Below are some recommended books that cover the topics discussed on our website.   Most of these books, I personally
own and include a short description and review.  Others, I include as potentially interesting reading and are on my own list of
possibly future purchases.   All books that are shown here can be purchased through Amazon by clicking on the links
provided below.

The below books are seperated by topic, such as
RAILROADS & LOGGING, MINING & GHOST TOWNS, FIRE LOOK OUTS and TOYOTA 4x4 related material.
RAILROADS & LOGGING HISTORY (PACIFIC NORTHWEST)
Railroad Atlas
Pacific Northwest

This book was my initial primary source for
locating abandoned railroads in the Pacific
Northwest.

The book contains maps of most railroads in
the states of  Oregon, Washington and Alaska.

The maps are not super detailed, but do
include most railroad stations and cities,
which help to locate the railroads on other
maps.

Most logging RRs are not included, but some
are.   I highly recommend this book for
anyone who wants to explore both
abandoned and active railroads in this area
and is just getting started.
Oregon-American Lumber Co.
Ain't No More

This book is exclusively about the
Oregon-American Lumber Company, which
was based out of Vernonia, Oregon and built
many miles of logging railroads into the
Oregon Coast Range.   Some of which can
be explored today.  This operation lasted into
the late 1950s making it one of the last
logging railroads in Oregon.

The book is excellent with many photos and
incrediable maps, which have made helped
tremendously in our explorations of this
operation.

Here's our website on the
Oregon-American Lumber Co.
Southern Pacific in Oregon

The majority of major railroads and short line
railroads in Western Oregon were once owned
by the Southern Pacific, so this book covers a
huge percentage of railroads in Oregon in
high detail.  Each branch line is covered,
with numerous historical photos.

The maps are amazing, especially of the
major railroad yards, where they are highly
detailed. Each major station is marked on the
maps.

This book has been an invaluable resource
for me and I've referred to it so many times,
that my copy is nearly worn out.

HIGHLY RECOMMEND for Southern Pacific
fans and Oregon Railroad fans.
Spokane, Portland & Seattle Ry

The SP&S once controlled most of the other
railroads in Oregon, not controlled by the
Southern Pacific, as well as railroads in
Washington.

This book is huge and contains  tons of
pictures, excellent maps and covers each line
that fell under the SP&S network.

The book generally covers the SP&S
operation from the earliest days until it was
merged into the Burlington Northern
in the 1970s.

Some early Burlington Northern photos and
information are included as well.
Logging to the Salt Chuck

This book covers the great logging railroads
of Mason County, Washington.

Specificly what is today owned and operated
by the Simpson Timber Company, but was
once operated by the vast
Penisular Railway.

The book covers 100 years of logging
railroading from 1889-1989 and includes
numerous photos and excellent maps of this
operation.

I've used it extensively when I explored this
operation.

Here's my website on some of the
logging railroads this book covers.
Steam Towards the Sunset

This book covers the logging railroads of
Lincoln County, Oregon.

This book was produced by the Lincoln
County Historical Society and contains
numerous photosgraphs and some maps.

It's an excellent book covering the mid
Oregon Coast Range logging railroads.

The book even includes some photos of
remains in the area when the book was first
published in the area in 1982.
The Deschutes River
Railroad War

This book covers the building of the two
mainlines that once ran down the Oregon
Deschutes River between the Columbia River
and Bend, Oregon.

The construction of these railroads in the
early 1900s caused one of the last great
railroad wars.

This book is full of old photos
MINING, GHOST TOWNS & OTHER NORTHWEST HISTORY
In Search of Steam Donkey

This is a very unique book that covers
Logging Steam Donkeys, but not just any
Steam Donkeys...those that are known to still
exist in the state of Oregon

The book covers dozens of donkeys, including
ones that are restored, abandoned and left
behind in the woods and recently discovered.

The book also covers donkeys in detail.

A must for any Oregon Logging History buff.
Oregon
Then and Now

This is a fascinating coffee table style book
that covers many sites around Oregon.

The authors found numerous scenic photos
taken by a single photographer in the early
1900s and were later reshot using modern
photography using as close the same lighting
and placement as the original photo.

Very interesting book and covers all types of
sites, including scenic, historical,  and city
scapes.
Discovering Washington's
Mines - Volume 1

This book and the two volumes that followed
are the books I've ever seen regarding mines
in the state of Washington.

Written by Northwest Underground
Explorations, the book is specificly geared
toward modern day explorers of old
abandoned mines.

The book covers a specific area of the
Washington Cascade Mountains, in this case,
the West Central Cascades.

The book includes maps, photos and specific
directions and information about mines that
people can explore.
Discovering Washington's
Mines - Volume 3

This book and the two volumes that followed
are the books I've ever seen regarding mines
in the state of Washington.

Written by Northwest Underground
Explorations, the book is specifically geared
toward modern day explorers of old
abandoned mines.

The book covers a specific area of the
Washington Cascade Mountains, in this case,
the Northern Cascades Mountains.

The book includes maps, photos and specific
directions and information about mines that
people can explore.
Discovering Washington's
Mines - Volume 2

This book and the two volumes that followed
are the books I've ever seen regarding mines
in the state of Washington.

Written by Northwest Underground
Explorations, the book is specifically geared
toward modern day explorers of old
abandoned mines.

The book covers a specific area of the
Washington Cascade Mountains, in this case,
the East Central Cascade Mountains.

The book includes maps, photos and specific
directions and information about mines that
people can explore.
Book

Appears

to be

Out of

Print
Pacific Railway & Navigation
(Punk Rotten & Nasty)

This book is all about the construction of the
Pacific Railway & Navigation Railroad
between Tillamook and Portland, Oregon.

This railroad would later be called the
Southern Pacific Tillamook Branch and
today is known as the Port of Tillamook
Railroad.

The book exclusively covers the construction
of this railroad in the early 20th century and
contains tons of photos.
Logging Railroads of
Weyerhaeuser
Vail-McDonald Operation

This newer book extensively covers one of
Weyerhaeuser's major operations in Western
central, Washington state.

The book contains numerous photographs,
maps and ton of information and
concentrates almost exclusively on this one
Weyerhaesuer operation.
Books by local Railroad Author D. C. Jesse Burkhardt.

D. C. Jesse Burkhardt is a railroad historian, rail fan and author based out of Oregon and has written several books on local railroading over the years.  I've
had the pleasure to meet him and he is still very active in documenting modern railroading in the Pacific Northwest.   These are some of this books that are
currently in print.   Be sure visit his website, www.rollingdreamspress.com/
FIRE LOOKOUTS of the PACIFIC NORTHWEST
TOYOTA 4x4s and OFF ROADING
Fire Lookouts of the Northwest

I highly recommend this book for any fire
lookout buff and especially for anyone
wanting to know and to search out lookouts in
Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana.

The book contains a listing for every single
fire lookout that ever existed in those states,
plus basic details about the lookout and if it
still exists.

The book also contains numerous stories from
lookout watchmen and gives the reader a true
feel about what life was like on the mountain
tops.

I constantly use it as a reference when
exploring lookouts on our trips.
Toyota Truck & Land Cruiser
Owner's Bible

I purchased this book back in 2001, shortly
after I purchased my first Toyota truck.  It was
a neat first source of information for me.  A
little outdated by today's standards, but a
good book for a beginner.

Mostly covers Toyota mini-trucks, early
Tacomas and early Land Cruisers.
Toyota Land Cruiser
1988-1997

I have just ordered this book as it looks
interesting, so I can't give a review of it yet,
but I'll post it here in case anyone is
interested in trying out a copy themselves.
Toyota Land Cruiser
1956-1997

This is the original volume of the before
mentioned book cover earlier years of the
Toyota Land Cruiser