michaelckelly.net | Rails Around Train guy – Railfan, Author, podcaster

Throwback Thursday – KCS style

Posted on October 8, 2015 by admin

The northbound KCS Southern Belle, train #2 calls on Grandview in August 1969, led by E8 #27. When inaugurated in 1940, the Southern Belle operated with sleepers, a diner-lounge and chair cars, and made the KC-New Orleans trek in just over 21 hours. By 1969, its last year of operation, the Belle is down to a baggage, two coaches and an observation-diner, which brings up the rear as #2 heads north for Kansas City. (Both – Allen Maty)

The above is an excerpt from Rails Around Missouri, Chapter 4, page 88. The first hard cover production run of this book in 2013 sold out in 12 months, but a second print run is currently underway, and will be available by Thanksgiving 2015. You can order your copy today with the link below, and your copy will come signed by the author. Our price is $54.95 plus $8 shipping.

Dealer and postal mail orders are also available. Contact the publisher directly for more info: donald@sekan.com

Frisco Friday from Rails Around Missouri

Posted on September 18, 2015 by admin

As we re-launch the production of Rails Around Missouri with a reprint of the original book, below is an excerpt from Chapter 7 – Central Missouri, and a look at the Frisco’s Salem branch.

At Cuba, milepost 86, a branch was built to the lead mining areas to the south of the mainline. Known as the Salem branch, this branch split at Lead Jct., with one line going to Buick, and another to Salem. A pair of Frisco GP38s lead a Salem branch train over the Meramec River near Steelville on October 11, 1980. (Terry Norton, photo; Chris Guss collection)

Your copy of this 2nd Edition is available with the link below, and will come signed by the author. Delivery will be in time for Christmas 2015.

Rails Around Missouri to be reprinted!!

Posted on September 4, 2015 by admin

RAILS AROUND MISSOURI IS HEADED BACK TO PRINT IN HARD COVER! In an agreement with Britegraphix of Ft Scott, Kansas, a second hard-cover run of Rails Around Missouri will be available by Thanksgiving 2015! At the publisher’s request, the book will feature a new cover, but will have the exact same look, feel, and content of the 2013 production run. Retailing for $59.95, the book contains over 500 all-color photos from every part of the state, featuring lines and locations that no longer exist. If you missed out in 2013, don’t miss out now! Books should begin shipping around Thanksgiving 2015, just in time for Christmas.

The book can be ordered in several ways:

1- using the link below, your copy will come signed by the author

2- either by phone or postal mail from the publisher: Britegraphix, PO Box 631, Ft Scott, KS 66701, phone 620 664-7014

3- inquire at your local hobby shop. Many in Missouri carried the book in 2013.

4- at train shows attended by SEK Hobbies. If the show is in KC or STL, the author may be on hand to sign copies. Stay tuned here for those dates.

As FYI – a true sequel is being considered. If you have pre-1980 material, especially pre-Amtrak passenger action, please contact me!

atsf101@hotmail.com

Second Anniversary – will there be a reprint?

Posted on May 12, 2015 by admin

This week marks the second anniversary of the release of Rails Around Missouri, and looking back, the title was available with 2 different covers. I am asked a lot about printing more as well as a sequel. A reprint is still being considered, and your feedback is critical in that decision. If you want a reprint so you can obtain a copy, please like the book’s Facebook page and share it on your timeline. Right now the ‘like’ count is above 400, and it needs to be north of 700 to warrant a reprint. The reprint would feature the Frisco (red) cover seen above. If you have a KCS (yellow), congrats!

Also, a true sequel is being considered, and would either cover the pre-1971 era, or cover the 1990s. If you are interested in contributing to that, let me know: author@michaelckelly.net

possible Rails Around Missouri reprint!

Posted on March 25, 2015 by admin

Over the last year, I’ve received a lot of inquiries about the availability of the original, hard cover Rails Around Missouri, where one can find a copy, will it be reprinted, claims that a lot of folks still want a copy. After the most recent round of these calls, I’ve decided to explore a reprint of the original hard cover book. It would be $45 retail, and would be the Frisco cover only. (If you have a KCS cover, keep it under guard!) If you are interested in obtaining a copy of this popular book in hard cover, please visit the Rails Around Missouri Facebook page, then Like and Share it. This will give me a good gauge of how many copies to print. Minimum is 1000 copies.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rails-Around-Missouri/253699431313277?pnref=story

If the hard cover book is reprinted, the 2-volume soft cover currently available on amazon.com will be discontinued. Check back for updates!