IF YOU LIKE THESE FONTS THEN PLEASE SUPPORT THEM BY PAYING THE SHAREWARE FEE
8/2/95
ABOUT THE EMPIRE BUILDER 1.2 FONT:
This font was inspired by the lettering used by the Great Northern Railway on their passenger trains from the late 40's through the mid 60's. Looking at this typeface, it is hard to believe that it is at least 50 years old. The Great Northern Pictorial Volume 3, by John F. Strauss, Jr., was a great source of photographs to work from.
Since version 1.1, I have discovered that there were several variants of this letterface. This is understandable when you realized that it was hand painted by a number of Great Northern employees at a number of facilities over a period of 30 years.
One user sent in copies of a few Great Northern lettering diagrams. I have modified the fonts to reflect these diagrams. My proportional guestimations were good, but now I have used the official dimentions. Although I saw several numbers with slanted ends in the photos, the lettering diagram showed them with horizontal ends, I have made this change. The "K" is also in better shape.
While doing all of this research, I discovered that the large lettering, in the middle of the cars (e.g., "Empire Builder"), differed from the small letters at the ends of the cars (e.g., "Pullman"). I believe you should use lower case EmpireBuilder for the large letters and uppercase EmpireBuilder-Light for the small lettering.
Finally, this font just did not work too well for documents. I have added a new version just for those users who actually want to say something with their fonts. It has small caps, punctuation, and accents. I hope you like it.
What is that train doing on the legend sheet? That is a sample from RailPassenger. The true type hinting may mess these characters up on some printers, but the post script version of RailPassenger works fine. I wanted to put in a couple of toys for those of you who don't have my whole font collection.
NEW WITH VERSION 1.2:
Corrected character shapes according to official GN lettering diagrams. Added EmpireBuilder-Light and EmpireBuilder-Document to better round out the font family.
1.1 Still the original but with better documentation.
1.2 Corrected character shapes according to official GN lettering diagrams. Added EmpireBuilder-Light and EmpireBuilder-Document to better round out the font family.
GENERIC README (SIMILAR IN ALL OF MY FONTS)
NEW WITH THIS RELEASE:
-The picture fonts are now available in Mac TrueType versions.
-It should take three HD 3.5" disks for the MAC programs, two 3.5" HD disks for the IBM programs. Be sure to send formatted disks and a self addressed stamped envelope, or I may be unable to return your disks (International users, do not worry about postage, send something small and interesting instead).
-This may become a disk exchange, you may get different disks back than the ones you send in.
-I have expanded the special fonts, only available to registered users. They include: WorkTrain, a collection of the work equipment that make the railroad run; FastTrack, high speed rail on your desktop; RailroadHeralds-Southwest, AT&SF, SP, SD&AE; and RailDemo, that includes all of the odd characters that haven't quite found a home yet (including a number of steam engines!).
HOW TO INSTALL THE TRAIN FONT ONTO YOUR SYSTEM:
WARNING: DO NOT USE THE POSTSCRIPT AND TRUE TYPE VERSIONS OF THE SAME FONT AT THE SAME TIME, YOUR COMPUTER WILL NOT LIKE IT.
POSTSCRIPT
Just drag the files: "EmpirBuiDoc", and "EmpireBuilder-Document.bmap", onto your system folder (or put them in font folder within the system folder) and restart any applications that are currently running. System 6 users have to use the font/DA mover, it is fairly straight forward and you should have documentation.
TRUETYPE
Similar to PostScript instillation, only you want to use the file: "EmpireBuilder-Document.suit"
IF YOU HAVE TROUBLES installing this font or it doesn't seem to print out correctly, PLEASE LET ME KNOW as soon as possible. I can either give you more specific instillation information or go and fix the bug. (e-mail is great for this, but snail mail works fine too)
If you use this font in publication or on a product, please let me know. It is always interesting to hear the clever uses people have had for my fonts. (I would also love a copy of your publication for my scrap book)
NOW FOR THE "ASKING FOR MONEY" BIT, AKA, THIS IS SHAREWARE:
You are free to use (play with, throw at the cat, etc.) this font for one week after receiving it. If you like it and decide to keep it, you should send a US $10 (DO NOT SEND CASH!!!) "shareware" fee to myself at the address below (technically, that's $10 per font package, but see item 3 in "The File Print". International users, see item 4 in "The Fine Print"). Please include a brief note describing where you got this font, what you like about it, and what you would like to see in the future.
If you just have to have the full collection of my train fonts (see "Product Ad"), send a couple of FORMATTED 3.5" HD disks (Three HD for Mac, or Two HD for IBM recommended) and a SELF ADDRESSED STAMPED ENVELOPE to the address below. (I hate to format disks and you will be sure to get the right machine, Mac or IBM, this way). If you do not include a self addressed envelope, I may be unable to return your disks. This may turn into a disk exchange, so the disks you receive may not be the ones you sent in
I DO NOT WANT TO SEND ANY OF MY CUSTOMERS INTO BANKRUPTCY, if you are honestly poor, (i.e., you ain't gonna support the American way and my education) please send a post card (the weirder the better) describing where you got this font, what you like about it and what you would like to see added to it.
THE FINE PRINT:
1) Each font or icon package is an individual product. Thus, if you keep Passenger Font and Freight Font, you should pay $20, not $10. (DO NOT SEND CASH!!!)
2) You may NOT use this font in any publication or any product unless you register your copy by sending $10 FOR EACH FONT YOU USE. Be sure to specify which fonts you are registering for. It is not fair for you to make money off of my hard work without paying the Shareware fees. (DO NOT SEND CASH!!!)
3) Assuming that item 2, above, does not apply to you: If you decide to keep several of my shareware products and you are only using them for PERSONAL APPLICATIONS (or you are using them for a struggling NONPROFIT organization promoting railroads), then $10 a piece can get to be a bit expensive. Please pay what you think they are worth. I recommend $10 for the first font and $5 for each additional font (DO NOT SEND CASH!!!). Remember, I have put thousands of hours into these fonts. At the very least, I ask:
# products : Price
1- 5 : $10
6-10 : $20
11-15 : $30
etc.
NOTE: When I say "keep" I mean use. If the fonts are sitting on a floppy and never see the light of day, that does not constitute use. If money is tight do not send money, item 4 below applies to you.
4) If you do not reside in the US or money is tight, then getting a check in US$ may be difficult for you. So, I will also accept any interesting widgets, toys, books, time tables, postcards or what not. What's common place to you is quite possibly exotic for me. By the way, I'm a rail fan (hint hint hint)
5) You may distribute this font for free, however, you may not sell this font or include it in any package for sale without the written permission of myself, Benn Coifman. I am very agreeable to CD ROM's and shareware packages for sale, however, I do want to retain some degree of control over my work. So, please contact me first. (note, this clause does NOT apply to dial up services like Compuserve, America On Line and bulletin boards that charge by the unit of time. Theses services may list my products without contacting me)
WHY SHOULD YOU SEND IN THE SHAREWARE FEE?
Well, I am releasing this font in it's entirety. I put a lot of hard work into this font. I have also gotten a lot of pleasure from it. Ignoring all of the capitalistic angles, your shareware dollar will speed up the development of new train fonts and help me afford new font tools. My goal is to at least break even.
Things have improved since my last release. I now have 120 registered users since I released them 15 months ago. There are a lot of expenses that go into these fonts. My font editor cost almost $300. Then there are the little expenses like ink cartridges (you wouldn't believe how many ink cartridges I go through) and paying for a mail box. Oy! And you want to talk about memory... 40 Meg of hard disk devoted to fonts and icon development.
I would love to purchase the latest version of Illustrator and produce more clip art. I could also use more disk space to keep these toys in.
BENEFITS OF PAYING THE SHAREWARE FEE:
Enough of what shareware fees do for me, what will they do for you!? I will spend less time on school and more time on producing shareware. You will also be entitled to a peek into things to come. If you send a disk (or two or three) along with your payment, I will give you a copy of the Demo fonts. This is a peak at things to come. It includes four fonts: WorkTrain, a collection of the work equipment that make the railroad run; FastTrack, high speed rail on your desktop; RailroadHeralds-Southwest, AT&SF, SP, SD&AE; and RailDemo, that includes all of the odd characters that haven't quite found a home yet (including a number of steam engines!). In addition, I will rush you out the most recent versions of my fonts and icons. I might even toss in a couple of pre-release fonts.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE? WHAT DO YOU THINK IS MISSING?
Your feedback is important. I never would have made Railroad Roman unless someone suggested it and provided me with reference material. A lot of users have told me that they want more steam engines and logging trains. They will get made soon. With this new release, RailroadHeralds now has better coverage of the entire US. Let me know what you would like to see or to see more of. Short of hiring me to do custom artwork, the best two ways to get me to make something are: (1) Send in the shareware fee. (2) Provide reference material. I will have the Union Pacific lettering ready for the next release because a user sent in reference material. Usually, all I need are photocopies to work from. Contact me for more information.
GIVE IT TO YOUR FRIENDS, RAIL FONTS MAKE GREAT BIRTHDAY GIFTS (GRIN):
You are free to distribute this font, as long as you include all of the files that it came with it (see the beginning of this document for the packing list)
NOW SHOWING:
(i.e., other great shareware products to look for)
(available for the MAC or IBM unless noted)
NEW
-Roads- I am starting to wander from the right of way, this is just like the TrainTracks font, only with roadways. Designed to work with TrainTracks
-Boxcars- AlphabetTrain Jr., this time it's letters on boxcars.
-RailSigns- A collection of signs found along the right of way.
-RailSignals- A large collection of wayside objects including signals, crossing gates, crossbucks, etc.. A good complement to my other picture fonts.
-Gotthard- My first venture across the Atlantic. This font captures the lettering used by a number of the Swiss rail lines.
MAJOR ADDITIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS
-RailHeralds- a picture font containing a collection of high resolution (I use that phrase a lot) rail heralds.
-RailroadRoman- a high quality roman font in the style of hand lettering on railroad cars ca. 1900.
-EmpireBuilder- styled after the typeface used by Great Northern on their passenger trains ca. 1950.
-AlphabetTrain- RailroadRoman meets RailFreight, i.e. letters on flat cars, good for titles and page numbers.
-TrainTracks- snap track for your word processor.
-Rail Icons- Mac only- approximately 115 rail related icons (locomotives, cars and heralds).
SMALLER CHANGES, BUT STILL WONDERFUL
-RailPassenger- a high resolution picture font that allows you to couple together a passenger train ca. 1950.
-RailFreight- a high resolution picture font that allows you to couple together a freight train ca. 1960.
-RailModPax- a high resolution picture font that allows you to couple together a modern day passenger train (i.e. Amtrak).
-Daylight- Mac only- a gray scale type3 font depicting the 1937 SP Daylights.
-Warbonnet- Mac only- a gray scale type3 font depicting the streamlined passenger trains of the AT&SF.
-Zephyr- an art deco font styled after Zephyr Gothic, the letterface used by CB&Q, WP et al.
Look for them on the net, the WEB, Compuserve, AOL, your favorite bulletin board, or send me a couple of FORMATTED 3.5" disks and a SELF ADDRESSED STAMPED ENVELOPE. I'll fill the disks up and return them. It should take three HD 3.5" disks for the MAC programs, two 3.5" HD disks for the IBM programs. Be sure to send formatted disks and a self addressed stamped envelope, or I may be unable to return your disks. At some point, this may become a disk exchange. So you might get different disks back than the ones you sent in.
YOU WANT YOUR CAR (OR DREAM CAR), LOGO OR HERALD ON YOUR KEYBOARD?
I am willing to do custom work, as my time allows, at reasonable rates.
Benn Coifman
ASUC Box 624 # 4510,
Bancroft & Telegraph
Berkeley, CA 94720-4510
--DO NOT SEND CASH
--Please include your e-mail address with all correspondence--
