The Old "Up and Down" Catskill Mountain Branch of the NewYork Central. by John M. Ham & Robert K. Bucenec (Hunter, New York, Stony Clove & Catskill Mountain Press, 2003) The second book by these authors devoted to the U&D. Superly illustrated, this hard-cover book primarily focuses on the New York Central's operations after its absorption of the U&D in 1932. Illustrated with many fabulous unpublished photos (including some color shots) that capture the grandeur of the U&D into the diesel age.

Light Rail and Short Ties Through the Notch: The Stony Clove & Catskill Mountain Railroad and Her Steam Legacy by John M. Ham & Robert K. Bucenec (Hunter, New York, Stony Clove & Catskill Mountain Press, 2002) A photo essay of the U&D's Mountain Top branch. John Ham has spent a lifetime living, working and collecting railroad photos on the Mountain Top and his decades of devotion to the U&D are apparent in this opus.

The Ulster and Delaware: Railroad Through the Catskills by Gerald M. Best (San Marino, California: Golden West Books, 1972) The standard work on the U&D. Out of print, but used copies come along frequently.

Rip Van Winkle Railroads by William F. Helmer (Berkeley, California, Howell-North, 1970)
Concentrating on the narrow-gauge Canajoharie & Catskill, Catskill Mountain, Otis Elevating, and Catskill & Tannersville. Also out of print, but frequently available used.

The Damn Nuisance. Story of the Delaware and Northern Railway 1905 to 1942 by Harry D. Archer (Privately published history of the Delaware & Northern. Hard to find and expensive when you do.

The Delaware & Northern and the Towns It Served by Gertrude Fitch Horton (Fleischmann's, NY, Purple Mountain Press, 1989). Well described by its title; much anecdotal and pictorial information about the villages on the D&N, along the East Branch of the Delaware, some of which are now under the Pepacton Reservoir.

O. & W. The long life and slow death of the New York, Ontario & Western Ry. by William F. Helmer (Berkeley, California, Howell-North, 1959)

To the Mountains by Rail by Manville B. Wakefield (Grahamsville, Wakefair Press, 1970); republished (Fleischmann's, NY, Purple Mountain Press, 1989). Equal parts railroad - mostly O&W - and resort hotel history of the lower Catskills, mostly Sullivan County.

The New York, Ontario & Western Railway and the Dairy Industry in Central New York State: Milk Cans, Mixed Trains, and Motor Cars by Robert E. Mohowski (Laurys Station, PA, Garrigues House Publishers,1995)

Days along the Buckwheat & Dandelion : the Unadilla Valley Railway by Fred Pugh (Brookfield, NY, Worden Press,1997). Not quite strictly our region, but our bobber caboose survived to reach us because it was sold by the O&W to the Unadilla Valley, and Fred Pugh is a really nice guy.

RELATED CATSKILL INSTITUTIONS

The Catskill Forest: A History by Michael Kudish, PhD. (Fleischmanns, NY, Purple Mountain Press, 2000). Professor of Forestry at Paul Smith's College and U&D member Mike Kudish has painstakingly documented the development of the Catskill Forest through a lifetime of scientific research that took himthrough the High Peaks, mountain bogs, the valleys and stone walls of the Catskills. Mike's documentation of the role of man, his railroads and forest industries in the Catskills makes for fascinating reading; the book is a vital reference work for any lover of Catskill railroading.

The Wood Chemical Industry in the Delaware Valley by Frank David Myers III (Middletown, NY, Prior King Press, 1986). A well-illustrated history of this forgotten Catskill industry, with special focus on Corbett & Stuart's operations along the Delaware & Northern.

Beneath Pepacton Waters by Alice H. Jacobson (Andes, NY, Pepacton Press, 1988). A well-written and illustrated overview of the towns that now lie buried beneath New York City's Pepacton Reservoir.

The Catskill Mountain House: America's Grandest Hotel by Roland Van Zandt (Hensonville, NY, Black Dome Press). Captures the birth, glory, and fiery death of America's premier mountain resort. Best known for inspiring the Hudson River School of painting, for 140 years the Catskill Mountain House stood on a rock shelf above the Hudson Valley and facing the River.