Pre Beeching Atlas

[philabos]

Seeking advice on the best one to buy.
Already have the pre Grouping but it is bit hard to read.
Choices I have seen are the British Rail Atlas Last Days of the Big Four 1947 or the British Railways 1955. Any recommendations?

 

[John Webb]

I have both - the "Last Days of the Big Four" is not as clear to read as the 1955 version due to the version of the underlying map used, but includes railways closed pre-Beeching, of course. They all would be better in an A4 format, but the series have the advantage that they use the same pagination for easy cross-reference between editions. I tend to use the Pre-Grouping and the 1955 editions more.

You might want to look out for C J Wignall's "Compete British Railways Maps and Gazetteer From 1830-1981", published by Oxford Publishing Co in 1983. This is A4 sized, but the pagination is awkward; there are also some known errors in it, I have been told.

 

[pdeaves]

You might want to look out for C J Wignall's "Compete British Railways Maps and Gazetteer From 1830-1981", published by Oxford Publishing Co in 1983. This is A4 sized, but the pagination is awkward; there are also some known errors in it, I have been told.

I understand that there are more than 'some' known errors. It has the feel of having been drawn entirely from memory! It's a shame as it had the potential to be really helpful.

 

[Bevan Price]

I understand that there are more than 'some' known errors. It has the feel of having been drawn entirely from memory! It's a shame as it had the potential to be really helpful.

Yes - Wignall atlas was a good idea, but suffers from what appears to have been very inadequate proof-reading.

If you can afford separate atlases, the GWR Atlas by R.A. Cooke is excellent for that railway.

Ian Allan recently published a Southern Railway atlas which seems to be quite good. Sadly, I know of nothing similar for LMSR or LNER.

 

[DavidGrain]

I don't know if it is still available but I have used nothing but Jowett's Railway Atlas for years, leaving aside the other atlases that I have had in the past. Have just checked Amazon and they have 7 second hand copies from £29.94. A fantastic volume as all the maps are hand drawn and the lists of stations, junction, tunnels etc all listed by hand.

 

[pdeaves]

Ian Allan recently published a Southern Railway atlas which seems to be quite good. Sadly, I know of nothing similar for LMSR or LNER.

Ooh, I didn't know about the Southern one. Does anyone know of an image of a sample page? I can't tell from Amazon whether it's one I would want to get or not!

 

[Bevan Price]

Ooh, I didn't know about the Southern one. Does anyone know of an image of a sample page? I can't tell from Amazon whether it's one I would want to get or not!

If you cannot find an image, please send me an email and I will photograph a page (off forum).
([email protected]).

 

[pdeaves]

If you cannot find an image, please send me an email and I will photograph a page (off forum).
([email protected]).

Email sent, thanks.

 

[philabos]

I don't know if it is still available but I have used nothing but Jowett's Railway Atlas for years, leaving aside the other atlases that I have had in the past. Have just checked Amazon and they have 7 second hand copies from £29.94. A fantastic volume as all the maps are hand drawn and the lists of stations, junction, tunnels etc all listed by hand.

Thanks very much for the recommendation. Looks like exactly what I am seeking but could not find myself. At 352 pages, must be quite detailed. I see the same firm also has a "Rail Centres" book which I assume covers terminal areas in detail.

 

[Bwlch y Groes]

The 1955 one is the first one I bought when Ian Allan first started selling them. It's very good but it was only later that I found out how many lines had closed between the end of the war and 1955, so it's never quite there in terms of being the network at its biggest

Colonel Cobb's atlas is the ultimate but the current edition is a lot more expensive than when I bought mine

 

[Bevan Price]

Yes - Wignall atlas was a good idea, but suffers from what appears to have been very inadequate proof-reading.

If you can afford separate atlases, the GWR Atlas by R.A. Cooke is excellent for that railway.

Ian Allan recently published a Southern Railway atlas which seems to be quite good. Sadly, I know of nothing similar for LMSR or LNER.

I forgot to mention the Midland Railway System Maps, reprinted a few years ago, which show detailed maps of the former Midland Railway which became part of LMSR in 1923. Not sure if they are still in print. Also included joint lines (LTSR, M&GNR, S&DJR), and some lines over which MR had running powers.

http://www.midlandrailway.org.uk/maps/distance-diagrams.html

Somebody also started a project on LNWR lines, but only the Northamptonshire volume was ever published (and strangely described as "Part 5")

 

[Statto]

I brought Then & Now atlas by Paul Smith & Keith Turner, has maps from 1923, then compared with 2012.

There's an Ian Allan British Railways Atlas 1947 and RCH & Junction Diagrams available.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/British-Railways-Atlas-Junction-Diagrams/dp/0711038570/ref=oosr

 

[philabos]

I brought Then & Now atlas by Paul Smith & Keith Turner, has maps from 1923, then compared with 2012

Also interesting. Must have sold out very quickly. Published at 19.99 now one used on Amazon almost 50 UKP.

 

[Statto]

Also interesting. Must have sold out very quickly. Published at 19.99 now one used on Amazon almost 50 UKP.

Yep it's a good atlas, might get lucky to buy one through Ian Allen or Waterstones, same authors also done an Ireland railways then & now version

 

[philabos]

Yep it's a good atlas, might get lucky to buy one through Ian Allen or Waterstones, same authors also done an Ireland railways then & now version

Yes, the Ireland one is readily available, it's the UK atlas that is scarce.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I brought Then & Now atlas by Paul Smith & Keith Turner, has maps from 1923, then compared with 2012.

For some reason, I have two hardback versions of these. One has a red, yellow and white cover (marked 2nd edition) published in 2015 and the other one has a pale blue, dark blue and white cover, published in 2012. Both showing the imprint of Ian Allen Publishing

 

[Terry_nyorks]

This link ( https://www.flickr.com/photos/terry_browne/44559366181) might assist you in your search - the photopage carries links to both LMS & MR system maps, from the relevant historical sociaties. Doubtless there are other maps on the other society pages.

 

[etr221]

On line there is Rail Map Online http://www.railmaponline.com/UKIEMap.php - has historic and modern layers, with annotations available; and, downloadable as a PDF the New Adlestrop Railway Atlas http://www.systemed.net/carto/new_adlestrop.html ,but this only covers the southern half of the country.

The NLS has various editions of OS map on line showing the pre-Beeching network - I look at the 7th Series One Inch (late 50s/early 60s) a lot: https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=13&lat=51.5117&lon=-0.2129&layers=11&b=7 is what I have book marked - explore and enjoy what else they have. And there are other sources for similar maps...