W.W.&F. Discussion Forum
Worldwide Narrow Gauges => Massachusetts' Two Footers => Topic started by: Bill Reidy on March 26, 2012, 04:48:36 PM
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Just received a pre-publication offer in the mail for a new book -- "George Mansfield and the Billerica and Bedford Railroad" by Donald L. Ball, to be published by Aubrey Publications (www.bb-rr.com). Anyone know any details on this planned book?
Thanks,
Bill
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The Museum Store will be carrying it once it comes out, expected to be June 1.
The author is offering it at 15% off list price pre-publication. We'll be carrying it at full price.
Don't know what your offer said about the book, but here's what his email to us said:
George Mansfield and the Billerica and Bedford Railroad is a new, comprehensive book on the first two-foot gauge common carrier railroad in this country. The narrative goes into great detail on the conception of the two-foot gauge idea and the formation of the B&B using original railroad documents, newspaper and journal accounts. Moreover, it is the first book to provide an in-depth biography of George E. Mansfield, the promoter of the railroad. The reader will learn of Mansfield’s early history, the building of the B&B, Sandy River RR and the Bridgton & Saco River. He will also read of what happened to George after he left the B&SR. Through the use of over 220 images, both period and current, 24 drawings and 9 maps, the story of the B&B and George E. Mansfield is told.
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It will be interesting to see if any new images of the B&B in operation have surfaced. The same few pictures of equipment and buildings are all we've ever seen. It would be nice to see a few pictures of the trains actually running.
Richard
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I, too, will be purchasing this book. A while back I have hiked the old route, because I lived in the area for 7 years, and I was just starting to research local railroad history.
Along with the old towpaths, and the Middlesex Canal Route. A few years ago, I was in the printing occupation and I was reprinting a brochure for the
Middlesex Canal. 2 pictures in the brochure were in my neighborhood, in Wilmington.
I recently viewed a video on YouTube of the crew moving the RDC unit from Guilford's property in Billerica MA to the Friends of the B&B in Bedford.