I have recently purchased a couple of Car Builders Cyclopedias (1946 & 1953). I was wondering how often did these come out?

On Ebay, there seems to be plenty of 1943, 49-51, 1953 & 1957. 

Are there any issues that stand out as a must have for a 1952 C&O modeler? 

Thanks

Dave

Dave,

I model late spring 1955.   I have a collection of the Car Builders’ Cyclopedias and find each valuable for data and photos they contain. 

You asked, “how often did these come out”?    Photo of dates to 1953.   As for any issues that stand out.  In my opinion, they all do; however, the ones around your chosen modeling period will be the most used.

Lester Breuer

To my mind the great value in the "Cyc's" as they are often called, is the parts drawings, not the car plans. This is the rosetta stone that connects the names of vendor supplied equipment listed on diagrams and rosters with photos and drawings of what the part actually looked like. Since a railroad set in 1952 would have cars running that were built any time after WWI or slightly before, and since the equipment was often described in greatest detail when it was first introduced, all the editions have value. Luckily, those published in 1925 and before are now available in the web, and Eric Hansmann has put together a nice page with links to them: http://designbuildop.hansmanns.org/car-builders-cyclopedias/

Of the remainder, years ago Kalmbach Publishing did a reprint of the 1940 Cyc, which should be somewhat less expensive than the originals, although, since you bought a copy of the '43, it won't be much different. The thing with the Cyc's is much material repeats in several editions; maybe only 15-20% is new material.

Dennis Storzek