Charles and Dorothy Wood did write both of the Great Northern books. First was Lines West, published by Superior Publishing in 1962, later Bonanza Books, then Crown Books, and currently revised and available from Signature Press. Then in 1979, came the authors' much larger work, The Great Northern Railway published by PFM. The second book is definitely the better of the two, the graphic design and book layout was done by the talented Mike Pershall. This book need not cost you as much as that quote on Amazon.com. A price tag of $260 is designed by a particular seller to make one big score, off of someone who does not know any better, or is desperate for the book. I have noticed that some booksellers even mark up railroad books that are currently in print, possibly out of ignorance and the believe that "Anything RAY-road" is "valuable as a colletors' item." Shop around, and be patient, that nice PFM book can be purchased for considerably less. Run this Google search or variations: "Great Northern Railway" Wood PFM or [www.google.com]

Other good books about the GN Ry in the Cascades, and the electrification are:

Rails Across the Cascades by Eva Anderson, published by World Publishing Company Wenatchee, WA, 1952. reprinted 1977 and 1980.

Also you might enjoy Railroad Signatures across the Pacific Northwest by Carlos A. Schwantes available from University of Washington Press. This book does not have a lot about the GN Ry electrification, but does have a lot of great Pacific Northwest History and photos. [www.washington.edu]

Cascade Division, A Pictorial Essay of the BN and Milwaukee Road in the Washington Cascades
by Martin Burwash, published by Fox Publications, Arvada, CO, 1995. [www.omnirr.com] or [www.karensbooks.com]

The Great Adventure, The Railroad legacy of Stevens Pass, By Martin Burwash also published by Fox Publications, Arvada, CO
[www.foxpublications.com]

Both of the above Martin Burwash books are not specifically about the GN Ry electrification but do provide historical references to it, and provide post electrification GN/BN lore.

Glen Icanberry
Redlands, CA