Strathwood

Just spotted that we are down to the last eleven copies of The Book of the KING 4-6-0s before they are completely sold out, be quick if you want one. https://strathwood.co.uk/products/the-book-of-the-king-4-6-0s?_pos=1&_psq=The Book of the KING 4-6-0s&_ss=e&_v=1.0 Kevin

you have some meaty lumps of coal there sir, are the coalmen discussing how to get them from the wagon? Kevin

We have just up-loaded another 40 plus bargain clearance titles with discounts of up to 50% for the final five days of our clearance offer which must end on 31st January 2024. See for yourself .... https://strathwood.co.uk/collections/discounted-books?sort_by=manual

Just 7 days left of our clearance sale which must end 31st January, there are over 200+ bargains with discounts to over 50% to be had if you are quick. https://strathwood.co.uk/collections/discounted-books Kevin

Latest arrival is Southern Times Issue 7, for those seeking back issues we can oblige (just) as some of the earlier issues are down to single figures in our warehouse, catch up quickly if you want to. Meanwhile, Issue 7: Contents Introduction Snow The Southern N15X class Signalling at Farnborough Main, based on notes by the late John Davenport Down the line to Oxted; Part 2 Alan Postlethwaite Civil Defence Exercise at Brighton Kemp Town Stephen Townroe’s Colour Archive: Mr Bulleid’s Pacifics From the Footplate First Generation / Heritage EMUS The demise of William Beattie ‘St Lawrence’, ‘Eastbourne’ and ‘Ardingly’ Treasures from the Bluebell Railway Museum Tony Hillman Southern Region in colour. Images by Ian Hemphill 80 Pages with 90+ Photographs in both B&W & colour & drawings/maps. SOFTBACK https://strathwood.co.uk/products/southern-times-issue-7 Kevin

This week's bargain of the week has to be this belter for admirers of Riddles Pacifics, with 144 pages, fabulous B&W archive photographs, in a larger landscape format HARDBACK ideal for your home library. 50%+ OFF RRP is £27.95 A Celebration of BR STANDARD PACIFICS, Britannias, Clans & Duke of Gloucester Grab yours right now with Strathwood for just £13.99 and check out our wide range of 1700+ titles, gift ideas and our special bonus book offer deal too. https://strathwood.co.uk/products/a-celebration-of-br-standard-pacifics-britannias-clans-duke-of-gloucester Kevin

The dreaded seam in the bunker is well hidden, great. Kevin

Just wondering what the trade will do with regards to launching their NEW models to the modelling fraternity. Aside from that, Covid forced a number of larger commercial venues to reconsider their own positions with regards to health & safety regulations, security, insurance and as commercial concerns their own profits too. The results have seen the venues tighten their rules, increase their costs to show's producers, which in turn have been forced upon the traders at the shows along with raising entry prices. Add to this many of the old stalwarts I recall from many years ago when I was on a team organising a large three day show in Australia, we relied heavily on loyal members goodwill and free labour (save for their free entry and daily feeds and endless tea & coffee of course). This made the show viable not only financially, but also gave otherwise shy or less active members the opportunity to take part and to be groomed for other responsibilities within a large club to help with its running. It also helped considerably towards raising funds to buy our own clubrooms and to kit them out. Just like any business, model railway clubs need to have good leadership. Not only financially, but also in the encouragement of existing members interests, their various factions, steam, diesel, UK, overseas, narrow gauge etc. In my experience things can become stale with some stagnant leadership members who whilst giving their time and efforts across many years become unapproachable in time. When the time for an AGM comes around, there may be dissent in the ranks, but none are prepared to be brave enough to stand up and perhaps be counted and maybe lose face themselves in any voting to provide the new blood, enthusiasm and the changes that maybe being sought by the membership from those at the top. Does this sound familiar in any form of club or society within or without our hobby? Going back to exhibitions and some of the traders, as we are all getting ever older, Covid was the good chance for many volunteers and some of the traders to consider their own health and ages as to whether they were still fit enough for what can be involved, or whether they felt it was time for a rest themselves and perhaps instead be just a simple visitor and having an enjoyable day out from the other side of the fence for once. I recall watching myself from when we did regular shows starting back in the mid-eighties watching "seniors" often almost knocking themselves out in trying to keep up and not being the ones to let the side down. All very brave and they were great team players for sure, whilst some other club members did very little aside from pontificate and groan about leadership in the wings. In hindsight I can recall several characters from years ago who are sadly no longer with us who put themselves second and their club first, often with unfortunate results to their own health and their home life too, with very little thanks from some members sadly. Going forward it could be a breath of fresh air perhaps to one or two of the other clubs and by using more economic venues to perhaps share in the wealth being spread around to other regional shows, including the Warley Club themselves who may elect to step back a little and focus on a smaller more manageable and perhaps profitable show for their club in the dawn of a new outlook on how their club is being run, and how it can best serve its membership. As an outsider to this show I thank all of those over the years for their efforts as I know just how much it takes and wish them well going forward. Kevin

Due into stock today we welcome CORNERS of the CAMBRIAN at £14.95, sure to be another favourite. CORNERS of the CAMBRIAN Further details at https://strathwood.co.uk/products/corners-of-the-cambrian Kevin

Although several titles have sold out in our excess stock clearance sale, we have listed around thirty more titles with discounts from 15% to 50+% OFF the RRP, be quick as some lines have limited numbers as such heavy discounts. All orders can still also benefit from our Bonus Book Offer and FREE UK shipping too on orders over £60.00. Many customers have been enjoying some cracking deals and coming back for seconds, feel free to join them. https://strathwood.co.uk/collections/discounted-books Kevin

Sure, everything in 2023 was focused upon absorbing Irwell Press and taking over trade distribution for sixteen other publishers. in addition we have taken on over 1700+ product lines in our warehouse and we are just adding another 250 DVDs too. I have come up for air at last and yes, we have a whole catalogue of delayed titles going off to press now, including at least another three Sixties Diesel & Electric Days Remembered volumes to take us up to Volume X at least. All the best, Kevin

As some of the clearance items in our sale are going out of print, we welcome this new title into stock. The Steam Railway West Scotland https://strathwood.co.uk/products/the-steam-railway-west-scotland Kevin

I think for most of us the real Book of the Year for 2023 is this one as publicised elsewhere here on RM Web with some justification. Book of the Year 2023 A Pictorial Atlas of the Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway Once again not just our Book of the Week twice already this year, but very much our Book of the Year. This is based first and foremost on sales, quality and presentation. Personally, I hate those albums of old with small pictures often poorly reproduced, and since getting involved in producing over two hundred books myself, I have often been privileged to see the original negatives and slides those shots were reproduced from. Sometimes leading me to think what a waste of great material in how some of those books from the 1970 to 2000 era were reproduced, all those years ago. Thankfully with modern technology this is less of an issue and books have become easier and more economic to produce in many ways. However, the good news is cancelled out as print numbers have come down as the market has shrunk massively as our fellow railway enthusiasts have been dying off like the dinosaurs, and not replaced as they once were at the younger end of the market. Every time we lose one, aside from the sadness to family and friends, it is one less purchaser for new titles and models and their demise throws into the second-hand market their book and model collection too, very often at a huge discount. This means that the financial risk and unit cost of not only new railway books but also many models have actually gone up. Well, this title is very worthy of our Book of the Year as it very much bucks the trend, if you act fast, you can still grab a copy for yourself as we do have limited stock available before it goes out of print, the cost of a reprint is certainly off the table. https://strathwood.co.uk/products/a-pictorial-atlas-of-the-somerset-dorset-joint-railway?_pos=2&_psq=atlas&_ss=e&_v=1.0 Kevin

In addition to our End of Year Clearance Sale with 200+ titles down to half price or less take a look at the latest arrival Midland Times Issue 3. MIDLAND Times Issue 3 https://strathwood.co.uk/products/midland-times-issue-3 Kevin

Book of the Year 2023 A Pictorial Atlas of the Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway Once again not just our Book of the Week twice already this year, but very much our Book of the Year. This is based first and foremost on sales, quality and presentation. Personally, I hate those albums of old with small pictures often poorly reproduced, and since getting involved in producing over two hundred books myself, I have often been privileged to see the original negatives and slides those shots were reproduced from. Sometimes leading me to think what a waste of great material in how some of those books from the 1970 to 2000 era were reproduced, all those years ago. Thankfully with modern technology this is less of an issue and books have become easier and more economic to produce in many ways. However, the good news is cancelled out as print numbers have come down as the market has shrunk massively as our fellow railway enthusiasts have been dying off like the dinosaurs, and not replaced as they once were at the younger end of the market. Every time we lose one, aside from the sadness to family and friends, it is one less purchaser for new titles and models and their demise throws into the second-hand market their book and model collection too, very often at a huge discount. This means that the financial risk and unit cost of not only new railway books but also many models have actually gone up. Well, this title is very worthy of our Book of the Year as it very much bucks the trend, if you act fast, you can still grab a copy for yourself as we do have limited stock available before it goes out of print, the cost of a reprint is certainly off the table. https://strathwood.co.uk/products/a-pictorial-atlas-of-the-somerset-dorset-joint-railway?_pos=2&_psq=atlas&_ss=e&_v=1.0 Kevin

As many of you have already found we have listed 200+ titles with discounts to over 50% to clear... Take a good look and fill your boots at these prices... As we make room for everything, we hope to bring in during 2024, just follow the link. https://strathwood.co.uk/collections/discounted-books https://strathwood.co.uk/collections/discounted-books Kevin

I am afraid we are all mortal and as the phrase goes "of a certain age". Agreed RIP as his four volumes on South Wales with OPC are a superb record. Kevin

This week's Book of the Week should really be Book of the Year as it has been by far the most popular title in 2023, we still have stock, but the end is in sight now if you haven't got one yet or Santa misses you out. A Pictorial Atlas of the Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway https://strathwood.co.uk/products/a-pictorial-atlas-of-the-somerset-dorset-joint-railway?_pos=4&_psq=so&_ss=e&_v=1.0 Kevin

I just thought it was grey skies as normal here in Inverness. Season's greetings and best wishes for 2024 our second-year since the grouping or am I only 101 years out of date? Kevin

We have a new book for lovers of London's trams in stock, although Christmas delivery has all but passed, we will still be shipping parcels until the end of the year, save for Christmas Day and Boxing Day. As ever our website is open 24 hours a day 7 day a week for you. Tracks of London's Trams 1949-1952 https://strathwood.co.uk/products/tracks-of-londons-trams-1949-1952 Kevin

Difficult to say as she was given an intermediate in the early summer of 1937 at Swindon and was back there again for a general from 7 June until 4 August 1938. As you say being their Royal pet they may have elected to show the latest style of crest at the time for publicity. Info taken from The Book of the Kings from Irwell Press. So as ever adopt rule 1, it's your railway do as you like. Kevin

Gresley's Master Engineer, Bert Spencer The great and the good rarely, if ever, accomplish all they wish to achieve without the able assistance of many skilled men and women, here is part of the story behind Gresley with 36 colour and 410 B&W archive photographs and drawings within its 240 pages. HARDBACK Grab yours right now with Strathwood for £28.00 and check out our wide range of 1700+ titles, gift ideas and our NEW Christmas special bonus book offer too. https://strathwood.co.uk/products/gresleys-master-engineer-bert-spencer Kevin

If it's not priority traffic it will arrive as cream or worse. Kevin