OLD RAILWAY BOOKS/MAGAZINES IN NEED OF NEW HOME

[Evelynm]

Hello
We have been sorting through my late father in laws things and have found lots of railway books, some very old, and many issues of the Railway Magazine from the 1950s. Does anyone know any secondhand bookshops who may be interested in purchasing any?
Or indeed any Enthusiasts on here who may be interested?
I can post pics of a few on here maybe?
Thank you and kind regards

 

[DelW]

Hello
We have been sorting through my late father in laws things and have found lots of railway books, some very old, and many issues of the Railway Magazine from the 1950s. Does anyone know any secondhand bookshops who may be interested in purchasing any?
Or indeed any Enthusiasts on here who may be interested?
I can post pics of a few on here maybe?
Thank you and kind regards

Hallo and welcome to the forums.

This is a question that comes up quite regularly, and you may find some ideas in these discussions:

FREE Railway Books to a good home - ANDOVER (UK)

Downsizing, so no longer have space for these, so free to a good home. British Rail 70s-80s-90s Good to fair quality (some ex library). Also UK Freight DVD Set (10 hours on 5 DVD's) Also various VHS tapes inc. Archive British Diesel & Electric Tracion Vols 1-3. Collection ONLY from near...

www.railforums.co.uk

Advice needed on what to do with collection of old railway magazines.

I wonder if anyone could point me in the right direction. My late dad had an extensive collection of The Railway Magazine, bound copies in wonderful condition from 1932 onwards. I don’t know where to start with finding a new home for them. Any ideas? Thank you.

www.railforums.co.uk

As mentioned, many preserved / heritage railways have second hand books for sale, so if you have one nearby it may be worth visiting and asking there. But they are sometimes overwhelmed with stock that is slow to sell, and are then reluctant to take more.

There are also specialist second hand transport book dealers, some of whom advertise in the classified ads section at the back of Railway Magazine (and probably other monthlies).

I hope that helps!

 

[Bevan Price]

For the books, you could try, for example:
www.bottbooks.com
www.nigelbirdbooks.co.uk
www.batterdalebooks.co.uk
www.railroadtrading.co.uk

These all advertise 2nd hand transport books for sale in Railway Magazine.
There are so many second hand magazines available that you will be lucky to get paid much - if anything- for them.
Some heritage railways accept old magazines as donations for them to sell to boost their funds a little.

And any old railway timetables (1960s or earlier) may bring you a few pounds if you find the right buyer (or sell on ebay).

 

[Gloster]

One possible local source could be the Cornwall Railway Society. They probably wouldn’t be able to take them themselves, but they might know of someone locally who would.

 

[Evelynm]

Many thanks for all your replies, I will contact the book sellers suggested.

 

[Mollington St]

Many thanks for all your replies, I will contact the book sellers suggested.

Feel free to contact me 07787 258211 i might also be able to help and offer some pointers as have helped and been part of many similar requests over the last 10 years
Oliver - Transport Past Times

 

[Islineclear3_1]

Do you have a list of the books you can post here?

 

[Evelynm]

No there are far too many sorry

 

[Gloster]

If there are a lot of books there is a fair chance that there are a sufficiently large number of them that are worth the effort of selling, even if it is a case of ‘all or nothing’: enough good stuff to make it worth a trader or group taking the lot and sorting them. Books of the ‘Great Train of the World’ or ‘Famous Steam Locomotives’ type are not going to be of much interest and even the photographic albums are not likely to be much sought after, although there are some that are. It is the reference or history of particular aspects (particular lines, types of loco, or more specialist areas such as signalling or wagons/coaches) ones that are most likely to repay the effort. (I hope that @Mollington St (above) will confirm this: my experience is limited to doing a bit of valuing for the local Oxfam.)

 

[30907]

https://www.roberthummbooks.co.uk/ is another , though not in the SW.

In general, railway magazines are of no value, but 1950-60s Railway Mags (etc) would be an exception.

 

[Evelynm]

Thanks all. Robert Humm is retiring so no longer taking any more books. Have attached a photo of a very small part of the collection.
Regards
Evelyn

 

[Evelynm]

And a couple more

 

[swanhill41]

The position in the secondhand book market is dire..The main buyers of rail books,are not buying for stock as they are overstocked and have suffered a decline in sales to boot.
Martin Bott on his facebook page makes it very clear that they are not buying..They have bought a few collections of books,more military as opposed to railway titles..They use to purchase
books on spec in the shop,now they will not.
Nigel Benn who is totally on-line sales,isn't buying and on rare occassions will cherry pick..He quotes on his Facebook page that he gets at least 5 calls a day trying to sell grandads railway books.
I know this to be the case throughout the booktrade .Lots of book collections being touted around no takers..Look at Facebook Marketplace to see the railway books for sale..90% plus of the same
unsaleable railway books..
Also charity shops are getting fussy I believe ..The local hospice in my area has in last 6 months opened 2 bookshops and it is noticeable that the condition of books in 80% cases are excellent. Talking to the manager of the one local to me says she cannot believe quality and condition of the rail books..Excellent.
And the final qualification ,is the condition of the books...To quote the presenter on Flog It ...Quality always sells!

 

[4SubAsociation]

As a train group which sells 2nd hand books to raise money for the 4SUB. We do get donated railway books from time to time (similar to preserved railways).

Our main issue is the stand has to go to events to raise money. Sometimes (i have seen this a couple of events), some traders sell all 2nd hand books for £2.50 (or similar). When we first started out we had this happen at our 3rd event, i realised then and there that we could not rely on the sale of 2nd hand books, the most recent event this happened too this did not affect us as i had diversified the stand to sell other items.

This year a couple of events we could not take the books for varying factors (lack of space in the car used, rail tour event etc). But overall other than the Ashford 180 event where we sold quite a few books, most events we had them at we barely sold one.

I don't tend to take a lot of 2nd hand books to events and i usually leave it all in one box for ease of transport etc, i do list some on our sales group. The other issue that comes into play (when selling online) is weight, some of the books are well over 2kg, after doing some research and seeing what they sell for, by the time you add postage on you are not making anything.

Also storage space is a factor too.

As a group we are willing to accept them, but at the same time we have to factor the above.

I hope this information helps

 

[Gloster]

A comment on the first picture of a selection of books. To my untrained eye, if that random selection is typical of the rest, then there is probably enough good stuff to make it worth the effort of selling them. Even if it is on the basis of getting somebody to take the lot if they want the good stuff.

 

[duesselmartin]

do you still have magazines from the 1970s?

 

[Evelynm]

do you still have magazines from the 1970s?

No, I think the Railway Magazine issues are from the 1950s

 

[30907]

No, I think the Railway Magazine issues are from the 1950s

I noticed mags of that era on sale at the East Lancs Railway today.

Obviously rather too far, but if you are unable to find a buyer, I wonder if your nearest preserved line would be interested in a donation (with the approval of all the executors, if that applies). Bodmin is probably your nearest.

 

[Evelynm]

I now have the remaining books from my late father in laws collection. Would these be worth selling, anything of interest to anyone here?
Photos attached
Regards
Evelyn

 

[swanhill41]

Honest answer..Charity shop at best,bin at the worst.
Note I have some knowledge what sells as I in a limited way sell rail books on line..Books pre 2000 publication are in the main non sellers..
And quality always counts.
Of no interest to me .

 

[Bevan Price]

The 1950s Railway Magazines may attract a few buyers.
The next charity bag through your front door is probably the best destination for the others.