1970s/80s children’s book featuring miniature people living on a model railway?

I don't remember who wrote them but they were called "The Model Railway Men". My dad used to read them to us as bedtime stories! Are we related? Ha ha ha. Feels like we lived the same life in different parts of the country.

 

Wasn't there a character called Brindley aswell? I remember one book where there were American model locos aswell. Ha ha.

 

Google it mate, written by a chap called Ray Pope. Loved them.

 

Ha ha ha.

 

Found this on Amazon UK - hope this helps?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ray-Pope/e/B0034PO81U/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1

 

Hi Cowley, I hope you got one OK, and I'm glad you liked them. They are quite quirky stories! Coming back into print by popular demand! Mark. (The authors son.)

The figures had homes in the scenery and buildings etc and had various adventures, they were also able to drive the trains around (the more I write the more bonkers it sounds ).
Yes, the ideas and concepts were pretty much off the wall, perhaps that's why they were so popular amongst some people and could be still for kids and adults. Are they any less quirky than Harry Potter?
They were named after famous engineers and they were dressed as old railway people might have dressed. ie They to some extent represented railway families of the old days complete with indomitable spirits and values of the time, they could also be humorous and at times vulnerable.

 

Hi Fowler, I'm glad you liked them. That chap was my father! All done based on our layout and a lot of imagination! Mark

 

This is rather cool! There's two things I really remember, one is that one of the characters (Stanier, maybe?) really didn't like Bulleid's BFB (aka Boxpok) wheels, and also their disdain at an American loco that a friend brought on holiday with them.
I seem to remember the phrase 'got all its insides on the outside'!

 

I only have the first back in print so far. The first 3 are on Kindle. I am not sure if the demand is there but you guys show good signs. I didn't know they were so popular amongst some people. I think they are timeless and there is some interest in nostalgic things atm. I am proud of him and he would have been so pleased with the comments here and from others I have read elsewhere. Your point about the "completely absorbing" nature is great to hear. I just hope others from a younger generation will find them so, and there is the rub. It's finding them amongst so much else out there. I have No.1 on Amazon and some heritage railways are stocking them. Mark

 

'Telford and the American Visitor' had an American 'BigBoy' loco brought over by Pete the son of an American business man. Telford was a bit scornful but eventually came round. The small people managed to film themselves leading to having to hide the film or be discovered!

 

Delighted to make your acquaintance. I loved them mate. My dad read all of them to me and my brother as bedtime stories then I read them all myself. You must be very proud.

Edit: Just told my dad and that's got him started now. Ha ha. Remembering other books he read to us. The Wood Street Gang, about a group of kids living in the streets around Wood Street in Liverpool. The Model Railway Men though, they were something else. I used to immerse myself in their world. When I was little there was only one other lad I knew who liked trains and it felt like someone had somehow written books just for us. Magical.

 

Great memories Fowler. They were written by and for railway fans but I'm not sure if they originally found there way into all railway fans hands. I have attended railway club exhibitions and older buffs either walk straight up and say "These were great. I'll have a copy" whilst the majority have never heard of them. I am looking to put that right. The same happens with Heritage railways I contact. "Immerse, absorbing, reread" are words that frequently pop in communications with fans which I need to get across to potential future fans.

 

I still have two or three of the books I had as a kid, I think I read most of them but some were from the library

 

Hi Talltim,
Yes libraries were a good source and I think that was partly due to positive reviews from School Librarian journal who probably recognised the value of the stories. Many second hand copies that come onto the market are ex-library whilst you guys hang on to yours!
Btw The first is ~£60 on Amazon.

 

I think they are somewhat ageless because kids will tend to identify with Mark whilst adult readers may see things from the adult characters perspective. Either way they are potentially a good read.

 

Yeah indeed. I'd read them again and when when I mentioned this to my dad yesterday he said how much he enjoyed them.

 

I'm of a similar vintage to Messrs Cowley and Fowler (I think), but these books seem to have escaped my notice entirely. I don't ever remember seeing them in my local library when I was a kid. When did they go out of print?

 

Hi Gus,
Around 1985 I believe. You and many others appear to have missed them. This is perhaps what happens when you rely on a publisher to get the word out. They are self published now and if you or anyone else know of a model/club/shop/heritage railway organisation that might want to buy at wholesale price send them to info@themodelrailwaymen.uk

 

Mark,
I must confess I missed these books, and this is the first I've heard about them, but I have a kindel so will pop over to Amazon shortly. But the reason I'm posting is that this concept the books are based on would make an excellent children's TV series. Maybe it's worth approaching some of the smaller independent companies or even one of the companies who made the "Thomas the tank engine and friends" series ?

 

Hi Malc, I have already approached a few. Aardman showed slight interest but they are concerned the core audience has moved on. But I agree as do others that the books would make good TV/film. There are some other avenues I am exploring to engage those in that sphere. It just needs a light bulb moment from one of them. The lady who bought the film rights for Thomas mortgaged herself to the hilt but we know where that went!

 

Mark,
I ran into a small problem with the e-book on Amazon. I confess I haven't use my old Kindle for ages and when I went to purchase the book it wasn't possible to delivery it to my device - on checking with Amazon there would seem to be a file comparability issue making the book unsuitable for older (4th / 5th) generation devices.

I'm not that savvy on how / why Amazon have changed formats over the different generations - I would have thought that given they were the driving force behind e-readers everything would be backwardly compatible....

Anyway, just a little bit of feedback for you...