With publications dating from 1896, the Krieger collection contains virtually every book about California railroads published in the past 50 years. It is very strong on railroads of the western United States and Canada. Many of the books were published in very small print runs and are quite rare. Mr. Krieger had an enduring interest in railroading. He traveled widely, collecting books and artifacts, filling a 1,000 square-foot building with 0-scale (1/48th actual size) model railroads. He also worked briefly for the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway between high school and his time at Fresno State College and as a train order dispatcher after retirement from a 25-year career teaching math and science in Hanford elementary and junior high schools.
Mr. Krieger was an expert on the Santa Fe (now Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway) in the San Joaquin Valley and wrote the definitive book on the subject, “Valley Division Vignettes,” published in 1983. The book traces the rail line from its origins as an independent trying to secure cheaper freight rates for Valley shippers than those offered by Southern Pacific. His family donated the collection to the Fresno State Library in 2006. It is housed in the Special Collections Research Center.
Books from this collection include:
