The actual latest version has copyright date of 2015, but carries stiff price of $100. There are numerous updates that have been done, and it is THE book to have, if you want to know all the intricacies of 2 7/8” & Standard Gauge. I can vouch for the amount of work that Greenberg put into this book.

Conversely, his Vol. II, covering 0 & 00 gauges, won’t have an update for at least 3 years. He is just starting work on Vol. II, and I will be meeting with him in October.

 

Thanks for the info. I haven't found the 2015 yet. Maybe it's out of print already? Any suggestions as to where they can be purchased? When you do an Amazon search the results are wacky. I checked Kalmbach and all they have is the Lionel price guide and the repair manual.

 

Do a Google search using Greenberg’s guide to Standard Gauge, and it comes up on Amazon, and at Henning’s, both for $100

 

Whoops. I spoke too soon. I have seen the 2015 version. Thanks. Is this pretty much the Standard Gauge Bible? I guess I don't mind (much ) paying for it if it's the only Standard Gauge book I'll ever need!

 

Greenberg has the only, most updated book. If you are thinking about a book by Doyle, it ain’t happening, as he never covered 2 7/8”, and Standard combined. Plus he is basically barred from printing any NEW books, after losing a Law suit to Paul V. Ambrose, from Ambrose & Bauer Auction fame.

 

Yikes! Can you elaborate on this, Jerry? I have always enjoyed Doyle's books. What happened with the law suit???

TJ

 

Okay. One more thing while we're discussing books: are the Lionel Classic and MTH/Lionel Corporate Tinplate covered anywhere? Or is that stuff so new that no one bothers writing about it? Thanks for your help.

 

Your last question is simply, the items are too new, and really don’t warrant any write ups, other than catalogs or on-line.

 

:smilie_daumenpos:

 

Doyle's Catalogs (Krause Publishing & T.C.A.)

TJ, and other interested parties, inquiring about Catalogs/Books on Model Trains. Doyle and Krause Publications were sued by Paul V. Ambrose, in Dec. 2007., for copyright infringement. Additionally the T.C.A. was also brought into the lawsuit. Paul V. Ambrose is best known for Ambrose-Bauer Auctions, and is a very knowledgeable collector. Paul Ambrose with the help of Harold Lovelock (another collector) published guides, with the assistance of Bruce C. Greenberg, that preceded the Doyle Catalogs. The bulk of Doyle's work, was taken from the research of Ambrose, and basically plagiarized the work. Below is a quick excerpt taken from CTT magazine user "Lionelsoni", with regard to the lawsuit. The bottom line to it all, is that David Doyle cannot publish anything about model trains.

David Doyle and Paul V. Ambrose Settle Lawsuit

Pittsburgh, PA, December 31, 2007.

The lawsuit filed by Paul V. Ambrose in late June against Krause Publications and David Doyle alleging that the Standard Catalog of Lionel Train Sets, 1945-1969 infringed upon the copyrights in earlier works written by Mr. Ambrose has been settled by Mr. Ambrose and Mr. Doyle. The Publisher, Krause Publications, Inc., earlier had settled with Mr. Ambrose.

Mr. Doyle has issued the following statement regarding this settlement: "In my preparation of The Standard Catalog of Lionel Train Sets, 1945-1969 and The Collector Guide to Lionel Trains, 1945-1969 I made a mistake. Portions of books previously written by Mr. Paul V. Ambrose on Lionel Post-War Toy Trains appeared in my books. Even more regrettably, Mr. Ambrose's contributions over the past decades to the hobby of collecting postwar Lionel trains was not acknowledged in my books. I have apologized to Mr. Ambrose for my actions and have assigned him the copyrights to these, and other, books of mine as part of our settlement. Mr. Ambrose has graciously accepted my apology. I would also like to apologize to the collecting community.

Other terms of the settlement were not disclosed.

 

Wow. I had no idea! Content "borrowed" without due credit, essentially.

Thanks for the info, Jerry.

TJ

 

TJ, Bottom line was”Copyright Infringement”, which bars Doyle from publishing Train related books, along with Krause Publications. So, whatever Doyle books are out there, that is all there is. Paul Ambrose had published numerous books along with Harold J. Lovelock, and sold as Greenberg’s Guides. Basically all three were the driving force of the correct books to have, for research. Looking through the Greenberg books, there are more details listed, along with known variations at the time of printing, which were verified from “Noted Collectors”.

As new information has come to light, the books (guides), have to be updated, which is going on now. With the internet, and various auction sites, there are items being sold, or auctioned, that would have never been realized years ago.

 

In reference to the original post, I forgot to mention another source for both Prewar and a separate Standard gauge author, Tom McComas & Touhy. Known as T & M books. They are out of Print, but can be purchased cheaply from Abesbooks.com and Alibris booksellers. They may show up on Amazon, but typically cost more. :smilie_daumenpos:

 

Thanks for the follow up. I saw those in my search. I will check them out.

 

Go for the Greenberg Standard Gauge book; money well-spent if you are into Standard Gauge.


John