RMweb Premium OnTheBranchline Posted June 13, 2012 RMweb Premium Share Posted June 13, 2012 I have one borrowed from a friend; Modellers' Guide to the GWR by T.J.Booth (circa 1990) and it's pretty good for the general modelling advice and history (except from the listing of locos and rolling stock). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamieb Posted June 13, 2012 Share Posted June 13, 2012 If you can manage to get them,go for Great Western Branch Line Modelling vols 1-3 by Stephen Williams,published by Wild Swan.Out of print at present but maybe available on Amazon or Ebay.Worth searching for as they'll give you nearly all the info you need.Vol 3 is probably the least essential as it deals primarily with the modelling side and as such some of the info is a bit out of date. Jamie Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Fatadder Posted June 13, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted June 13, 2012 The Russell books on locos, coaches and wagons are very useful for reference photos of rolling stock, can be a bit pricy but through eBay and railway book shops I didn't have to spend too much on my set (which reminds me I must get on and order the Russell wagon book. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted June 13, 2012 Share Posted June 13, 2012 Pretty much anything published by Domestic Duck, especially The 4mm Engine and More 4mm Engines by the late Guy Williams - these tend to have a GW bent since he built quite a lot of engines for Pendon. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
richbrummitt Posted June 13, 2012 Share Posted June 13, 2012 Great Western Way: Any edition, but the latest much revised edition is much larger and provides far more detail, particularly for the pre-grouping companies that were absorbed. GWR Wagons, Atkins et al: More useful than the Russell books when it comes to freight stock. The third edition is a huge volume but usually prohibitively expensive - if you can find one. The first edition or second, combined volume, are far more common and should be enough for most peoples needs. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rugd1022 Posted June 13, 2012 Share Posted June 13, 2012 The old 'Bradford Barton' GW Steam photo albums are still fairly cheap and plentiful... first published in the 70s with reprints following in some cases, they cover branch lines, mainlines, sheds, different parts of the GWR / Western Region etc, with almost thirty volumes to choose from. Prices start at around £2 and go up to around £10 depending on where you find them. Worth every penny! The Ian Allan colour portfolio series on GW subjects are worth a punt too, particularly the Peter Gray and Derek Penney ones.... easily available too. Dive in and enjoy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Wintle Posted June 13, 2012 Share Posted June 13, 2012 Here is a good list: http://www.gwr.org.uk/nolitt.html For an overview of coaching stock, I'd suggest the Harris book if you can find it. The Russell volumes are great if you are modelling coaches, but Harris covers history and construction, and has the lot list. If you are interested in trains of the 1930s (particularly passenger), the two volumes of The Great Western Railway in the 1930s have some wonderful pictures and great supporting information. Both are still available from David Geen http://www.davidgeen.co.uk/catalogue/additionalitems.htm Adrian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hawk Posted June 13, 2012 Share Posted June 13, 2012 If you can manage to get them,go for Great Western Branch Line Modelling vols 1-3 by Stephen Williams,published by Wild Swan.Out of print at present but maybe available on Amazon or Ebay.Worth searching for as they'll give you nearly all the info you need.Vol 3 is probably the least essential as it deals primarily with the modelling side and as such some of the info is a bit out of date. I checked Amazon.uk for a used copy, and found one for... *wait for it* ...USD 316.89! http://www.amazon.com/Great-Western-Branch-Line-Modelling/dp/1874103135/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1339606955&sr=8-1&keywords=great+western+branch+line+modeling Regards, Hawk Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamieb Posted June 13, 2012 Share Posted June 13, 2012 I checked Amazon.uk for a used copy, and found one for... *wait for it* ...USD 316.89! http://www.amazon.co...h line modeling Regards, Hawk Have to think about putting mine on Ebay in that case....! Jamie Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold gwrrob Posted June 13, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted June 13, 2012 RCTS titles also come up on ebay on several loco classes.I bought No8 which is the two cylinder classes incuding the 45xx,42xx and 72xx.Ideal for the latest Hornby releases. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trains&armour Posted June 13, 2012 Share Posted June 13, 2012 If you can manage to get them,go for Great Western Branch Line Modelling vols 1-3 by Stephen Williams,published by Wild Swan.Out of print at present but maybe available on Amazon or Ebay.Worth searching for as they'll give you nearly all the info you need.Vol 3 is probably the least essential as it deals primarily with the modelling side and as such some of the info is a bit out of date. Jamie As a relative newbie to GWR modelling myself (and a foreigner to boot) I would second this suggestion. Several are available on ebay:http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p5197.m570.l1313&_nkw=Great+Western+Branch+Line+Modelling&_sacat=See-All-Categories for, at this moment at least, less then 316 USD.... Sierd Jan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coombe Barton Posted June 13, 2012 Share Posted June 13, 2012 How about some websites? GWR Modelling Great Western Archive Disused Stations Signal Box Diagrams SignalBox - layout plans There will be more Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RussellD Posted August 20, 2012 Share Posted August 20, 2012 I am slowly building up my book collection and the GWR titles that I have found particularly useful are: History of the Great Western Railway by Peter Semmens (3 volumes covering 1923-1948) Odd Corners of the GWR and More Odd Corners of the GWR by Kevin Robertson (looks at the more unusal things such as camping coaches, weedkilling trains and accidents and ATC) Great Western Branch Line Termini by Paul Karau (2 volumes, I have only Vol 1, which contains photographs, track plans and plans of the stations at Fairford, Lambourn, Tetbury, Watlington and Wallingford) An Historical Survey of Selected Great Western Stations by R.H.Clark (4 volumes which contain track plans, signal box diagrams and a brief description of lots of the stations on the GWR network) GWR Country Stations by Chris Leigh (2 volumes, a good photographic guide to the differing architectural styles used by the GWR and also useful photos of other station infrastructure like signs, goods sheds etc) Modelling the Great Western Railway by Silver Link Publishing These are good general books about the GWR. More specific books to particular lines can be found and the Middleton Press "Western Main Lines", "Country Railway Routes" and "Branch Lines" series are a good place start if you know the line/station you want to model. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenton Posted August 20, 2012 Share Posted August 20, 2012 All the best ones are out of print and some are really extortionate. Why the publisher's don't get off their proverbial and do some reprinting I really don't know. Some would sell out overnight at the more realistic cover price. These are all important reference books mostly some of considerable merit. Note to self: Must re-estimate the price of my library for insurance ... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJS1977 Posted August 20, 2012 Share Posted August 20, 2012 As "inspiration" books, the GWR 150 book by Pat Whitehouse and David St. John Thomas (which is an all-round book in that whilst it has a couple of drawings - including scale track plans of Padd, Temple Meads and Snow Hill, it also has a complete set of allocations for 31/12/1947, plenty of anecdotes and lots of inspirational photos). There was also a book of paintings released around the same time with similar (mostly) inspirational views. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold colin penfold Posted August 20, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 20, 2012 I agree that the OPC surveys mentioned in post 13 are excellent for track layouts, the trilogy of wild swan books (post 2 ) for modelling ideas and the square green Bradford Barton albums (post 6) are great for pictures and can be bought cheaply from most preserved railway second hand book departments. My contribution to your shopping list is Great Western Railway: A New History by Frank Booker. Currently available used very cheap (less than £3) on amazon and it's an excellent, readable potted history of the GWR as an entity As others have said, if you have a specific line or area you are interested in, a google search will reveal more specific books on virtually every line - my favourite for example being the Didcot, Newbury and Southampton Railway for which I have no less than 6 books specifically about that line alone! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted September 19, 2012 Share Posted September 19, 2012 Recently released is Irwell Press's Paddington to Weymouth - the route in the 1950s by Derek Phillips. Ever-so-slightly steep at just under £25, but has plenty of OS maps from the decade, and is stuffed to the gunwales with very useful photos showing the general layout of things as they were. I bought it because I have a personal interest in Weymouth anyway; the book has two fascinating chapters on the town itself plus the Weymouth Quay tramway. Lashings of post-war fun. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver Sidelines Posted September 19, 2012 Share Posted September 19, 2012 To ?? My first two suggestions would be OPC books. First the 'Bible' - "A pictorial Record of Great Western Architecture - A Vaughan 1977" and secondly "Great Western Branch Line Termini - P Karau 1977/1985.1999" Yes there is the 'web' but some hard copies are nicer. Regards Ray Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold colin penfold Posted September 19, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 19, 2012 Just a little prod to the OP, you have not "liked" any of the responses from fellow members or put any form of reply on since you started this post three months ago. Several people have made efforts to help you with your enquiry - it woud be nice to be acknowledged / thanked. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Phil Parker Posted September 20, 2012 Administrators Share Posted September 20, 2012 If you want a very readable history of the GWR, the Andrew Roden has writen one. I reviewed it on my blog: http://philsworkbench.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/book-review-great-western-railway_15.html While it won't help with modelling details, it's a very enjoyable read with plenty of pace. It will give you an idea how the company fitted into the wider world and sort out the "big picture" stuff such as how things changed, or didn't, under BR. To be honest, read it 'cos it's a good read. Phil Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
3 link Posted September 27, 2012 Share Posted September 27, 2012 Hi Guys, Still roughly on topic I am after any books that deals solely with GWR track and station plans, I model in the 50's era as I am still not sure whether to design my own layout or go for an actual location. Any help would be most appreciated, Martyn. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold gwrrob Posted September 27, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 27, 2012 Hi Guys, Still roughly on topic I am after any books that deals solely with GWR track and station plans, I model in the 50's era as I am still not sure whether to design my own layout or go for an actual location. Any help would be most appreciated, Martyn. Theres a series from Tony Cooke who does quite a few books on the GWR system.Plenty of choice Martyn ! http://www.lightmoor.co.uk/category.php?§ion=Track%20Plans Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold colin penfold Posted September 27, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 27, 2012 Hi Guys, Still roughly on topic I am after any books that deals solely with GWR track and station plans, I model in the 50's era as I am still not sure whether to design my own layout or go for an actual location. Any help would be most appreciated, Martyn. An Historical Survey of Selected Great Western Stations by R.H.Clark (4 volumes which contain track plans, signal box diagrams and a brief description of lots of the stations on the GWR network) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
3 link Posted September 27, 2012 Share Posted September 27, 2012 Cheers Rob & Colin, Thanks for the prompt replys that certainly gives me plenty of choice, there is one area around Ledbury that I would like to study in more detail but the Tony Cooke book on that area appears to be sold out, so maybe I will have a quick look on Abe books or Ebay. Thanks once again, Martyn. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
richbrummitt Posted September 27, 2012 Share Posted September 27, 2012 There were also two volumes that I believe were in a similar format to the Clark books focussed on branch line termini. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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