out in 2011.