Signature Press Authors

     Brief biographies and information about the authors of most Signature Press books can be found by links on the individual book pages. On this page they are listed alphabetically.

    The late Gerald M. Best was known in his lifetime as the dean of Western railroad historians, and is the author of our reprinted book, Pacific Coast Company, subtitled "Ships and Narrow Gauge Rails."

    Larry Brasher is an experienced historian of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe. His authoritative book, drawing on company records and his father's working experience, is entitled Santa Fe Locomotive Development, and its subtitle, "The Journey to Supreme Steam and Pioneer Diesels," well summarizes its topic.

    Jack A. Burgess is a master modeler as well as an historian, concentrating on the Yosemite Valley Railroad, and information about his modeling can be found on his website, www.yosemitevalleyrr.com. He is the author of our recent book, Trains to Yosemite.

    Robert J. Church is a partner in Signature Press and is the author of our recent book, Southern Pacific Daylight Locomotives, and of two earlier books, The 4300 4-8-2's and Snowbound Streamliner. He also coedited Railroad History in Photographs, and he is also a coauthor of the revised edition of Pacific Fruit Express.

     Patrick C. Dorin is an established railroad author, with some 15 books to his credit. He is the author of our recent book, Great Northern Lines East, which is a second edition of this title, with 70 more pages and numerous new photos.

    Edward S. Kaminski is an employee of ACF Industries, which enabled him to write their centennial history, American Car & Foundry Company, 1899-1999. His second book is a history of Magor, entitled The Magor Car Corporation, and his third book marks a return to AC&F material, with Tank Cars from American Car & Foundry, 1865-1955. His newest book is a survey of another car builder: Pullman-Standard Freight Cars, 1900-1960.

     Phillips C. Kauke is an accomplished railroad historian and photographer, with boyhood roots in the Visalia area. He is the author of our recent book, The Visalia Electric Railroad, subtitled "Southern Pacific's Orange Grove Route."

     Jeffrey J. Moreau has a lifelong interest in electric railways, particularly Pacific Electric. His extensive knowledge of electric railway history, particularly in the West, led to his co-authorship of the recent book, Central California Traction.

    David F. Myrick is a distinguished historian of Western railroads, and author of Volume 4 of Railroads of Arizona,entitled The Santa Fe Route; he is also the author of Volume 5 in the series, Santa Fe to Phoenix.

    Vernon J. Sappers was a well-known collector of historic photos, especially of streetcars, and a historian of the Key System. He wrote Key System Streetcars, subtitled ''Transit, Real Estate, and the Growth of the East Bay.''

    John R. Signor is well known as a writer about Western railroads, particularly the Southern Pacific. He is a coauthor of our book, Southern Pacific's Coast Line Pictorial, and also authored the predecessor volume, Southern Pacific's Coast Line. His next book was entitled Southern Pacific's Shasta Division, followed by Southern Pacific'sWestern Division, and John's most recent volume is Southern Pacific's Salt Lake Division.

     David G. Stanley has worked for several railroads, including CCT, and currently is a locomotive engineer for Union Pacific. His work experience as well as acquaintance with many CCT employees was vital to the project of writing this volume. He is the co-author of our book, Central California Traction.

    Richard Steinheimer is among the most highly regarded rail photographers anywhere, and is unquestionably the Dean of Western railroad photographers. His famous book, The Electric Way Across the Mountains, was first published in 1980 and was soon out of print. It has now returned in a Second Edition from Signature Press.

    Anthony W. Thompson is a partner in Signature Press and is also the author of the recent series entitled Southern Pacific Freight Cars,with the first four volumes in print: Volume 1: Gondolas and Stock Cars, Volume 2: Cabooses, Volume 3: Automobile Cars and Flat Cars, and Volume 4: Box Cars. He also co-authored Southern Pacific's Coast Line Pictorial, coedited Railroad History in Photographs, and is also a coauthor of the second edition of Pacific Fruit Express.

     Charles R. Wood is well known as an author of books about railroading in the Northwest, covering several of that region's railroads. His revised edition of Great Northern Lines West is expected to be only the first of several reprints of the books he originally authored for Superior Publications.

     Warren Zeiller has several books to his credit, though this is his first one about railroads. Acquiring a collection of original construction photos of the railroad to Key West led to his undertaking this project. He is the author of one of our newest books, The Florida Keys Overseas Railway.

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