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Just arrived from Indiana University Press: Little Trains to Faraway Places: Adventures on the World's Narrow-Gauge Railways. From the publisher: "Narrow-gauge railroading conjures images of marginal track, wooden coaches, and antique steam locomotives. Yet consider the extraordinarily glamorous and comfortable South African Blue Train and Australia's Queenslander as well as the electrified network of meter-gauge mountain railways in Switzerland that run with a precision similar to that of the country’s famed timepieces. Often used to penetrate the most challenging and breathtaking terrain that larger trains are unable to reach, narrow-gauge railways offer even the most seasoned of travelers an experience to remember. Karl Zimmermann, railroad author and accomplished photographer, chronicles his journeys aboard these rarest of trains. Individual chapters weave history and travelogue, complemented by more than 100 color illustrations. The result is a spirited tribute to the world's most charismatic railways."
"Karl Zimmermann’s observations will surely bring back memories to many readers, and his richly developed commentary on cultural and historical details will provide an exciting introduction for those who have never traveled to some of the faraway places described." —Parker Lamb, author of Evolution of the American Diesel Locomotive
A few years ago Karl Zimmermann "went to extremes" in Great Britain, traveling by train to the most distant four compass points on the island accessible by rail, and his chronicle of that journey appears as the "Web exclusive" story attached to the May issue of Trains magazine. Read the article here.
In December of 1957, when Karl Zimmermann was 14, he traveled by Pullman from New York City to Roanoke, Va., to photograph America's last great steam railroad, the Norfolk & Western. With him was Roger Cook, his friend and neighbor. Still close friends more than fifty years later and once again neighbors, Cook and Zimmermann recount that once-in-lifetime experience in the spring issue of Classic Trains.