For a list of the abbreviations used please see book condition  page.

 

All books are hardback unless otherwise stated, paperback (pb), booklet or leaflet. 

 

If you would like to see a photograph of any of the books on this web site please e-mail julie@bufferbooks.com

 

Checkout the photographs  page for pictures of some of these recent arrivals.

 

Adley, Robert.  Countdown to 1968.  The Decline and Fall of Steam.  Delightful colour photographs and an informative text tell the year by year countdown from 1962 to 1968.  Oxford Publishing Co., 1993, pp180, large format.  F, F     £6.75    

 

Aerofilms.  Britain’s Railways From the Air.  Then & Now.  The 125 locations cover urban and rural and range from Alnwick, Bradford, Cromer, Lincoln, Stafford, Wigan, along with many other locations.  A joy to study, and sometimes lament.  Ian Allan, 1998, pp256, large format.  F, VG   £13.95   

 

Allen, David.  Diesels in the North East.  A photographic study of diesel operations in North East England.  The photographs are accompanied by detailed captions. The vast majority of the locomotives and the workings are now gone forever.   Oxford Publishing Co., 1984, 206 b/w plates, large format.  VG, VG    £7.95

 

Appleby, Ken.  Britain’s Rail Super Centres:  York.  A very comprehensive history exceptionally well illustrated with archive and contemporary photographs, including a section on the DVLR.  Ian Allan, 1993, pp145, large format.   VG, VG    £6.95     

 

Arlett, Mike & Lockett, David.  The Somerset & Dorset in Colour.  The Norman Lockett Collection.  A stunning selection of photographs covering all manor of workings on this long lost network.  There are even scenes in the snow!  Absolutely delightful and exceptional value.  Book Club Associates/Oxford Publishing Co., 1991, pp136, large format.  F, VG   £7.50 

 

Baker, S.K.  Rail Atlas Great Britain & Ireland.  This work contains all operational locations and lines at the time of publication.  An excellent reference work.  Haynes/Oxford Publishing Co., 5^th edition 1989, pp119. F,  VG  £5.95   

 

Becket, W.S.  Train Formations & Carriage Workings of the Great Western Railway.  A well illustrated and exceptionally detailed review, based on the 1931/32 period.  (glossy card cover)  Xpress Publishing, pp128, large format.  F     £9.75  

Beddoes, Keith & Wheeler, Colin and Stephen.   Metro-Cammell 150 years of Craftsmanship.  This very comprehensive work considers the rolling stock, both goods and passenger, produced by this well known and innovative company.  Lavishly illustrated with archive images it also considers the variety of goods/ passenger vehicles produced for the pre grouping companies.  Exceptional value.  Runpast Publishing, 1999, pp112, large format.  F, VG     £5.95   

 

Beer, Brian.  Diesels in the Capital.  A high quality album charting the enormous diversity of traffic and diesel classes around the capital in the late 1980's.  An excellent volume with many classes represented.  Haynes/Oxford Publishing Co., 1990, pp112, large format.  F, F    £8.25   

 

Behrend, George.  Don’t Knock the Southern.  Recollections of the SR from the 1920s to the present day.  This classic work, illustrated with 120 b/w photographs is a nostalgic, affectionate and sometimes irreverent tribute to a much love railway.  Midland Publishing, 1993, pp223.  F, F      £8.25   

 

Behrend, George.  Gone With Regret.  Recollections of the Great Western Railway 1922-1947 with 139 illustrations.  The splendid work by Behrend is probably the best of its type.  Jersey Artists, 4^th edition 1991, pp204.  F, F  £8.95   signed by author   

 

 

Blake, W.A. (edited by).   London Midland Steam in Action.  A magnificent volume with crisp and evocative images.  Bradford Barton, 1974, pp96.  F, VG  £4.75  

Blake, W.A. (edited by).   London Midland Steam in Action 2.  A great volume including Patriots on the Lickey incline, 7F at Chinley and many more evocative images.  Bradford Barton, 1975, pp96.  VG, VG  (red speckled cover)   £4.75  price clipped   

 

Blakemore, Michael & Mosley, David.  Great British Locomotives.  The National Railway Museum Locomotives in Action.   Crisp colour photographs show the collection at its best, when working!  Both steam and diesel are covered.  Ian Allan, 2002, pp80, landscape format glazed boards.  F     £4.95    

 

Bolger, Paul.  BR Steam Motive Power Depots - ScR.  This book categorises each of the MPs belonging to the region, listing its code and other important data.  A wealth of information and well illustrated with b/w photographs and numerous diagrams.   Ian Allan, 1983, pp112, glazed bards.  F     £7.50  

 

Bolger, Paul.  BR Steam Motive Power Depots - SR.  This book categorises each of the MPs belonging to the region, listing its code and other important data.  A wealth of information and well illustrated with b/w photographs and numerous diagrams.   Ian Allan, 1983, pp108, glazed boards.  F   £7.50  

 

Bolger, Paul.  BR Steam Motive Power Depots - WR.  This book categorises each of the MPs belonging to the region, listing its code and other important data.  A wealth of information and well illustrated with b/w photographs and numerous diagrams.   Ian Allan, 1983, pp128, glazed boards.  F    £7.50   

Bowtell, Harold D.  Rails Through Lakeland Volume 1:  The Line Described.  An illustrated history of the Workington-Cockermouth-Keswick-Penrith Railway 1847-1972.  A detailed account of the line with many maps, diagrams and photographs.  (glossy card cover)  Silver Link Publishing, 1999, pp128.  F    £4.95    

 

Bowtell, Harold D.  Rails Through Lakeland Volume 2: Traffic and Operation.  An illustrated history of the Workington-Cockermouth-Keswick-Penrith Railway 1847-1972.    This volume considers the traffic and operations aspects of the line and contains many archive rolling stock, station and signalling images.  (glossy card cover)  Silver Link Publishing, 2005, pp160.  F    £4.95    

The above 2 vols can be sold together for £9.25

 

BR Class 20 Diesels.  Michael Oakley.  A well illustrated study of the origin, operation and performance of the class.  (card cover) Bradford Barton, 1981, pp30.  VG    £1.95  

   

BR Class 31 Diesels.  Michael Oakley.  A well illustrated study of the origin, operation and performance of the class. (card cover)  Bradford Barton, 1981, pp30.  VG    £1.95       

 

Brock, Peter.  Border Steam with a camera on the footplate.  The author took these photographs during his BR career.  They vividly capture the locomotives, men and challenging environment of the Border lines including Silloth and the Waverley amongst others.  Bradford Barton, 1978, pp80.  F, VG  light grey cover       £7.25  price clipped   

 

Brown, Murray (edited by).  A Day in the Life of British Rail. This work focuses on a summer Friday in 1989 and presents a vivid picture of all facets BR operations on that day.  It contains a rich portrait of activities, people, locomotives and diverse train activity.  A moving vignette of pre privatisation BR, with scores of b/w and colour photographs.   Guild Publishing/David & Charles, 1989, pp192, large format.  F, VG   £4.95    

 

Casserley, H.C.  Light Railways of Britain.  Standard gauge and narrow gauge.   A rather scarce album which includes images of railways such as Easingwold, Bishop’s Castle, S&M, East Kent, North Devon and Cornwall Junction, Ashover, and Rye and Camber amongst many others.  A fantastic volume.  Bradford Barton, pp96.  F, VG   £8.95   

Casserley, H.C.  LNER Locomotives 1923-1948.  This volume emphasises in particular the enormous range of pre-grouping locomotives brought into stock.   Also included are some of Gresley’s new designs such as the Baltic design. Bradford Barton, 1977, pp96.  F, VG   £4.95  Green cover  

Casserley, H.C.  LNER Locomotives 1923-1948.  This volume emphasises in particular the enormous range of pre-grouping locomotives brought into stock.   Also included are some of Gresley’s new designs such as the Baltic design.   Bradford Barton, 1977, pp96.  VG, VG   £4.50  Black cover 

Casserley. H.C  LNER Steam 1923-1948.  One of the rarer albums, light green cover.   Bradford Barton Ltd., 1977, pp96.  F, VG   £4.95  

 

Christiansen, Rex.  Chester & North Wales Border Railways.  A View From The Past.  A line by line study of this area by an expert.  It includes Snailbeach, Tanat Valley, Bishops Castle, Brymbo and many others.  Ian Allan, 2001, pp96, glazed boards.  F    £6.95    

 

Coiley, John (compiled and edited by on behalf of the Friends of the NRM).  Rocket to Eurostar.  The National Railway Museum in Camera.  This work illustrates and explains the wide variety of the Museums activities, many of which are seldom viewed by the visiting public.  A peon of praise to our fantastic railway heritage.  Atlantic, 1996, 209 b/w plates, large format.  F, F      £7.95   

 

Coles, C.R.L.  Railways through the Chilterns.   This album gives a pictorial impression of the railways in this part of England over a period of 50 years.  More than 60 of the b/w photographs were taken before 1939.  Ian Allan, 1980, pp128.  F, VG  £4.50   

 

Collins, L.M.  Great Western Steam in Action - vol 2.  Many classes of GWR locomotives shown hard at work on branches and the main line.  Bradford Barton, 1974, pp96.  VG, G.  Brown cover    £4.95   

 

 

Collins, Michael J.  East Anglian Rails in the 1980s.  Michael Collins' excellent photography and lucid writing style portrays the fantastic diversity of stock, locomotives, infrastructure and working that prevailed in East Anglia in the 1980s.  A stunning diesel volume.  Ian Allan, 1983, pp112, circa 185 photographs.  VG, VG   £5.95  

 

Cook, K.J.  Swindon Steam 1921 – 1951.  This seldom seen book, written by a senior Swindon manager, latterly Principal Assistant to the CME, portrays the works, the locomotives, the men, and the technology which underpinned the great innovations that came from Swindon and the GWR.  Ian Allan, 1974, pp174.  VG, no dust jacket  (some sunning to spine, covered inscription)    £10.95       

 

Cookson, P.  London Midland Steam in Yorkshire.  Great photographs showing the diversity of locomotives and traffic on Yorkshire lines.  Bradford Barton, 1975, pp96.  VG  no dust jacket.  (inscription on inside cover)   Red cover   £4.80   

 

Cooper, B.K.  BR Motive Power Since 1948.  This considers non standard/standard steam classes, immediate post war diesel and gas turbine designs, BR first generation diesel locomotives, hydraulics, DC and AC electrics, along with experimental locomotives.  Many photographs and line drawings.  Ian Allan, 1985, pp128, glazed boards.  VG         £5.95   

 

 

Crook, Stephen.  The Classic Steam Collection.  Delightful b/w photography from Stephen Crook.  Images from across the UK.  Silver Link Publishing, 1990, pp128, large format.  VG, VG      £6.75  

 

Crook, Stephen.  Classic Steam. Portraits of Steam Locomotives at Work on Britain’s Railways.  Lovely, crisp b/w photographs covering from the Waverley through to glimpses of the Southern and the S&D.  Silver Link Publishing, 1993, pp128, large format.  F, VG     £6.75 

 

Cross, Derek.  BR Standard Steam in Action.  High quality images and significant narrative look at the range of BR Standard steam across the British Isles.  Bradford Barton, 1974, pp96.  F, VG  Blue cover   £6.95   

 

Davenport, Neil.  Classic Steam.  A Family Railway Album.  Illustrated with photographs by the author and his father, the late Arthur Davenport.  The photographs cover much of the UK, branch lines and main lines, and capture with exceptional detail the world that was to be lost.  Silver Link Publishing, 1995, pp192, large format.  F, F   £6.75  

         

Doughty, A.   The Central Wales Line.  An illustrated history of the Shrewsbury to Swansea Railway.  A well illustrated historical, anecdotal and photographic study of this 121 miles line.  Oxford Publishing Co., 1997, pp192, large format.  VG, VG   £12.95   

 

Dow, George.  The First Railway Between Manchester and Sheffield.  (card cover)  Issued by the L&NER to commemorate the opening of the Sheffield, Ashton-under-Lyne & Manchester Railway one hundred years ago, 1945, pp44.   VG  ( card cover has a small brown stain on front and has slight wear to spine edge and is a bit dirty due to age)    £5.50

 

Dunnett, Malcom.  North Eastern Steam in Northumbria.  A fantastic volume by one of the best b/w photographers associated with the North East.  The images portray in a poignant manner a long lost North Eastern industrial scene.   Bradford Barton, 1973, pp96.  F, VG  Green cover    £7.25   

 

Esau, Mike (edited by).  Classic Steam. John Spencer Gilks - Journeys Round Britain.  Over 200 brilliantly composed photographs from across the UK.  Silver Link Publishing, 1994, pp192, large format.  F, F     £6.75   

 

Fairclough, Tony & Wills, Alan.  More Southern Steam - South and West.    Many great photographs with particular reference to the LSWR main and branch lines.  Bradford Barton/Enterprise, pp96.  F, no dust jacket (green over)   £4.75  

 

Faulkner, J.N. & Williams, R.A.  The LSWR in the 20^th Century.  A well researched and illustrated history of the final two decades of the LSWR.  A period which saw vast changes and investment both in Hampshire and Dorset and the expanding West Country network.  David & Charles, 1988, pp224.  F, VG     £10.25   

 

Flinders, T.G.  On the Settle & Carlisle Route.  B/w shots on the route of both steam and modern traction.  Fraser Stewart /Ian Allan, 1994, pp112.  VG, VG  (small repaired tear to dust jacket)    £3.75  

Freezer, C.J.   60 Plans For Small Locations.  A magnificent book from the modelling master.  (glossy card cover)  Peco Publications, 3^rd edition May 1975, pp35.  VG     (small mark on front cover)   £1.95 

 

Glover, John.   London’s Underground.  An Illustrated History of the World’s Premier Underground System.  Written by the subject expert, the book provides the background of the Underground, its prior and current operation and envisaged future developments.  A delightful blend of historic and contemporary photographs.  Ian Allan, 8^th edition 1996, pp160, large format.  F, F    £6.75   

 

Great Northern Memories - The LNER Era 1923-1947.  This seldom seen GNSRA publication shows a fantastic variety of GNSR scenes in the LNER period.  Locomotives, stations, rolling stock and shed/works images.  (card cover)  Great North of Scotland Railway Association, 1993, pp60, large format.  VG    £4.95    

 

Griffiths, Roger & Hooper, John.  Great Northern Railway Engine Sheds Volume 1:  Southern Area.  This highly regarded book contains many photographs of both main line and branch sheds, along with a highly detailed text and shed diagrams.  Irwell Press, 1989, pp130, large format.  F, F    £7.95   

 

Griffiths, Roger & Hooper, John.  Great Northern Railway Engine Sheds Volume 3: Yorkshire & Lancashire.  This covers Yorkshire and the single shed in Lancashire at Deansgate.  Scale track plans, allocation details and many photographs accompany the complex history of the GNR sheds.  Booklaw/Railbus/Challenger, 2000, pp114, large format.  F, F       £7.95   

 

Grinling, Charles H.  The Ways of Our Railways.    A serious, popular edition which portrays the railways in the immediate pre First World War period, and which contains over 130 contemporary illustrations.  Ward Lock & Co. Limited, New edition-revised 1911, pp351, numerous illustrations.  VG For age.  Book has a green/red/white illustrated cloth cover, Art Nouveau style loco portrait on front cover, previous owners name inside, significant foxing to title page and on page edges, with spine coming adrift from cloth cover.  (photos can be supplied)     £9.50  

 

Hammond, Pat (compiled by).  Ramsay’s British Model Trains Catalogue, 4^th edition.   The authoritative work on the subject, complete with product references, issue quantities, and indicative prices.  (pb)  Swapmeet Publications, 2004, pp260.  VG    £9.95   

 

Haresnape, Brian, revised by Colin Boocock.  Railway Liveries.  BR Steam 1948 - 1968.  This work considers the significant variety of liveries carried.  A very informative text combined with many colour and b/w illustrations.  Ian Allan, 1989, pp96, glazed boards, large format.   F   £8.25   

 

Harris, Michael.  This is York.  A well illustrated and researched work which considers both the city and surrounding contemporary railway operations, including the now closed Derwent Valley.  (card cover)  Ian Allan, 1983, pp56, large format.  VG     £2.75   

 

Harris , Michael.  British Main Line Services in Age of Steam 1900-1968.  A very broad study of the development of scheduled passenger services, with many archive photographs and an authoritative text.  Oxford Publishing Co., 1996, pp224.  F, VG  (some sunning to front cover)    £6.95  

 

Harvey, Michael G.   Diary of a Train-Spotter.  Volume 1 1955-59.  Nostalgic recollections of visits to locomotive depots, workshops, railway stations and scrapyards.  This comprises complete lists of engine numbers collected at the  locations visited, photographs taken at the time, maps, plans and a heady text which will find a resonance with any late 1950s steam shed enthusiast.  (pb)  Silver Link Publishing, 1996, pp112, large format.  VG     £4.95   

 

Hawkins, Mac.  The Somerset & Dorset Then & Now.  The original and most would say superior work published by PSL.  Not to be confused with the later 1990’s works which contain different ‘after’ photographs.  The work also contains 8 annexes and additional maps.  A great purchase.  Guild Publishing/Patrick Stephens Ltd., 1986, pp272.  F, VG  (edge bumps to front top corner of dust jacket)    £7.25   

 

Hay, Peter.  Pre-Grouping Trains on British Railways.  The LMS Companies.   A delightful photographic survey of pre-grouping locomotives and services, at work on ex LMS lines in the 1950s.  Haynes/Oxford Publishing Co., 1988, 228 b/w plates, large format.  F, VG     £6.75   

 

Healy, John M.C.   History of the Chiltern Line.  A well researched and archive and contemporary illustrated work.  Greenwich Editions, 1996, pp108, large format.  F, VG     £5.95    

 

Hendry, Dr. R. Preston & Hendry, R. Powell.  Paddington to the Mersey.  The GWR’s forgotten route from London to Birkenhead.  A pictorial history with detailed captions of this important but neglected GWR route.  Oxford Publishing Co., 1992, pp144, large format.  F, F      £7.50   

 

Hendry, Dr. R. Preston & Hendry, R. Powell.  The Steam Age in Colour.  Images from the 1930’s to 1960’s covering locomotives, stations, carriages and equipment.  Guild Publishing/Blandford, 1985, pp128, large format.  F, VG   (some sunning to the spine)  £6.75   

Hillmer, John & Shannon Paul.  Diesels in North & Mid Wales.  A rare volume showing the enormous variety of traction and scenic locations in North and Mid Wales.  A lovely volume.  Haynes/Oxford Publishing Co., 1990, pp96, large format.  VG, VG   price clipped    £7.95  

Hinchcliffe, Brian.  Steam in the North Midlands.  A rather rare volume with equally diverse steam images both industrial and main line from the North Midlands.  Turntable Publications, pp96, Bradford Barton size and style.  F, VG  blue cover   Price clipped   £5.95   

 

Hobson, A. Wyn   The Last Years of the Class 40s. A fitting tribute to the class during the final years which saw use on an enormous variety of freight and passenger services. (glossy card cover) Ian Allan, 1985, pp80. F   £4.95   

Holden, Bryan & Leech, Kenneth H.  Portraits of 'Western' 4-6-0's.  Saints, Stars, Castles, Kings, Halls, Granges, Manors, Counties.  Often considered to be the best of the works on these 4-6-0s which formed the backbone of express GWR motive power.  A delightful, well researched and illustrated volume.  Moorland Publishing, 1983, pp128.  VG, VG     £4.95  

 

Holmes, David. Station Master’s Reflections. Images of railway life, 1954-64. A superbly illustrated story of a station master in the 1950s/1960s including a period on the Great Central at East Leake. Book Club Associates/Silver Link Publishing, 1992, pp176, large format. F, VG. £6.95   

 

Hornby Dublo.  Electric Trains.  The iconic issue with the two tone green Deltic D9002 on the cover.  An utter delight.  (paper cover)  Meccano Ltd, 4^th edition 1962, pp28, landscape format.   VG  (some slight wear to cover)   £6.25   

 

Hornby, Frank.  London Suburban.  An illustrated history of the capital's commuter lines since 1948.  A detailed and very well illustrated survey of the changes that took place post 1945.  Both the more popular locations such as the South East Division are covered along with the major changes that have taken place regarding the North London lines such as Dalston and Brondsbury.  Silver Link Publishing, 1995, 1^st edition, pp192, large format.  F, VG   £7.95  price clipped

 

Hucknall, Dr. David.  Twilight of Scottish Steam.  This album considers Scottish steam from Aberdeen to Dumfries and Perth to Stranraer, with many images of locomotives on shed.  PRC, 1995, pp120, large format.  F, VG    £5.95    

 

Hughes, Geoffrey.  LNER .  With a detailed text and many photographs this work describes both the passenger and freight services, and it locomotives, carriages and wagons.  Additionally it considers other areas of commercial activity such as shipping, docks, and the many innovations made in train and traffic control.  Ian Allan, 1996, pp160, large format.  F, F     £6.50   

 

Hypher, John & Wheeler, Colin & Stephen.  Birmingham Railway Carriage & Wagon Company.  A Century of Achievement 1855-1963 in Pictures and Words.  This authoritative work looks at the goods stock, passenger carriages, and locomotives produced by this much lamented company.  Well illustrated with archive images and diagrams, this is highly recommended work.   Runpast, 1995, pp112, large format.  F, F      £7.25  

 

Jackson, Alan A.  The Railway Dictionary.  An A-Z of Railway Terminology.  The dictionary interprets and explains in a clear concise manner the words, phrases, slang and colloquialisms used and contains nearly 6000 entries.  Recommended.  Alan Sutton, 1992, pp340.  F, VG      £7.95   

 

Jenkinson, David & Lane, Barry C.  British Railcars 1900 to 1950.  This looks at the rise of the Railcar, initially in the rigid framed/articulated steam form.  It then goes on to consider the development of internal combustion and the rise and triumph of the diesel.  A rare work which contains over 150 photographs and line drawings.  (glossy card cover)  Atlantic, 1996, pp80, large format.  VG   £10.95  

 

Jones, Richard.  West Somerset Railway A View From the Past.  An excellent volume which considers the line from its Broad Gauge origins through to the 1970s.  Ian Allan, 1998, pp96, glazed boards.  F    £6.50   

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