Trans-Siberian Handbook: Seventh Edition of the Guide to the World's Longest Railway Journey (Trailblazer Guides)

My friend and I did part of the trip last summer, and the guide was simply invaluable. We were in the major cities decribed in the book, and we took the train Irkutsk--Ulaan Baator. The book was very helpful both when we were planning the trip (has train schedules) and on the spot, directing us to places of interest. Overall, gives you a good idea what to expect. Start reading the guide at least half a year before the planned trip. You'll need good 4 to 5 months to arrange everything.

I bought it as part of a package deal, and it never arrived.

I used this book while traveling along the Trans-Siberian railroad and in planning my trip beforehand. It provides a great amount of quality information for planning purposes, but it is not complete. For example, when it lists the time table of trains, please note that it is only a sample of the most popular "tourist" trains. We found hundreds of trains going along the route, leaving at all times of day and night (of course we figured this out once we got there).
The translations were useful if you do not know the Russian alphabet. The pronunciation guide is good.
The best part of the guide was the section which gave you fun facts along the kilometer markings of the railroad. These made up a great portion of our entertainment while riding the train (4 days of sitting and looking out the window, chatting with other travellers, etc.). The little tidbits were very interesting!
The city guides within the book were an okay start to get familiar with the cities, but as with any guidebook which tries to cram it all in, it was not nearly complete.
My only con of the book was the large size of it. It is very thick, but I guess it must be (it has sooooo much info inside!)
I would recommend buying it if you are traveling along the railroad, or just as a great reference!

Have just finished the trip - this guide is fantastic the trip would have been a lot less without it. Every one around us borrowed it

I have used this book multiple times while traveling the Trans-Siberian. During my first trip, it helped me to get my bearings and to plan the practicalities. On subsequent trips, I was able to enjoy the detailed maps and information about stops along the way. It is very accurate and detailed. I still found a previous version useful several years after publication. It does focus primarily on stops directly on the route. For those who with to travel further afield, I wrote the book ROAMING RUSSIA: An Adventurer's Guide to Off The Beaten Track Russia and Siberia. The Trans-Siberian Handbook is an essential book for Siberian rail travelers. I highly recommend it.