Just for fun Archive Spotters! Where are we and when?

We have blanked out the signalbox nameboard just to help you! (Not)

Image © The Nostalgia Archive


The answer: Wokingham early in 1962!

British Railways Past & Present Companions

The companions series is proving popular and we will be adding new volumes in the months ahead featuring The Settle & Carlisle line and The Severn Valley Railway. Which railways would you like to see featured in the future?

New Archive Picture of the week (No 4) - Just for fun!

Where and when are we this week archive spotters? Clearly it is in the steam era - when we used to get 'real winters' and lots of atmospheric steam pictures!

The answer...
Looking down on Redhill loco shed on 8 January 1963

Just realised that we are down to our last few copies of Oi Jimmy Knacker by Ken Kimberley. This hardback volume has been one of our most talked about books since first publication in October 1998.

The late Ken Kimberley painted scenes from his childhood in the 1940s and this lovely volume contains over 40 of his illustrations. Featuring the East End of London and various outings and escapades from all those years ago these last few copies will not last long, so first come first served!

Update to Memory Lingers On

The team has decided to go green for the title! The draft cover has been all but finalised and a refined version is now shown here.

The Memory Lingers On

The team are currently working on the page layout for the upcoming final volume in Mike Esau's trilogy on British Railways working steam. With over 200 classic black & white images and 9 colour images this is another mouth watering volume from Mike who is recognised as one of Britain's leading railway photographers.


Nearly all of the pictures in this book are seen for the first time,
and reflect Mike’s diverse and perceptive approach to railway
photography, which vividly recalls an age that some were lucky
enough to experience. So, The Memory Lingers On…

100 Years old and still going strong - but not in steam!

The 100 year old locomotive Blacolvesley owned by author Dr Bob Tebb made an historic return on the Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway over this past weekend when visitors and invited guests were treated to demonstration runs by this 'fine old lady' on the occassion of the launch of Bob's wonderful new book.

Built for the Blakesley Miniature Railway in Northamptonshire all those years ago she is believed to be the first and oldest internal combustion engined locomotive in the world. The picture from a postcard in the author's collection shows the locomotive running at the Blakesley hall in the early 1900s. Sadly the Hall and the railway are no more.

British Railways Past & Present nearly 60 and counting!

The first volume in this amazing series was published back in 1985 and featured the railways of Cumbria, now some 24 years later we are looking foward to the 60th volume in the series, featuring South London Suburban lines, which is due for release in November. Early in the new year there will be two further volumes featuring Birmingham (No 61) and South and East Staffordshire (No 62). Further volumes are in the pipeline so there is much to look forward to in the months ahead.

The Blakesley Miniature Railway

We are excited today as we are releasing the softcover edition of The Blakesley Miniature Railway and copies are being despatched today. The Signature Edition (Hardback) is being signed by the author this weekend at the Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway and will be despatched early next week.