Useful Publications
This page is intended to be a listing of new publications and is not intended to be a review or a recommendation and is for information only. Publishers details can be found at the foot of the page.
All information is supplied by Peter Nicholson.
The Allocation History of B.R. Diesel Multiple Units Part 2 (Nos 51829 to 56504)
By
Roger Harris
£21.50
+£1 p&p from the author (63 Carol Avenue, bromsgrove B61 8RW), but also
available from Platform 5 Mail Order.
A5-size
156 pages, paperback. No illustrations except on the covers. This is the second
volume in the series detailing the allocation histories of all BR DMU vehicles.
For each vehicle there are the allocations, renumberings, details of accidents,
and disposals. Probably the most comprehensive and accurate record of the
subject available.
Part
1 (Nos 50000 to 51828 is still available, for the same price, but stocks are
getting low.
Roger
has previously covered BR locos (The Allocation History of B.R. Diesels &
Electrics) in a number of parts. These include building details, allocations and
disposals, and is publishing a further volume, the ‘Final Update’ in
July/August and is asking for expressions of interest from anyone who will wish
to buy a copy so as to set the print run. This
is a case where I can say these books are ‘thoroughly recommended’.
UK
Light Rail and Tram Museum Guide 2016 publised by TrainCrazy
By
James Millington
£9.95 incl. p&p Published 25 March2016
A
new format, 144-page A5 paperback book replacing the former hardback pocket-size
(A6) book. Fully revised, updated and re-illustrated, detailing the light rail
and tramway systems, six heritage tramways, 14 tram museums and collections, and
14 cliff railways. Route maps, operational dates and times, histories and fleet
lists.
London
Underground Guide 2016 publised by TrainCrazy
By Jason Cross
£9.95
incl. p&p Published 19 March 2016
Like
the trams guide this has been revamped into a 150-page A5 paperback book but
again, kept to the same price as the previous, smaller editions. This third
edition describes all eleven lines of the LU network, with fleet lists and
sections on works trains, preserved and museum stock. Includes more than 100
colour photos.
Land Trains in the British Isles 1st Edition
By Rod Bryant
£8 incl. p&p. A5-size, 76pp Published January 2016 from R Bryant, The Acres, Faugh, Cumbria CA8 9EG
The
first non-railway book to be mentioned here, but one which some members may
indeed find useful. Believed to be the first comprehensive listing of Land
Trains – as seen on seafronts and running around York serving the NRM, etc.
Each train has a page to itself with all known details of location, operator,
type of tractor unit, registration number, name, if any, livery and frequency of
service.
This does not include temporary rides at Christmas markets or tractor-trailer rides as operated a farm parks, but concentrates on fixed-route, regular-service operations, on the street and at theme parks and gardens, such as the Eden Project. Entries are in county order covering England, Scotland, Wales, Channel Islands and Ireland. There are no illustrations. Well, it is trains, if not railway ones!
Minor Railways 28th edition published by Branch Line Society
By Peter Scott
£4
incl postage from Peter Scott.
ISBN: 978 1 902368 44 3. Published: March 2016
A
complete list of all standard gauge railways, narrow gauge railways, miniature
railways, tramways and cliff rails in the British Isles. This
36-page A5 size book is a full listing of all railways open to the public as
mentioned in the lengthy subtitle. Full details of location with OS grid refs
and telephone numbers, gauge, length of line and for NG and miniatures there is
symbol indicating the type of track layout. A very useful, quick-and-easy
reference.
Amendments
are posted on website: http://www.scottjf.demon.co.uk/minor_railways/index.htm
This includes news of new lines opening, old ones closing or being extended,
posted as the news becomes available.
Diesel & Electric Locomotives for Scrap 1st Edition published by Ian
Allan
By Ashley Butlin
£35 (or currently available new, through Amazon for £21.85 incl. p&p, e.g. from Books etc.) 240 pages, A4
Probably the most expensive, and lavish, title yet featured in Useful
Publications - and also, one I can recommend. It has been researched over many
years by my long-time friend and colleague, Ashley Butlin who has compiled the
detailed Stock changes every month for The Railway Magazine for as long as I can
remember.
This amazing book records the disposal or current situation for every diesel and
electric loco to have run on the UK national network, detailing withdrawal,
cutting up dates and site of the final deed or present main line operator or
preservation site. Departmental stock is included, but loco names and livery
details are not.
The title is somewhat misleading however, as it not only records the details of
every loco, including the smallest of shunters, that have been broken up, but
all of them. Locos which survive in main line operation and preservation, with
those that have returned to main line operators, are all detailed too.
Information is said to be correct to 1 July 2015, with the most recent entry
being No. 68015.
Well illustrated throughout with colour and black & white photos of locos in
various stages of dismemberment.
The controversy over incorrect disposal information that has recently been
discovered as published in the past and now being investigated, is not shied
away from. Where doubt has been cast on a scrapping site and date, and which
remains to be resolved by the team investigate the matter, this is mentioned and
an appendix lists those awaiting confirmation of disposal details.
An essential source of reference for all enthusiasts of ex-BR diesel and
electric locos, past and present.
British Rail Coaching Stock Vol. 3 Mk1 Non-Passenger Carrying Coaching
Stock published by Coorlea Publishing
By Ashley Butlin
£13.95 including a contribution to p&p
A long-awaited book which has taken many years to compile. In its 52 pages it
details every vehicle, including conversions, re-numberings, departmentals,
preservation, exports and disposals. All extant stock is shown with ownership
and, where applicable, storage details. Only available from Coorlea Publishing
and a few specialist outlets such as Platform 5.
Loco Data File 2015 published by Brush Publications
£8.95 (plus £2.99 P&P) Cheques for £11.94 to be made payable to: The South Yorkshire Railway and sent to Evander Bramhall, 1-3 St Mary's Drive, Catcliffe, Rotherham S60 5TN
Published in September 2014, but I have only just become aware of it through
the Heritage Shunters Trust website. It is exclusive to the HST.
There, it says it 'includes all UK mainline locomotives currently in service,
plus scrapped and all known stored locomotives. Also, preserved and privately
owned locomotives. Information includes current number, previous numbers,
pre-TOPS numbers and all names ever carried. Locomotive builder, owner, current
depot and preserved locations are also included. Where a locomotive has been
scrapped the scrapping location is given together with the month and year when
this occurred.' Presumably, 'all UK locos' actually means ex-BR and present-day
main line operators, diesel and electric.
Rail Atlas of Great Britain and Ireland 14th edition published by Ian
Allan
By S. K. Baker
£20 (or currently being offered by Amazon for £13.60, post free)
First published in 1977 and the 13th edition in 2013, despite many other UK rail atlases being published in the meantime, this remains the most up-to-date and clearest layout to use. The maps are said to have been enhanced with more detailed inset maps for complex areas, and the size of type in the index enlarged. The sequence of maps has also been reorganised to make it easier to follow a route.
UK Preserved Coaches 2015 published by Specialist Transport Publications
£13.00 post free (published January 2015)
All standard gauge preserved, Network Rail-registered, charter and stored carriages. Covers ex-BR, 'Big Four' and pre-Grouping vehicles still in existence. Build dates and previous running numbers are listed where known, together with current location.
The Spotter’s Companion 2015: British Locomotives Multiple Units and
Coaching Stock published by NREA
£9.95 incl. postage
Now in its 37th annual edition this 148 x 105mm book with laminated cover
features current main line motive power including HSTs, multiple units and
coaching stock. Details numbers, names and depot allocations, loco pool codes,
multiple unit formations and technical specs for all loco classes.
abc
Rail Guide 2015 published by Ian Allan
£20.00
Hardback
210 x 150mm, 312 pages
Compiled by Colin J. Marsden, this is a comprehensive annual now in its sixth
year. Details locos and multiple units along with the main line companies,
passenger and freight, found on the national network. Includes new train orders,
ex-main line preserved motive power, ex-BR industrial locos, light rail systems,
and off-lease rolling stock, etc.
London
Railway Atlas 4th Edition published by Ian Allan
£20.00
Hardback
297 x 210mm, 160 pages
Detailed mapping of all London railways showing tracks and platforms. Covers
present-day and historical lines.
abc
London Railway Atlas published by Ian Allan
£12.00
Paperback
184 x 120mm, 96 pages
This is the first edition of a pocket-size book designed specially for the
travelling enthusiast. Does not include the historical information that's in the
larger book above.
Railway
Atlas of Ireland: Then & Now published by Ian Allan
£20.00
Hardback
297 x 210mm, 120 pages
A new title with pre-1920 maps of the Irish rail network alongside those of
2014.
Narrow Gauge Steam Locomotives of Great Britain & Ireland published by Platfrom 5 Publishing
Compiled by CARS member Peter Nicholson
£14.95 plus £1.50 p&p Published September 2014
80 pages, A5
A new title in the Platform 5 series, covering all steam locos from 1ft 6in to 4ft 6in gauge. Listed in builder’s number order together with year built, type, class where applicable, gauge and location. Footnotes for each loco give details of its pre-preservation origin, for UK locos the last industrial location (or passenger line) and for imported locos, the country of origin, with the date of entering preservation or arrival in UK.
Location address details are abbreviated in the loco listing but appear in full in an appendix at the rear of the book for locations open at least one day a year to the public. Locos which are at private locations are shown with the owner’s name and town or county only.
A list of loco names gives a cross-reference to the builder’s details and which section it will be found. There ar six sections: British commercial builders; Overseas builders; Locos built by owners and operators; Homebuilt ‘Coffee Pots’; Large-scale models, and New-builds under construction. Illustrated throughout in colour.
Manchester Metrolink Handbook published by Venture Publications
By C. Reeve
£9.95 plus £2.49 Published September 2014
64 pages 210 x 148mm; 100 illustrations
Describes the development and expansion of Manchester's pioneering light rail system from the initial phase of converting the Bury and Altrincham railway lines, through to the various extensions that have taken place in recent years. It looks forward to the airport line and second city crossings currently under construction. Note, does not include a fleet list.
UK & Ireland Tram and Light Rail Systems 3rd edition published by Venture Publications
By Bob Rowe
£6 plus £2.49 p&p. Published August 2014
64 pages 105 x 148mm
Details all UK and Ireland light rail systems including description of each, service frequency, maps, illustrations and fleet lists.
UK Grounded Vans and Coaches 2014 (3rdEdition) published by Specialist Transport Publications
By Tony Ellis
£9.00 post free. Published July 2014
80 pages A5, spiral bound
An updated version of the 2013 edition including details of further grounded vehicles that the compiler has become aware of. Entries are by county, giving vehicle number where known, railway of origin, type of vehicle, location and brief notes. Appendices list locations in alphabetical order with OS grid refs.
UK Combined 2014 (Published December) published by Specialist Transport Publications
£13 post free
Lists all the locomotives, units, coaching stock, track machines, trams and underground stock of Britain and Ireland, together with a side number index for DMUs and EMUs. Also included is a brief listing of preserved diesel and electric locomotives, and DMUs to be found in the UK, together preserved steam locomotives authorised to run on Network Rail lines.
UK Narrow Gauge Railways 2014 (8th edition) published by Specialist Transport Publications
Published November 2013
£13 post free
Includes all non-standard and miniature gauge locomotives, wagons and carriages and funicular railways
This edition now includes information on carriages and wagons at each location, which are listed nationwide, in alphabetical order of their title, from Abbey Pumping Station, Leicester to Yaxham Light Railway. Part 2 lists steam locos in numerical order (running number or builder's number for NG locos) cross-referred to their location by an abbreviated address. Likewise, Part 3 lists diesel (and petrol and electric) locos. Part 5 is Plinthed Exhibits at the Roadside or Museums which are mainly mining tubs and similar, on public display. Finally, there is a list of more than 100 miniature railways, many quite well known, giving title, address, postcode, OS grid ref and gauge, but headed: 'A list of Miniature Railways I have no information for'. There are just two pages of colour illustrations.
UK Rail Series Ultimate Sighting Files published Inter City Railway Society
No. 10 Main Line Diesels 2013
£13.99
No. 11 Shunters, Mainline Electric and Prototype Locomotives 2013
£10.99
Both books are updated to 27 September 2013 and include all locos, as per their titles, to have operated in the UK post-Nationalisation, with details of build, conversions, works numbers, disposals and re-numberings
Publishers contact information.
BLS Sales
84 Mornington Road
Stoke-on-Trent
Staffordshire
ST1 6EL
Website:
www.branchline.org.uk
Coorlea Publishing
Craik
Hawick
Scottish Borders
TD9 7PS
Inter City Railway Society Mail
order: 0844 245 6944 National
Railway Entusiasts Assocation NREA
Sales Department 3
Churchill Drive Malvern Worcestershire WR141DJ
Platform 5 Publishing Ltd
Coorlea Cottage
ICRS
c/o 14 Partridge Gardens
Waterlooville
Hampshire
PO8 9XG
Website: www.intercityrailwaysociety.org
Ian Allan Publishing
Online from: www.ianallanpublishing.com
52 Broadfield Road
Sheffield
South Yorkshire
S8 0XJ
Tel: 0114 255 8000 - 24hr order line
Website: www.platform5.com
ST Publications
51 Kendal Street
Wigan
WN6 7DJ
Website: www.stpublications.co.uk
TrainCrazy
Mail
order to: ‘Freepost Videoscene’ – no stamp or postcode required!
or from The Blackpool Tram Shop
Front North Pier
Blackpool
FY1
INE
Tel. 01253 738336 Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
Website:
www.videoscene.co.uk
Venture Publications
MDS Book Sales
128 Pikes Lane
Glossop
Derbyshire
SK13 8EH
Tel. 01457 861508
Website: www.mdsbooks.co.uk
Last updated 23/10/2019