Map - Atlas

[[email protected].]

Can anyone recommend a descent Rail Atlas?

A current up to date version, something I could use to track my
odd rail journey, not to complexed.

 

[TheBigD]

If you go on ebay you can pick up fairly recent editions of Baker's Rail Atlas for a couple of quid.

http://shop.ebay.co.uk/?_from=R40&_...kw=baker+rail+atlas&_sacat=See-All-Categories

 

[DarloRich]

yes - Baker Atlas is best for that. A very good publication

 

[Striker]

The 12th Edition is the latest version, correct?

How often are these updated as the 12th Edition doesn't even have the East London Line as anything other than a "future" line.

 

[DarloRich]

well i have the 11th edition sat on my desk!

 

[Striker]

well i have the 11th edition sat on my desk!

I have the 12th Edition on my desk.

 

[TheBigD]

The 12th Edition is the latest version, correct?

How often are these updated as the 12th Edition doesn't even have the East London Line as anything other than a "future" line.

Normally a new issue every year. Not sure what time of year though.

Don't know whether the new Track Atlas by Trackmaps has had any effect on its sales meaning less frequent editions.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Baker is far and away the best geographical atlas, usually published 2-4 years, depends on how much has changed really. There are a couple of errors in each: in the current 12th edition, Axminster is still shown as fully single track, and a couple of disused yards are shown as being in use (and vice versa).

The best for track detail is definitely Quail, see http://www.trackmaps.co.uk/, unfortunately they seem to be a bit behind on what they said would be out this year (they had said Western, Midland and Eastern would all potentially be out this year), so far only the Western has been (and very good too!).

 

[TGV]

Baker is far and away the best geographical atlas, usually published 2-4 years, depends on how much has changed really. There are a couple of errors in each: in the current 12th edition, Axminster is still shown as fully single track, and a couple of disused yards are shown as being in use (and vice versa).

The best for track detail is definitely Quail, see http://www.trackmaps.co.uk/, unfortunately they seem to be a bit behind on what they said would be out this year (they had said Western, Midland and Eastern would all potentially be out this year), so far only the Western has been (and very good too!).

There is a far better geographical one out there than Baker. I have 2 editions of Baker but foudn the detail to be lacking and the page overlaps very poor to keep track (excuse the pun) of one route as it goes over 2 pages.

The best one I've seen is by the same people as the Quail maps:

http://www.trackmaps.co.uk/trackmaps/product.asp?productid=1&shopcategory=2

If you want the definitive UK rail atlas - that's the one I'd recommend.

 

[ralphchadkirk]

The best for track detail is definitely Quail, see http://www.trackmaps.co.uk/, unfortunately they seem to be a bit behind on what they said would be out this year (they had said Western, Midland and Eastern would all potentially be out this year), so far only the Western has been (and very good too!).

No, the best for track detail is the Sectional Appendix Table A

 

[MidnightFlyer]

There is a far better geographical one out there than Baker. I have 2 editions of Baker but foudn the detail to be lacking and the page overlaps very poor to keep track (excuse the pun) of one route as it goes over 2 pages.

The best one I've seen is by the same people as the Quail maps:

http://www.trackmaps.co.uk/trackmaps/product.asp?productid=1&shopcategory=2

If you want the definitive UK rail atlas - that's the one I'd recommend.

Loaded with errors though mate: Oakhampton? Blackburn has two island platforms?

 

[Mr Spock]

The OP does not want a detailed atlas but something to track his journeys so for that I would also go for the Bakers.

The latest edition (number 12) can be obtained from Amazon for a lot less than the shops.

If you can get to an Ian Allan shop you should be able to look at both the Bakers and the Trackmaps books and see which you prefer.

 

[mrcheek]

The TRACKatlas is interesting, but a bit daft as they show station platform detail, which makes all the stations look absolutely huge.

I guess a lot depends on where youre using the atlas. You really wouldnt want to carry a TRACKatlas on a train, far too heavy. Baker is better for that. Ian Allan/abc used to do a pocket version (British Railways Atlas by MG Ball), but this hasnt been updated since 2004 (and theres been a LOT of changes since then)

I would personally recommend Baker. New editions every 2 years, the 12th is the current. Of course, it isnt completely up to date, but the ELL was only opened recently, and no atlas can expect to make enough new editions to keep up with current development.

 

[DarloRich]

The sectional appendix is the BEST (i hope!) - but i dont think many people outside the industry get that!

If you want a detailed book then go for the track atlas - for general use the Bakers will do the job just fine

(I have got Baker, Quail, Track Atlas and the Sectional somewhere on my desk - so can find most places! Hopefully)

 

[newmilton]

Slight tangent I know, but related: does anyone know of a good standard rail atlas of France? I have MG Ball's European Rail Atlas on disk, but I was thinking of something like the excellent Schweers & Wall series for Germany, Austria and Switzerland (and recently Italy).

 

[[email protected].]

Thank you to everyone for the input.

I opted to go with Bakers 12th Edition.

Purchased this morning.

 

[Jan]

As far as I've heard, Schweers & Wall currently have a Benelux, and a France atlas in production. Both might appear sometime in 2011, but nothing official has been announced yet.

 

[Bastiaan]

I have a question about this Baker's railway map. Both the Ian Allen TOC map and the TRACKatlas which I have now, have overlapping grids at the page borders, which makes them quite unuseable for building large railway networks in simulation programs like BAHN.
The New Adlestrop Railway atlas (free online PDF) is an excellent railway map, but unfortunately it's still incomplete and hasn't been updated for more than two years.
So I'm wondering if the Baker's Rail Atlas would satisfy my needs. Has it got a grid equally spread along the whole map, in stead of having overlapping grid at each page border? Does perhaps someone have a snapshot or picture of some of the pages of the altas? Many thanks in advance!

 

[33056]

As far as I've heard, Schweers & Wall currently have a Benelux, and a France atlas in production. Both might appear sometime in 2011, but nothing official has been announced yet.

It isn't on their website yet but I have a leaflet picked up at Köln Hbf which states that both the BeNeLux and Frankreich Eisenbahnatlas are due mid 2011. Upated Swiss atlas and German DVD version are both expected to be released in early 2011.

 

[LE Greys]

I met Mr Baker once, about the (apparently now defunct) IEP. He was working for the DfT at the time. He struck me as a proper railwayman, and I wish the DfT had more like him.