Publishers List

Atlantic

Publishing house which has been owned by various people and has drawn on and absorbed various sources, amongst whom are David St John Thomas and the late David Jenkinson. Currently owned by Trevor Ridley and achieving success with garden railway modelling books. Publishers of "Garden Rail" magazine.

Branch Line Video

Producers of interesting and well put together documentary style videos on a wide range of railway subjects. Whilst still shots are used to help tell the story, they are not overdone and archive film is always a good proportion of what you get.

Capital

Publishers of attractive and readable books, many of which are based upon London Underground and the Capital's railways. Have recently branced out into colour albums of railway subjects outside of London, the quality printing and the superb editorship of Michael Welch have made these all particularly appealing books.

Cheona

Set up by the late Geoff Gamble to publish albums of photographs which would be useful to modellers. Most books have been on wagons and have been compiled by Colin Judge, (who set up the original OPC). Peter Midwinter has taken over after Geoff's sad death and is happily carrying on producing in the same format.

Edward Talbot

Onetime author for OPC, has developed a small ist of quality locomotive monographs. All his books exhibit a real talent for layout and design, in adition to being excellent sources of information on their different subjects.

Foxline

Superior quality photographic albums covering different geographic areas of British Railways, mainly in the North of England. Produced by Greg Fox, an ex BR bridge engineer who still maintains a professional interest in the railway industry. Greg has a good eye for publishing, his books invariably feature well reproduced photographs of a higher than average standard.

HMRS

Arguably the most academic of the various railway societies, and producers of a wide range of interesting railway books over the years. These have included classics such as "Great Western Way" and "Midland Style", both now out of print and quite sought after on the secondhand market. Also capable of producing spectacular "lemons"!

Ian Allan

Established after the second world war by Ian Allan, the inventor of the "ABC" spotting books which became synonymous with his name. Current custodians of the OPC imprint and after a collection of reprints from this stable are now producing some good new OPC titles. Arguably the most "mainstream" of railway publishers, they do supply the bookclub and will remainder poorly selling titles, which can be annoying if you have paid full price. Ian Allan have recently made some "interesting" decisions as to how they market their books. Whilst I mightn't agree with them I nonetheless applaud what are presumably attempts to find new ways to market as traditional bookselling in the UK continues to decline.

IRS

A society dedicated to the recording of industry and its locomotives, long established and having an active membership. Books published vary in quality and approach, depending upon the author and subject, and vary from very text orientated handbooks to largely photographic and well produced historical monographs.

Irwell Press

Publishers of two quality magazines, "British Railways Illustrated" and "Railway Bylines" and their associated annuals - both always interesting. Run by Chris Hawkins and George Reeve, onetime collaborators with Wild Swan. Distinctive use of typeface and layout, generally publish locomotive monographs and quality line/area histories. Rarely use dustjackets on their hardbacks.

Julian Peters

Son of the late Ivo Peters, maintains "in print" videos of Ivo's wonderful and accomplished 16mm movie films. Recently re-mastered the two S&D videos, which are now also available in DVD format with a further resultant increase in quality. Also holds Ivo's extensive photographic collection the quality of which ensures its continued demand for railway publications.

Kalmbach

American publishers of "Model Railroader", producers of practical and readable books on railway modelling which have much of value to modellers of railways outside of the USA.

Kestrel Railway Books

Originally a collaboration between Kevin Robertson and Claire and Howard Sprenger, but since 2006 sans Robertson. Publishers of an increasing number of popular quality railway books with a continually developing forward publishing programme.

Kidderminster Rly. Museum

A superb collection of railwayana together with a large photographic resource, situated in the old goods shed next to Kiddederminster SVR station. Properly constituted and run by David Postle amonst others, it is well worth a visit and also is a very worthy custodian for any photographic or archive collections anyone might be looking for a home for. Publish a small number of high quality of railway books.

Kingfisher

Publishers run by Roger Hardingham, some excellent books with generally "Southern" collections, sometimes get involved in strange remaindering situations however.

Lightmoor Press

Ian Pope and Neil Parkhouse combined to publish quality railway books, one time "descendants" from the Wild Swan publishing project. Now incorporates "Black Dwarf".

Locomotives International

Paul Cathpole's publishing operation, covering obscure narrow gauge and British engineering related foreign railway subjects

Middleton Press

Publishers of a uniform series of hardbacks, with distinctive covers utilising bright colours and photographs printed onto the boards. Format is comprehensive photographic survey of lines, mainly historic, with good quality OS map extracts of relevant areas. Overall verdict - good overview. Uniquely in railway publishing, this publisher increases the prices of their whole backlist every time that prices go up. Currently all priced at £14.95. To their great credit however, the whole backlist is kept in print - one heck of an achievement

Midland Publishing

Publishing arm of large book retailer, have produced mainly colour books on diverse subjects, including a good series on Irish Railways. Now part of Ian Allan and no longer producing books.

Millstream

Run by Tim Graham ex owner of Whitemans books in Bath. Publishers of an interesting mixture of titles, mostly of West Country railway subjects, especially the "S&D". Good quality mainly pictorial books, but not afraid of taking on the out of the ordinary, excellent backlist.

Moseley Railway Trust

Trust set up to preserve memory of Ruston engines and similar both in print and in the flesh. Publishers of small but fascinating books on various obscure subjects.

Narrow Gauge Railway Society

The premier society for followers of the narrow gauge. Publish occasional monographs on specific subjects which are invariably well researched and illustrated.

Oakwood

Established by the late Roger Kidner before the last war, and now owned by Jane Kennedy, this publisher specialises in the A5 format for all its books hardback and softback. They have recently moved to all colour laminated covers and are at currently at an all - time high in terms of their quality. Originally covering minor railways under their "Locomotion Papers" series, the subject range covered now is very wide, but their strength remains in their coverage of the more obscure parts of railway history.

OPC

Mould breaking and revolutionary when it was set up in the 70's, now part of the Ian Allan organisation after several changes of ownership. Still capable of producing a good book, but inevitably not what it used to be - see Wild Swan, Oakwood and Irwell for what the original OPC "fathered". Second hand "original" OPC books are generally sought after and desirable.

Peco

Publishers of the "Railway Modeller" and producers of excellent track ranges, have also published various interesting railway books over the years.

Plateway Press

Set up by Andrew Neale and Keith Taylorson, but now appears to be run by organisation called "Postprint". Andrew remains at the helm I think, but production of new books has slowed down a lot of late. Plateway have been the foremost publisher of quality books on the Narrow Gauge. Invariably intelligently written, well informed and containing well reproduced photographs of interesting subjects.

R&CHS

The Railway and Canal Historical Society, publishers of quite scholarly but nonetheless readable and most importantly afforable books on generally earlier railway and canal subjects. A nice feature of this publisher is its ability to maintain a backlist of earlier titles for future readers, recommended.

RCL Publications

The highly talented Roy Link's publishing operation. Tends to produce fairly limited print runs with no intention of ever reprinting a title. Apparently may make an excetion with a further edition of the wonderful "Slate Quarry Album" apparently being talked about.

Runpast

Set up by Stephen Mourton, publishers of interesting and well thought out books on various railway subjects. The recent colour offerings are very good quality collections.

S&D Trust

The "original" S&D trust, since 1975 based at Wasford on the West Somerset Railway. Holds unrivalled and vast archive of material, members carry out much valuable research, much of which has been published in their house magazine, the "Pines Express". Their website is very good, although their printed output remains lamentable - especially given their fabulous archive resources.

Santona

Interesting small publisher set up by Steve Flint, main railway interest represented by the excellent "Working Wagons" series of books and consolidated by two excellent modelling titles. (Modelling the British Rail Era and Model Railway Layout Planning and Design Handbook) Production of new books slowed down as Steve got more involved with Peco and this publisher now owned and run by Booklaw in Nottingham.

Twelveheads

Quality publishers of stylish books on railway, maritime and industrial archaeology books, many with a West Country theme. Mike Messenger, John Stengellhofen and Alan Kittridge are the names behind the organisation, a very civilised bunch, all of whom contribute significantly to their titles.

Wild Swan

Owned by Paul Karau and June Judge, this idiosyncratic organisation continues to produce superbly produced and artistically put together railway books. One can detect little logic in their publishing plans and patterns, and publication dates can lapse(!) but I forgive them all their transgressions for their beautiful books. They do NOT supply the bookclub and do not remainder their books, and also maintain books at their originally published price unless reprinted, even if a book remains in print for years. [More on Wild Swan and illustrated booklist]