The LNER Encyclopedia

Does anyone else get that sinking feeling when unwrapping a Christmas or birthday parcel from a close relative only to discover that they have gone to great lengths to buy you a “railway” book?

Your heart sinks because you instinctively know it is nothing like “the” specialist book you would have bought for yourself.

Having just celebrated a birthday I have two experiences I can relate.
The first is a very sumptious tome entitled “The Encyclopedia of Trains and Locomotives”. It’s all there in the title, I knew it was going to be a generalist book containing very little of interest. The cover has a stunning full colour photo on an immaculate SE & CR no. 65 0-6-0 in beautiful green and lined livery pulling a matched set of three early teak four wheel bogie carriages one a clerestory. There is no photo credit or any other detail. The book cost £40.00.

Naturally I turned to the pages containing LNER engines first and that is where the book lost all credibility for me. Flying Scotsman, 4472 in its 1993 single tender form without deflectors and double chimney, is clearly captioned “The William Shakespeare”

Then there is a photo of “Bon Accord” BR 60154 being labelled as an A1 which of course it is, but built by Peppercorn in September 1949 and not Gresley in 1922. Perhaps this is a more understandable error but to find these two mistakes on the same GNR A1 entry page is too much for this enthusiast.

By way of contrast the second volume is an utterly delightful book entitled “Tales of the Old Railwaymen” by Tom Quinn, David & Charles 1998 priced at a modest £12.99.
The photos used alongside the captivating stories from old railway employees, many of which are of LNER interest, are fascinating, authoritative and pertinent and not one have I ever seen before. The small be-blazered boy looking intently underneath the front end of A4 “Golden Eagle” LNER No 4482 being special, also the seven men cleaning and preparing what looks like an LMS Patriot. This book also some has some exceptional and very atmospheric watercolour paintings by Philip Murphy, illustrating all aspects of steam railway life. A great read this and I was over the moon to receive it as a gift.

Does anyone else have contrasting “railway” gift stories.

[quote="John B"]Does anyone else get that sinking feeling when unwrapping a Christmas or birthday parcel from a close relative only to discover that they have gone to great lengths to buy you a “railway” book?

Judging from the number of non replies. (Since you first posted this in 2007) Members either do not read railway books or like yourself are too embarrassed to mention any such gift.

Over the years I have been given many railways books, all accepted with grateful thanks. Quite recently a friend gave me a copy of ‘British Railway Workshops’ Produced by Edgar Larkin and published by Oxford Publishing Company. First edition 1992 with a 2007 reprint. All the main workshops are covered plus a few I didn’t know about, all now long disappeared?

My only worry now is finding the room to put any new addition.

This Christmas I received an interesting little biography of Brunel. An unfortunate airport delay meant I managed to read it in a day!

I usually drop hints for easy-to-obtain tools, as finding LNER books here in the US is more a case of serendipity than planning.


Richard

The class 50's in colour. I fear there is nothing more to say.

John B wrote:Does anyone else get that sinking feeling when unwrapping a Christmas or birthday parcel from a close relative only to discover that they have gone to great lengths to buy you a “railway” book?

Your heart sinks because you instinctively know it is nothing like “the” specialist book you would have bought for yourself.

Having just celebrated a birthday I have two experiences I can relate.
The first is a very sumptious tome entitled “The Encyclopedia of Trains and Locomotives”. It’s all there in the title, I knew it was going to be a generalist book containing very little of interest. The cover has a stunning full colour photo on an immaculate SE & CR no. 65 0-6-0 in beautiful green and lined livery pulling a matched set of three early teak four wheel bogie carriages one a clerestory. There is no photo credit or any other detail. The book cost £40.00.

Naturally I turned to the pages containing LNER engines first and that is where the book lost all credibility for me. Flying Scotsman, 4472 in its 1993 single tender form without deflectors and double chimney, is clearly captioned “The William Shakespeare”

Then there is a photo of “Bon Accord” BR 60154 being labelled as an A1 which of course it is, but built by Peppercorn in September 1949 and not Gresley in 1922. Perhaps this is a more understandable error but to find these two mistakes on the same GNR A1 entry page is too much for this enthusiast.

By way of contrast the second volume is an utterly delightful book entitled “Tales of the Old Railwaymen” by Tom Quinn, David & Charles 1998 priced at a modest £12.99.
The photos used alongside the captivating stories from old railway employees, many of which are of LNER interest, are fascinating, authoritative and pertinent and not one have I ever seen before. The small be-blazered boy looking intently underneath the front end of A4 “Golden Eagle” LNER No 4482 being special, also the seven men cleaning and preparing what looks like an LMS Patriot. This book also some has some exceptional and very atmospheric watercolour paintings by Philip Murphy, illustrating all aspects of steam railway life. A great read this and I was over the moon to receive it as a gift.

Does anyone else have contrasting “railway” gift stories.

One Christmas I received two copies, one hardback, one softback, of "British Steam Railways", a good book, of course, but I would have preferred my own choice.

L&Y Man

Its not only books, I've just dropped a load of DVD's at the charity shop this morning

For Christmas, from my Cousin (NYMR pt time volunteer) and his Fiancé (Harry Potter fan, and desperate to see Olton Hall, and owner of the hornby version) I received Steam in England (The Classic Photography of R.C Riley) and for a moment my heart sunk (but not too much as they were in the room!) But on looking through, R.C did manage to get to the Lords National Excellent Railway! The one I browsed in WH Smiths was Steam in Britain, and that had no LNER to be seen, not a drop of this side!

Next Christmas or birthday do as I did.

Order the books yourself then let the wife distribute them round the family.

Note I said BOOKS.

As the retailer Borders recently went bust, my other half bought me a few cheap train DVD. Only to find i already had them from years ago.