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European Railways fleet books
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Peter Mugridge
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Magazine: Today's Railways Europe - describes itself in the title.
There are two sources of European handbooks that I know of; one is Platform 5 which has books similar to the Combined Volume for most of Europe although editions can be several years between them.
The other is, I think it's called Inter City Railway Society, which produces a more basic book, spiral bound, but updated I think annually. The only pictures are on the covers, though.
So which to chose depends very much on if you need a bang up to date listing or something with photographs to help with identification.
There are two sources of European handbooks that I know of; one is Platform 5 which has books similar to the Combined Volume for most of Europe although editions can be several years between them.
The other is, I think it's called Inter City Railway Society, which produces a more basic book, spiral bound, but updated I think annually. The only pictures are on the covers, though.
So which to chose depends very much on if you need a bang up to date listing or something with photographs to help with identification.
Peter Mugridge
Veteran Member
Yes, the magazine does publish updates per country each month.
The ICRS lists are just hundreds of monochrome numbers on a page and are IMHO rather pricey for what they give you.
If you are unfamiliar and need to learn about the European fleets then the Platform 5 books are excellent, albeit as Peter says, there is often a long gap between editions. There are of course good resources on line for specific countries - do you have specific countries in mind?
Unfortunately, Platform 5's presence on the web has never been up to much but they are efficient in their traditional mail order dealings (info clearly given on Todays' Railways Magazine).
There is a decent third party web book shop list showing the European stock books here:
http://www.booksontrack.co.uk/acatalog/Overseas_Railways_Platform5.html
If you are unfamiliar and need to learn about the European fleets then the Platform 5 books are excellent, albeit as Peter says, there is often a long gap between editions. There are of course good resources on line for specific countries - do you have specific countries in mind?
Unfortunately, Platform 5's presence on the web has never been up to much but they are efficient in their traditional mail order dealings (info clearly given on Todays' Railways Magazine).
There is a decent third party web book shop list showing the European stock books here:
http://www.booksontrack.co.uk/acatalog/Overseas_Railways_Platform5.html
The Platform 5 books are good and as a previous poster says provide some good general information about the system and motive power. However due to some books being quite dated (Germany is a good example) the information is also dated. Also remember that some countries see many private operators and this sector of railways is ever changing. In the light of these comments the Platform 5 books provide the basic information whilst the ICRS books provide more up to date numerical information and fleet details.
Hi Thanks to you all for help.
After many years pretty well interested in only British Railways especially 1923-1948 steam I have decided to spread my interests to all aspects of European Traction.
I think I will go down the Platform 5 route and have sent for a copy of their current issue of Todays Railways Europe to see if it is what I am looking for.
I have a colleague who is the same age as me(64)who travels all over Europe spotting numbers although this is not a route I will take I just want to get a decent knowledge of European Railways and their fleets.
I have also had my interest stirred by a video clip I saw on YouTube of a freight train in America travelling at about 25 mph and it took 4 minuets to pass the camera.
Again thanks for all your replies all very helpful.
After many years pretty well interested in only British Railways especially 1923-1948 steam I have decided to spread my interests to all aspects of European Traction.
I think I will go down the Platform 5 route and have sent for a copy of their current issue of Todays Railways Europe to see if it is what I am looking for.
I have a colleague who is the same age as me(64)who travels all over Europe spotting numbers although this is not a route I will take I just want to get a decent knowledge of European Railways and their fleets.
I have also had my interest stirred by a video clip I saw on YouTube of a freight train in America travelling at about 25 mph and it took 4 minuets to pass the camera.
Again thanks for all your replies all very helpful.
Part of my family has been resident since 1949 on the Franco-Swiss border near Geneva, so although I am younger than you (51 this year) I have spent some part of all of those 50 years looking at rail-based transport (including trams my father is one of Britains foremost tramway experts) around Europe and beyond.
If you are starting out, railfaneurope is the obvious on-line starting point. It covers all of Europe (and selectively further afield).
http://www.railfaneurope.net/
It has two basic areas, pictures and stock lists, plus other useful pages covering liveries, numbering schemes for traction on various European railways, etc.
The stock lists area is the first place to go to check on the currently active and now withdrawn traction.
Each company has a good (extensive for the larger 'national railways' eg SNCF) intro piece describing the company and its network.
Note that the withdrawn category majors on diesel and electric traction so although it lists modern traction withdrawn as long ago as the early 1960s and 70s it doesnt go all the way back in history, for example steam locos are not included.
Nowadays, the lists include the national railway eg SNCF in France, but also all most local or private railways, track maintenance companies in fact any organisation that has its own traction.
Some experts complain that even this resource is not up to date enough but I dont have any complaints. It is a great resource, especially for newcomers to railways outside the UK. Despite my inherent expertise, I still look at railfaneurope frequently to check up or remind myself about any European railway subject.
Having said that, there are a few oddities and pedantry to beware of, for example in the SNCF (France) withdrawn classes lists. A one off prototype loco which ran in the Savoy Alps is listed in two separate places, first under its guise as number 10001 (listed as rebuilt as 20006'). It is then listed again in its guise as 20006 (listed as withdrawn 1971 its final withdrawal from service). Typical of the one or two omissions is that 10001 was actually 6051 before it was 10001 but this bit of its life is not included. Furthermore there are some one off temporary conversions listed in the withdrawn locos tables, but some of the locos of the class are still in service so dont be diverted by this.
Gordon:Thanks for your extensive reply I have had a quick look at the recommended website and there appears to be a wealth of info.
I have saved it to my favorites and will start to dip into it later.
Regarding trams except for a few of the modern systems the only UK one I have ridden on and have any knowledge of at all was the Grimsby-Immingham tramway which closed in the early 1960's
I have saved it to my favorites and will start to dip into it later.
Regarding trams except for a few of the modern systems the only UK one I have ridden on and have any knowledge of at all was the Grimsby-Immingham tramway which closed in the early 1960's
The alternative books are published by AEB Rail Publications http://www.aebrail.co.uk
They have the following books just published with 2011 data
Benelux
Austria - Switzerland
Germany
France
have just purchased the last two. They have comprehenesive listings of the national rail companies fleets but are a bit lacking in private railways and leasing companies. For instance the German volume contains the Prignitzerbahn but doesn't include Eurobahn or Northwestbahn which all opertate through Dortmund for example. A bonus however is the list of locos likely to be seen from neighbouring countries on cross-border traffic so the German volume has some Polish, Czech etc
Can't comment on accuarcy of lists but they seem ok.
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