New services from Timetable World

[shawmat]

When Timetable World was relaunched in October 2020, the aim was to be a new kind of archive. The idea was to be wholly digital from the outset. Physical archives must devote most effort towards managing the physical artefacts, and the costs of storing books are considerable, whereas a digital-only archive works with collectors and archives, with the only stock being books in process of being scanned.

The last 18 months have gone rather well. The published collection has grown to over 1,000 timetables and we have established links with private collectors and archives across the world. Access is free, our running costs remain low, and there’s plenty of room to grow.

I work on the Timetable World archive part-time. I have other websites and am a trustee with a national charity, so progress happens when it happens. Some of the contributors want to see things happen faster but we’re here for the long haul.

Timetable World remains committed to the grid-based approach to displaying timetables, and for encouraging users to trust the online service. Nevertheless, we are frequently asked for PDF downloads, which I’ve previously been reluctant to do. But, hey, I’ve partly changed my mind.

The website is adopting three new options to enable people to “own” timetables rather than viewing them on the site. It is important to emphasise that these are additional services, and we remain committed to all timetables being available free so long as you access them online.

So, what are the new options?

• Firstly, timetables can be downloaded as PDFs from a new free download area. These will be digital items that Timetable World collected, rather than scanned ourselves. To begin with, we can offer 27 editions of Network Rail’s electronic timetable, commencing December 2007. You may already have some of them, but do you have them all?
• Secondly, there is a new area for paid-for PDF downloads. The prices are typically in the range £6 -£12 per download and are books that Timetable World volunteers have scanned. The proceeds will help to defray the costs of several Tb of storage and running the website.
• Finally, we have published a few books as facsimiles on Amazon. There is a print-on-demand service which can deliver you a physical book in just a couple of days. You order on Amazon, and Timetable World gets a vanishingly small commission.

The new Timetable World shop lists the 60 or so PDFs and facsimiles that are available initially. We’ll add more as time allows. Amongst the paid-for PDFs, we have downloads available for BR in 1955, 1958 and 1961. Also, some rare timetables from Germany through the 20th Century.

We’ve chosen to make the facsimiles slightly larger (B5) than the originals. The grade of paper is also heavier, which means the books are typically chunkier. I’m really impressed with Amazon’s service, though the initial setup has its frustrations. Of course, you may (from time to time) be able to buy an original on eBay but this is a reliable source, available wherever Amazon operates. Here’s a picture of my very first facsimile book!

 

[jfollows]

Thank you, really interesting, I have bought a copy of a facsimile through Amazon and it will indeed be interesting to compare with the originals I have (different years) but I bet it'll be excellent. Thank you.

PS Ordered today Wednesday 5:15pm, delivery promised Friday.

EDIT Arrived 12:35 Friday, excellent!

FURTHER EDIT And I ordered a second facsimile timetable, which arrived on Saturday. Everything I expected it to be, and very quick delivery as well.

 

[shawmat]

Thank you, really interesting, I have bought a copy of a facsimile through Amazon and it will indeed be interesting to compare with the originals I have (different years) but I bet it'll be excellent. Thank you.

PS Ordered today Wednesday 5:15pm, delivery promised Friday.

EDIT Arrived 12:35 Friday, excellent!

FURTHER EDIT And I ordered a second facsimile timetable, which arrived on Saturday. Everything I expected it to be, and very quick delivery as well.

Great, thank you. It's nice to hold a real book. We're selling one or two per day; hardly the road to riches for Timetable World but it helps to make them accessible.

 

[WesternLancer]

That all sounds like an excellent service with very useful developments I would have thought.

 

[jfollows]

I've now bought four of the facsimile timetables, they're a welcome addition to my collection.

 

[Andy873]

Think it's a great idea to help cover the running costs.

Also, there are some more new timetables available on the timetableworld site.

My 1963 WTT (London Midland section F - Todmorden to Preston) is there now, so anyone who wants a copy just head on over there.

Finally, as said before, thank you to all of you who contributed to my queries about the above WTT and lets help the time table project when we can.

Andy.

 

[shawmat]

Think it's a great idea to help cover the running costs.

Also, there are some more new timetables available on the timetableworld site.

My 1963 WTT (London Midland section F - Todmorden to Preston) is there now, so anyone who wants a copy just head on over there.

Finally, as said before, thank you to all of you who contributed to my queries about the above WTT and lets help the time table project when we can.

Andy.

Thanks Andy. I'm just fixing a few things, then will do a proper announcement of the latest release.

 

[Ken H]

Think it's a great idea to help cover the running costs.

Also, there are some more new timetables available on the timetableworld site.

My 1963 WTT (London Midland section F - Todmorden to Preston) is there now, so anyone who wants a copy just head on over there.

Finally, as said before, thank you to all of you who contributed to my queries about the above WTT and lets help the time table project when we can.

Andy.

So if anyone has timetables (bus or train) that could be scanned, get in touch with Matthew. There is non destructive scanning capability. Google czur et16 to see the kit.

 

[nw1]

Many thanks for providing and updating TimetableWorld. In terms of my particular interests I am especially interested in BR timetables and CWNs (I realise these are very rare!) from the 1970s to the 1990s, and Alder Valley bus timetables from the late 70s and early 80s - so do let us know if any of these become available.

 

[shawmat]

Many thanks for providing and updating TimetableWorld. In terms of my particular interests I am especially interested in BR timetables and CWNs (I realise these are very rare!) from the 1970s to the 1990s, and Alder Valley bus timetables from the late 70s and early 80s - so do let us know if any of these become available.

You can now download post-2007 Network Rail ERTs free from the Timetable World shop. There are a few gaps in our BR collection in the 1990s which I'd like to fill before releasing 1973-2007 on the same basis.
By CWN I assume you mean Carriage Working Notices. Nope, can't help.
Alder Valley: There are two 1976 Alder Valley already on the site.

 

[nw1]

You can now download post-2007 Network Rail ERTs free from the Timetable World shop. There are a few gaps in our BR collection in the 1990s which I'd like to fill before releasing 1973-2007 on the same basis.

That really would be a goldmine, many thanks!

 

[shawmat]

The latest release was completed over the weekend 26/27 March 2022. We added 57 new railway timetables and maps to Timetable World, most of which you can find under "GB Rail" or "Europe ex GB". There's a list below.

As mentioned in the post above, we've added a shop. All timetables remain free if you access them online, but we now support the purchase of downloadable PDFs for personal use, and you can purchase facsimile timetables via Amazon. Early business looks promising so we'll add more stuff shortly.

Timetable World News is an 8-page PDF that explains the recent changes in more detail (follow the link), and it has many pictures to whet your appetite with.

Finding timetables when there are 1,200 objects on the site is now done using a grid-based search tool. The newsletter includes a page on how to use the controls effectively.



One of the new items is a Special Traffic Notice for "Rocket 150" at Rainhill. Normally we wouldn't publish STNs but this one is rather interesting.

New GB/Ireland items

BR 1982-05 [Great Britain]

Bradshaw 1845-07 One-shilling Companion railway timetables

Bradshaw 1951

Bradshaw 1955-09

Charles Simms & Co. 1871 Routes from Manchester

Eastern Region 1949-09 [Great Britain]

Eastern Region 1962-06 [Great Britain]

Eastern Region 1967-03 [Great Britain]

Great Northern Railway 2021-10 [Great Britain]

London & North Western 1872-07 [Great Britain]

London & North Western 1872-08 [Great Britain]

London & North Western 1872-09 [Great Britain]

London & North Western 1872-10 [Great Britain]

London & North Western 1872-11 [Great Britain]

London & North Western 1872-12 [Great Britain]

London Midland Region 1949-09 [Great Britain]

London Midland Region 1950-06 [Great Britain]

North Eastern Region 1960-06 [Great Britain]

Northern Ireland Railways 1994-11

Rocket 150 Special Traffic Notice 1980-05 [Great Britain]

Southern Railway 1946 [Great Britain]

Southern Region 1960-09 [Great Britain]

New Europe ex-GB items

CFP 1926-08 [Portugal]

CFR 1985 [Romania]

DB 1967 Summer [West Germany]

DSB 1930 [Denmark]

Finland Bus 1933-05

France South-West 1942

FS 1921-08 [Italy]

Marigny Chatelard/Orseires 1991-06 [France]

MAV 1986-06 [Hungary]

Norway 1930-05

Norway 1949-06

NS 1950-10 [Netherlands]

Paris Lyon 1926-09 [France]

SNCB 1929 Summer [Belgium]

SNCB 1947-10 [Belgium]

SNCF North 19?8 [France]

SNCF South West 1920-09 [France]

Sweden 1946-06

Sweden 1963-05

SZD 1982-83 (in English)

 

[nw1]

Many thanks. BR May 1982 is the big one for me. 1982/83 was the timetable year I first started using the railways.

EDIT: not sure if there is an issue with the data. If I search for 1982, the 1872 LNWR timetable also comes up - typo I guess!

 

[The Conductor]

You can now download post-2007 Network Rail ERTs free from the Timetable World shop. There are a few gaps in our BR collection in the 1990s which I'd like to fill before releasing 1973-2007 on the same basis.
By CWN I assume you mean Carriage Working Notices. Nope, can't help.
Alder Valley: There are two 1976 Alder Valley already on the site.

For CWNs, the BR Coaching Stock group is the place to [email protected] has masses. For Alder Valley, the Bus Archive has some hard copies to sell-https://www.busmart.org.uk/_files/ugd/9c686f_7535730a87734029b93aa033823d0375.pdf. If what youn want isn't listed they may still be able to help.

 

[davetheguard]

I've bought a couple of these Amazon/Timetable World 1955 reprints and I'm very pleased with them.

A couple of observations: it's interesting and to me surprising to see the amount of pages devoted to things like individual named trains; fares & reservations; and summary timetables.

Secondly, having cut my teeth with 1970s BR timetables, I'm used to the idea of heavy type meaning a through train and light type being a connection. That doesn't seem to be the case in 1955. How on earth do you tell a through service from a connection in these books?

 

[30907]

Secondly, having cut my teeth with 1970s BR timetables, I'm used to the idea of heavy type meaning a through train and light type being a connection. That doesn't seem to be the case in 1955. How on earth do you tell a through service from a connection in these books?

You assume the worst! Generally, if there are through carriages beyond the limits of the table, they are shown in column notes or footnotes.

 

[The Conductor]

1. The paper on the TW reprints is of much beter quality than the originals- sone of my 1950s books are crumbly and a bit smelly(!) - I think the binding glue has had its chips too- and the excellent TW ones solve that problem.

2. In general through trains, or portions, were indicated by a note prefixed by 'TC'- e.g. TC and RC (+Restaurant Car) Euston to Perth or whatever. So in general they are quite easy to find. Prewar books, both Bradshaws and Big Four ones, are a different story, and are very vague on where to change (or not)- something which anecdotally travellers of thsoe days found a real problem.

 

[WesternLancer]

2. both Bradshaws and Big Four ones, are a different story, and are very vague on where to change (or not)- something which anecdotally travelers of those days found a real problem.

I wonder how people today who seem to find it difficult to locate their reserved seat in a carriage would have coped then....

That smell, I know what you mean - but I sort of quite like it - that's the smell of history....

 

[Taunton]

I wonder how people today who seem to find it difficult to locate their reserved seat in a carriage would have coped then....

Because there were far more staff around, it seems to have been expected to be advised on the spot. Part of checking tickets on entry was to advise which platform, and "where to change", which was something of a standard refrain from past times. Fellow passengers were also fair game. Likewise there seems to have been something of a decision on the day about whether there were through carriages or not.

My grandmother, alas, carried this approach forward to overlap with me, and would go through stations (and life) asking just about everybody, often the most unlikely character she could find. My mother accused her, out of her hearing of course, of "always asking the village idiot". Anyone in uniform, passing loco crew, etc, woud be asked where the Minehead train was, despite the fact it had left from the same bay since Taunton station was rebuilt in the early 1930s, and of course despite the fact that I would know.

 

[shawmat]

I've just added to Timetable World what I think is a truly fascinating set of timetables. It is full set of Great Western Railway service timetables (facsimiles), commencing September 1931, as issued to GWR employees.

In 15 sections, they list every scheduled train of all classes – passenger, mail, milk and other perishable goods, general goods, minerals, coal, and the like, for every main and branch line and mineral railway. Additionally, the September 1931 timetable recorded the paths reserved for summer-only services, which were marked as “suspended”.

2,488 pages.

In addition to train timings, there are invaluable reference pages, such as:

1. Lists of signal boxes, with operating hours
2. Lighting up times
3. Lists of crossovers
4. Speed limits
5. Refuge sidings and loops
6. Shunting engine duties, locations and days of operation
7. Wagon classifications
8. Line loadings

The timetables are published in two forms:

• A digital download. The ZIP file contains a PDF for each of the 15 sections and an index file. Purchase from the Timetable World shop. Or use the product's direct link.
• A two-volume set of printed books. The books are supplied by Amazon and can be purchased separately. Search Amazon with "Timetable World" or follow this link

The original timetables were printed on cheap paper over 90 years ago and are yellowed and brittle. The scans have been whitened but any imperfections in the originals will remain. The scan quality can be assessed by looking at the image samples provided below and in the Shop, and using "Look Inside" on Amazon.

The printed books are presented as two original pages per facsimile page. The scans are 80% the size of the originals, and still easily legible.

The digital download is 749Mb. Probably best to download it to a desktop computer.

 

[Andy873]

New timetables etc are now available at Timetableworld as of yesterday (9/6/2022).

I'm sure Matt will make an announcement here but just thought I would let you all know.

It includes my BR LMR Summer 1962 WTT Todmorden to Preston for those who are interested.

What a great website and wonderful work - thanks!

Andy.

 

[shawmat]

Andy's keen! Yes, there was a new release yesterday, adding 70 more timetables and the associated indexing jobs for volunteers to work through. If you haven't tried indexing, it's a good way to study a timetable in some detail, and has a tangible output for others to benefit from.

A small change has been made to how the timetable catalogue is displayed. There is a new column which lists the release date for the timetable (or map), and the default sort is now latest-first. The change should make it easier to find new additions.

I now send out a newsletter to people who are registered with the online archive. Registration is free, and enables you to download timetable snapshots. The latest 7-page newsletter is a PDF available to download, and includes these topics:

• Steam in Poland
• Great Western Railway 1931 Service Timetables
• The Sutherland Transport and Trading Co. Ltd, Scotland
• Engine working notices
• The Timetable World shop - a progress report.

Click-the-pic to download

 

[nw1]

Andy's keen! Yes, there was a new release yesterday, adding 70 more timetables and the associated indexing jobs for volunteers to work through. If you haven't tried indexing, it's a good way to study a timetable in some detail, and has a tangible output for others to benefit from.

A small change has been made to how the timetable catalogue is displayed. There is a new column which lists the release date for the timetable (or map), and the default sort is now latest-first. The change should make it easier to find new additions.

I now send out a newsletter to people who are registered with the online archive. Registration is free, and enables you to download timetable snapshots. The latest 7-page newsletter is a PDF available to download, and includes these topics:

• Steam in Poland
• Great Western Railway 1931 Service Timetables
• The Sutherland Transport and Trading Co. Ltd, Scotland
• Engine working notices
• The Timetable World shop - a progress report.

Click-the-pic to download

View attachment 115974

Thanks for these. The Victoria CWN of 1962 is very interesting - from what I can make out the Chatham side seems to have a not-dissimilar timetable to that still applying in 1981, though by 1981 there were two Chatham stoppers and I can only see one here (edit: and only one fast per hour too, albeit to within one minute of the equivalent 1981 service. I think I was confused by the lack of 24-hour clock!). Also all the CEPs, HAPs and EPBs... except for the lack of VEPs and presence of BEPs, it could easily have been the 1980s.

By contrast, and as expected, the stock working the Brighton side, and the timetable, was very different to the 1980s! Interesting to see a CWN from this era showing all those bygone units, BELs, BILs and the like.

Are you still intending to offer PDFs of the BR timetables from 1973? Those would be very interesting if so.

 

[shawmat]

Thanks for these. The Victoria CWN of 1962 is very interesting - from what I can make out the Chatham side seems to have a not-dissimilar timetable to that still applying in 1981, though by 1981 there were two Chatham stoppers and I can only see one here. Also all the CEPs, HAPs and EPBs... except for the lack of VEPs and presence of BEPs, it could easily have been the 1980s.

By contrast, and as expected, the stock working the Brighton side, and the timetable, was very different to the 1980s! Interesting to see a CWN from this era showing all those bygone units, BELs, BILs and the like.

Are you still intending to offer PDFs of the BR timetables from 1973? Those would be very interesting if so.

The plan to add all the BR timetables from 1973 is still in place but, whilst most are scanned, I don't have originals for all of them yet. I'm aiming to get the set complete, then release them together.

 

[rototunablack5]

Think it's a great idea to help cover the running costs.

Also, there are some more new timetables available on the timetableworld site.

My 1963 WTT (London Midland section F - Todmorden to Preston) is there now, so anyone who wants a copy just head on over there.

Finally, as said before, thank you to all of you who contributed to my queries about the above WTT and lets help the time table project when we can.

Andy.

This is brilliant. Thanks for doing this. It takes me back to North East Lancashire when my interest in trains first arose. Lots of DMUs on local trains but still the London train from Colne and a lot of scheduled SO Wakes Week services to Blackpool

 

[Andy873]

This is brilliant. Thanks for doing this. It takes me back to North East Lancashire when my interest in trains first arose. Lots of DMUs on local trains but still the London train from Colne and a lot of scheduled SO Wakes Week services to Blackpool

Your very welcome! you might want to look for my 1962 (Summer passenger) & 1956 (Freight) WTT's covering the same area as well as all those great time tables on the site.

Andy's keen!

Yes I am, when I started (5 years ago) to find out how / why / when my old branch line was lifted I came across two types of people... those who are very happy to share information and those that won't or only tell you scraps of things.

Time tables are part of history, they need to be recorded and I believe all this should be available free to anyone that's interested or undertaking research - that's why.

For example, my 1962 Summer passenger WTT one was actually used at Rose Grove East signal box - how's that for a piece of history!

Anybody who is interested in the Great Harwood loop line can simply ask me and I'll tell you all I know.

Andy.

 

[Ken H]

Paper over time degrades. Especially the cheap paper used for timetables. Foxing is a real problem. It is dark brown spota that appear on the paper.
So to preserve old documents we really need quality images of them securely stored and preferably available to view online. Which is where timetable world comes in. And its contributors.

 

[rototunablack5]

Yes! I found them and very interesting they are. I am mainly interested in Skipton to Rose Grove, Copy Pit and Hellifield so these definitely fill in some gaps in my knowledge.

 

[Andy873]

Yes! I found them and very interesting they are. I am mainly interested in Skipton to Rose Grove, Copy Pit and Hellifield so these definitely fill in some gaps in my knowledge.

Great!

I bought them because of my branch line as mentioned, but I found the whole area and the traffic on them very interesting. You can see just how the number of steam locos were declining quickly.

Paper over time degrades. Especially the cheap paper used for timetables. Foxing is a real problem. It is dark brown spota that appear on the paper.
So to preserve old documents we really need quality images of them securely stored and preferably available to view online. Which is where timetable world comes in. And its contributors.

Yes that's very true, that is why I try to scan my WTT's to a high quality and post them to timetableworld. I keep my WTT's in air tight sealed plastic type covers and in the dark. Only rarely do I take them out to read, and even then very carefully.

 

[nw1]

The plan to add all the BR timetables from 1973 is still in place but, whilst most are scanned, I don't have originals for all of them yet. I'm aiming to get the set complete, then release them together.

OK - thanks!