Book excerpt: Note: this is volume 1 of a 2 volume set. You must purchase both books to have a complete copy of this book. In 1905, the American Railway Master mechanics Association adopted a resolution, authorizing the creation of ¿...an illustrated dictionary of each and every part used in the building of locomotives.¿ The result, edited by famed technical writer George Fowler and published by the railroad gazette, was nearly 700 pages long, and richly illustrated with photographs, etchings, and blueprints. The Locomotive Dictionary was a triumph, and became one of the definitive engineering references for the railroad industry during the steam age. This high-quality reprint of a first edition of this wonderful book, represents the first time in decades that it has been available to the public. Softbound in two volumes, it is a wonderful reference that no steam fan or model railroader should be without.