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Modelling: Rolling Stock Locomotives Layout Design Techniques Reference |
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Prototype: Rolling Stock Locomotives Branch Lines Light Lines Other Titles |
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| WILD SWAN |
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Modelling: Rolling Stock Locomotives Layout Design Techniques Reference |
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Prototype: Rolling Stock Locomotives Branch Lines Light Lines Other Titles |
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| The Alcester Branch | 100pages | Softback |
| Stanley C. Jenkins and Roger Carpenter | 2005 | £18.95 |
| A delightful portrait of the six mile branch that connected the Midland's cross country line at Alcester with the Great Western's route to Stratford Upon Avon at Bearley. Originating in the 1860s the line wasn't built until over a decae later when the two companies at either end of the route agreed an uneasy truce to allow its operation. This was one of those minor routes that was shut down in both World Wars as an economy measure but somehow managed to survive for freight until 1951, with a couple of miles surviving into 1960 for wagon storage. Not quite as exhaustively comprehensive in its photographic coverage as some books owing to the obscurity of the subject, this book nonetheless allows more than a glimpse of a charming rural railway. | 
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| The Banbury and Cheltenham Railway Volume 1 | 200pages | Hardback |
| William Hemmings | 2004 | £29.95 |
| Fully up to the high standards of its publisher, this book covers the line's history up until 1939 and the outbreak of war. The depth of research and the quality of the results and illustrations uncovered are astounding, chronologically culminating in an amazingly clear series of photographs of evacueees arriving at Chippng Norton. The same book is also available in a softbound format at £23.95 and in either format this is a beautiful book. Volume 2 (see separate description) is a detailed examination of the route and its stations from Banbury to Kingham, whilst volume 3 (not yet published) will complete the history after 1939 and cover associated ironstone workings and the remainder of the route from Kingham to Cheltenham. | 
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| The Banbury and Cheltenham Railway Volume 2 | 170pages | Hardback |
| William Hemings, Paul Karau and Chris Turner | 2004 | £28.95 |
| A very detailed photograhic survey of the line from Banbury to Kingham, including the romanticaly named Rollright and Sarsden Halts and their associated sidings. Kingham is very briefly shown, presumably fuller details will be in volume 3, not yet produced. OS map extracts and a well researched and comprehensive text accompany the photographs in what is a beautifully produced and potentially definitive work on this subject. It is also available in a softback binding at £22.95. This is not a criticism exactly, but I do wonder at the sanity of the publisher in the way in which the whole work has been split into three volumes (no date for the third!) and two different bindings, there was a story that this book was rushed out to beat another publication on the same subject from Lightmoor - surely not? | 
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| The Bishops Waltham Branch | 92pages | Softback |
| Roger Simmonds and Kevin Robertson | 1986 | £7.95 |
| Running from Botley on the Eastleigh to Fareham line, this little known LSWR branch survived in freight only guise until 1962, latterly becoming the haunt of Ivatt tank locomotives. This book provides comprehensive photographic coverage of the line including fascinating views of repairing a landslide in 1936. | 
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| The Calne Branch | 112pages | Softback |
| Colin Maggs | 1990 | £9.95 |
| Although only 5 miles long the Calne branch was intensively worked, many thousands of servicemen travelled the line to Yatesbury Camp and Harris's famous Bacon Factory was situated at the end of the branch. This is a particularly well illustrated book, which covers everything you would expect and more, for example the construction of the new "Black Bridge" by the Great Western, and the laying of an impressive water main along the line for Harris's - I wonder whether the scrap men took it away when they lifted the line, or perhaps it is still there? Full details and photographs of the unique "Siphon" vans and their workings complete this attractive and useful book for modellers. |
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| Country Branch Line Volume 1 | 240pages | Hardback |
| Paul Karau & Chris Turner | 1998 | £26.95 |
| Subtitled "The Story Of The Line From 1872 To 1961", this has got to be the ultimate branch line history book of all time. The Watlington Branch is Paul Karau's favourite branch line, and he has amassed a truly staggering collection of photographs, plans and facts about it. The book is a beautifully crafted piece of work, and as you will by now expect from this publisher, the story and presentation encompasses much more than just the railway. The characters, countryside and customers are all included in this lovely book. | 
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| Country Branch Line Volume 2 | 214pages | Hardback |
| Paul Karau & Chris Turner | 1998 | £25.95 |
| This second volume describes the stations along the Watlington Branch with the same style and phenomenal level of detail as the first book dealt with the history. The number and depth of coverage of the photographs which have been collected is truly incredible, including the Cement works at Chinnor and the Timber Research establishment at Princes Risborough amongst many other subjects. If I had a criticism, it would only be that the Watlington Branch isn't my favourite line! | 
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| The Didcot Newbury and Southampton Railway | 220pages | Hardback |
| Karau, Parsons and Robertson | 2000 | £25.95 |
| A very welcome reprint of a quite magnificent book, beautifully put together and profusely illustrated, including track and signalling diagrams and scale drawings of structures. Promoted by a fiercely independent company, the line crossed the great chalk slopes of the Berkshire and Hampshire downs and was particularly expensive to build, being laid out with shallow curves and easy gradients for high speed running. For various reasons, all covered in this book, the scheme didn't work out as intended and the line had a chequered existence up until its inevitable closure. The promoters' hopes were realised in two World Wars however, the preparations for D Day resulted in the conversion of much of the route to double track and a whole programme of other capacity improvements, all of which are detailed in this superb book. | 
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| The Forest of Dean Branch Vol 2 | 200pages | Hardback |
| Ian Pope and Paul Karau | 1997 | £27.95 |
| Continuing on from volume 1, this beautiful book covers the Great Western's routes north of Bilson and the Churchway and the Whimsey branches. Extensively illustrated with a wide range of photographs, it includes comprehensive coverage of the coal mining and other industries which led to so much railway development in this small area. There are comprehensive plans and maps, including full signalling diagrams of stations and sidings. | 
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| The Forest of Dean Branch Vol. 1 | 234pages | Hardback |
| Ian Pope and Paul Karau | 1992 | £25.00 |
| A major work of reference and a beautifully illustrated book, covering the Newnham to Cinderford lines of the Great Western and all the associated industrial sidings, quarries and coal mines. The pictures are frequently stunning, and the coverage of coal mining in the area is very well done, including underground photographs, details of coal workings and of course all of the railway facilities and organisation. | 
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| The Hawkhurst Branch | 252pages | Hardback |
| Brian Hart | 2000 | £26.95 |
| An immaculately well written and beautifully presented book on an exceptionally pretty branch line which ran for thirteen miles or so across the Weald from Paddock Wood on the Kent Coast main line. The whole story is recorded in exquisite and minute detail, from surveying and construction through the inaugural train to the "last rites", and there is even a chapter devoted to the hop - pickers and their special trains. Full scale drawings and plans of all buildings are included, as are track and signalling diagrams and the wonderful photographs cover every conceivable detail of the railway line - this is as good as it gets. |
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| The Lambourn Branch | 164pages | Hardback |
| Kevin Robertson and Roger Simmons | 1984 | £18.95 |
| Reprinted recently, this is an attractive and comprehensive history of the branch which ran from Newbury to Lambourn, famous for its racing stables. The book includes coverage of the line's early independent days, right through the GWR's upgrading up to the line's amazingly late survival into 1973 as a private line run by the US air force. This was to serve an enormous munitions store which had been connected to the branch by a new 2 mile long railway built in 1952. It is possible that the line would have remained in use for even longer had it not been for BR's perceived over-charging for pilots etc. for the last bit of working into Newbury station - a fascinating story well told. | 
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| Severn & Wye Railway Volume 1 | 158pages | Softback |
| Ian Pope, Bob How & Paul Karau | 1983 | £19.95 |
| Reprinted as a softback in 2003, this first part of only two volumes published so far covers the history of the Severn and Wye from early tramroad days up until 1947. The photographic coverage extends into the 1960s but does not cover the later (diesel) years. The line from Lydney Junction to Parkend is explored in great detail and the book concludes with a useful selection of scale architectural drawings. Throughout there are numerous scale and signalling track diagrams and maps which explain the complicated developments of both main line and industrial railways. Industries and collieries along the route are well featured, including Norchard Colliery where the current day preservationists have established their base. | 
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| Severn & Wye Railway Volume 2 | 200pages | Softback |
| Ian Pope, Bob How & Paul Karau | 1985 | £21.95 |
| This second volume continues the photographic exploration of the first volume onwards from Parkend to Cinderford and includes all the minor branches and industries along the way. The collieries are particularly well explored, with photographs taken underground complementing the extensive coverage of the surface works and their railways. Scenes of heavy industy contrast with their rural setting and the charming narrow gauge Bicslade's tramroad. Although this book covers a very specific area it is one of the best available photographic references for the interaction between coal mining and other rural industries with the railways and tramways that served them. | 
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| The Severn Valley at Arley | 62pages | Softback |
| Barrie Greens | 1995 | £6.95 |
| A portrait of a country railway station together with its village and ferry on the upper reaches of the Severn, a beautiful setting and now meticulously restored by the Severn Valley Railway. There is a particularly nice sequence of images of a holiday being taken in the camping coach from the Speight family's album - quite magical. | ||
| The Teign Valley Line | 284pages | Hardback |
| Peter Kay | 1996 | £27.95 |
| Considered by some to be the most attractive of the Great Western's branches, the Teign Valley was a picturesque line which certainly had an intriguing history. I have read the whole of this book, and can confirm that it is as interesting to read as it is attractive to look at, the early machinations of the two companies which built the line are truly incredible as is the story about the mushroom grower and the telegraph wires! One small criticism, there is no simple overall map of the line and its connections. | 
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| The Tenbury and Bewdley Railway | 202pages | Hardback |
| Keith Beddoes and William H. Smith | 1995 | £23.95 |
| A "cross country branch line" as defined by my tattered 9d copy of C.J. Freezer's "Modelling Branch Lines", tantalisingly written in the present tense, Great Linford, Chedworth.. oh dear, I'm afraid I'm wittering again! Running from Wooferton Junction to Bewdley, and connecting with the Cleobury Mortimer and Ditton Priors at the aforementioned place, this scenic railway ran through the Wyre Forest and crossed the Severn on an elegant lattice girdered bridge, the pillars of which still stand today. This is a truly wonderful book, beautifully produced and covering such arcane matters as an earlier canal and the art of charcoal burning. The earlier years are particularly well recorded and the overall quality and range of photographs is exceptional. | 
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| The Woodstock Branch | 104pages | Softback |
| S C Jenkins | 1987 | £7.95 |
| Home to "Fair Rosamund" and serving Blenheim Palace, this was an example of the classic Great Western branch line. Auto train worked to the bitter end this Oxfordshire idyll is done full justice by this attracively produced and well illustrated book. Likely to go out of print shortly, and still available at its original published price, quite a bargain. | 
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