Southern Way
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Kevin Robertson [Publisher: Transport Treasury 2022] Softback 80 pages
More nice Southern stuff, including a nice sequence of colour pictures from the Townroe collection of a journey along the "Mid Hants" in the snow. It will be interesting to see what the next "Southern Way" features given the loss of Kevin's archive and knowledge, we are promised two further issues at the time of writing. In the meantime this is "finding its feet" and the next issue is already being worked on, as described in this issue.
Kevin Robertson [Publisher: Transport Treasury 2022] Softback 80 pages
Uniform with "Western Times" in format and size, this is a new quarterly publication but similarly dedicated to the Southern Railway. Which is very strange, given that we already have the excellent "Southern Way", but then perhaps not as Kevin Robertson himself has produced it. From which it appears that Kevin has turned his back on "Southern Way" and all that he has achieved with it over many years. I do not know the circumstances, and I am sure Kevin has his reasons, but this does feel a bit like a slap in the face to existing readers and supporters. That said I wish the new publication well, and it is is good; an extended article with nice drawings on the LSW steam railmotors, more from the Townroe collection, and a collection of smaller articles based around nice Southern related images from the Transport Treasury. Being brutally honest, it is not as nicely produced or laid out as "Southern Way", but then it is cheaper - so I guess that's what we should expect.
Peter Waller [Publisher: Crecy 2022] Softback 96 pages
Great to see this series continuing after Kevin Robertson's departure from Crecy; the series is now edited and managed by Peter Waller, a very capable individual with a long experience within the Ian Allan publishing organisation. This first issue under the "new management" is very promising. Excellent production values throughout and a good range of subjects covered, including an authoritative feature on Southern coaching sets from Hugh Longworth, a great feature on the USA tanks, green diesels on the Southern, Cross Channel passenger services and much more. And best of all, a commitment to continued publishing an important series, it is so good that all of Kevin's hard work is not now going to be wasted.
Kevin Robertson [Publisher: Crecy 2019] Softback 96 pages
Another great dose of Southern Regionery, further pictures from the SC Townroe collection, life at Eastleigh in the latter days of steam, an article on the decline and resurgence of the Salisbury to Exeter route, Kingston Wharf, Alan Postlethwaite explores the Smithfield Triangle and more on building the EB stock. Plus more besides, including follow up letters from readers.
Kevin Robertson [Publisher: Crecy 2018] Softback 112 pages
Stroudley D Tanks, rebuilding Victoria Station, Ambulance trains during wartime, Eastleigh observations on one day in March 1966 and cryptic images from Horton Hospital Railway are but the edited highlights from a very varied menu in this issue.
Kevin Robertson [Publisher: Crecy 2018] Softback 104 pages
More Southern stuff and as interesting as ever. I particularly liked "Exeter to Plymouth in Steam" and the further photographs from the Stephen Townroe archive are amazing records of detail and interest from an operational point of view. There is also a nice recollection of working at Blandford Forum, motor trolley working on the S&D, Southern locomotive engineering recollections, Littlehampton and its cross Channel steamers and more.
Kevin Robertson [Publisher: Crecy 2013] Softback 112 pages
Brighton Atlantics, Bevois Park Sidings, the dying days of the East Kent and a good feature on the narrow gauge peat extraction system at Ashcott on the S&D branch, in part using photographs already seen in Mike Jacobs earlier "Memories of Southern Railways" from this publisher. Much else besides including a worthwhile "colour interlude" and letters page, it is amazing how much good stuff still turns up after all these years.