CRO BOOK / DVD REVIEWS
(Edited by Michael Berry)
When time allows as CRO Production Assistant, I am a voracious collector of railway books. My "Off The Shelf" column will review books and DVDs that I feel would be to the appeal of our CRO readers. I invite you to contact me directly with questions, and with any new publications or DVD’s that would be of interest to our CRO readers for “Off the Shelf”. Contact: Michael Berry mberry7@videotron.ca
“Montreal Streetcars Volume 4: Work & Service Equipment”.
By J.R. Thomas Grumley
J.R. Thomas Grumley’s “Montreal Streetcars Volume 4: Work & Service Equipment” is a fascinating look at the non-revenue equipment of the Montreal Tramways Company. Among some of the more interesting pieces of rolling stocks featured are‘stores cars’ (which were used to transport maintenance equipment), band cars, farebox cars, prison cars and for that final streetcar ride, funeral cars! The funeral cars only carried corpses and did not also carry mourners. Another fascinating car featured is a pay car which was used from 1920 until 1948 when employees began to be paid by cheque. As Montreal endures through very intense winter, their are many photos of the snow fighting equipment used by the MTC, including a single truck rotary plow! The photos are mostly black and white but about a good 20% are in colour. If you have any interest in Canadian streetcars, Montreal streetcars specifically, then this book is a valuable addition to your collection.
COMING NEXT MONTH:
Michael will review George Bibel’s “Train Wreck - The Forensics of Rail Disasters”.
© CRO January 2014