A Railroad Atlas of the United States in 1946: Volume 5: Iowa and Minnesota

Very pleased with item and service .

This latest book does not disappoint. Even though I'm not particularly interested in the areas these 5 books cover (I'm a Santa Fe fan in particular with Texas as my favorite area) having a series of books that represent a snapshot in time of the railroads in America still makes an excellent reference source. I hope Mr. Carpenter's age and health allows him to complete this series as I plan to buy all he comes out with.

This is the fifth in this series of railroad atlas books. This book contains maps covering Iowa and Minnesota. It continues the great detailed maps of the railroads in 1946. There is only one small issue - with the book. The maps that are on pages 99 and 100 are "reversed".

I'm hooked for the whole series, but I found this volume slimmer with fewer detailed drawings, although this is the result of moving into areas with less complicated track patterns. I also understand that dividing the country into volumes was always going to be problematic, but I was disappointed in paying more for less.*EDIT* I just received a phone call from Mr. Carpenter, which surprised and pleased me to no end, who explained that adding the Dakotas or Missouri would have made an enormous volume.I should add for those not familiar with this series, Mr Carpenter uses a variety of sources to draw beautiful color detailed maps which include not only lines, but ownership, trackage rights , towers, yards, telegraph call signs. I use them as reference works, but it it is easy to follow a line just to see where it went. You aren't going to find anything as comprehensive as this. Minnesota and Iowa rail fans and historians will enjoy and use Volume 5; they will probably buy 4 and subsequent volumes to complete the connections.And I got a tip on a possible Vol 6. Mr Carpenter thinks he will skip to another part of the country, an area with some dense trackage of particular interest to me, and I can't wait!

Oh Boy! I am an avid railroad fan, and these maps are the real thing.A must have for any railroad buff. you place these on the top shelf and take down to impress the rest.