Speed Graphics and Steam 1958! vol. 3 went to the printer on Monday (two days ago). Since then, Ampersand Printing has sent me digital proofs and I have okayed them. The presses will be rolling with this volume this morning (Wed. Dec. 2). Update: the above picture was taken by pressman Dion Anderson.

We’ve had a host of setbacks in production of this volume in 2020, starting with the loss of Jim Brown on September 15. Jim had completed a few less than half of the pictures for this book when he passed. I finished the rest of them, which set us back by a month. Complicating things, our printer is running with ¼ of its usual production staff this week, due to business slowdowns. But they’re doing everything they can to move this one along as quickly as possible.

I’ve advised Beck Bindery to be ready for the book the moment it arrives. They have prepared the stamping die for the spine ahead of time, to shave off another day or two in turnaround.

As things stand now, worst case scenario, the printer will send the job to the bindery a week from today (Wed. Dec. 9). Assuming Beck gets the job by Fri. Dec. 11—and they get on it right away—they may have finished books on their floor a week later (Fri. Dec. 18). To grab another day or two, I will drive to the bindery myself to get enough cartons of finished books to get our shipping underway.

If all goes well, we can start putting copies of Speed Graphics and Steam 1958! vol. 3 (and any other books ordered along with it) into the Canada Post system on Monday, December 21. Of course, that is the busiest time of year for Canada Post, and they will be swamped with packages. At best, we’ll get four days of shipping behind us by close of business on Christmas Eve.

The following week, beginning December 28, is a short work week (with two statutory holidays, there will only be three business days). The week of January 4 is finally a normal five days, so we’re realistically looking at having all the books mailed out by the end of that week.

You have all been patient and understanding about our challenges in this tumultuous year 2020, and for that we are grateful. Some of your have ordered copies of Speed Graphics and Steam 1958! vol. 3 for others, as Christmas gifts. If that is the case, kindly reply to this email and we’ll do our best to get those books out in time for them to land under a lucky reader’s tree (in a couple of days, I will create a nice PDF Christmas tag that you can print out, advising someone of a gift of Speed Graphics and Steam 1958! vol. 3 on the way).

Regarding distribution of 2021 Canadian Branchline calendars (for those who had ordered them to be shipped with Speed Graphics and Steam 1958! vol. 3), watch for a separate email tomorrow advising of our plans to get them into your hands before the start of the new year.

Thank you again to everyone for your understanding and support, and I’ll update you regularly as to progress of book production and shipping.