Train Spotting Book - Advice Please

[Tamworthdave]

Hi all,

I'm a new member. I'm 45, haven't been train spotting since a kid. I used to get an Ian Allan book with a all the numbers and neatly underline them.

Is there such a book now? If so, which is the best please?

Any tips gratefully received.

Thanks.

 

[1E05]

I'm assuming you are referring to the fleet list books which are around approx A5 sized (like 'Coaching Stock', 'EMUs', 'DMUs' and 'locos')? If so they are available in both Birmingham branches of Ian Allan or I think your able to buy them on the website (not sure of exact like though...)
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I think Ian Allan also does a 'numbers bible' with all coach, loco, emu and dmu numbers in one book- but don't quote me on it.

 

[Class 92]

There is also the ICRS which have nice and simple fleet list books.

 

[theblackwatch]

The most popular and well established books are those by Platform 5 - they do pocket sized books each year covering Locos / DMUs / EMUs / Coaching Stock , as well as a hardback combined volume .

Various other books were discussed a while ago on a thread at http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=82574

 

[ATW Alex 101]

Get the combined Platform 5 books. I get mine from Waterstones, although places online do them as well as other well known bookshops. May not be any use but the Aviation shop at Manchester Airport viewing park do them as well.

 

[Tamworthdave]

That's great. Thanks for your help!

 

[telstarbox]

You might find the ABRail site useful too - http://www.abrail.co.uk/

 

[Condor7]

This is the Ian Allan book.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/ABC-Rail-Guide-2013-Marsden/dp/0711037396

A little larger than most so not the best for line side use, but in my opinion one of the nicest of all the books, with lovely photos of each loco/unit with the numbers underneath.

What makes this a little different from the others is that the numbers are not in loco/unit class order i.e. 60, 66, 70, etc, but are listed based on the train operating company, i.e. Direct Rail Services, EWS, East Midlands, etc.

If you are one of those who are a completest, rather than going for all the class 66's for instance, you can see at a glance all the 66's to a particular TOC and which ones you need to get for that particular company.

 

[IanXC]

This is the Ian Allan book.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/ABC-Rail-Guide-2013-Marsden/dp/0711037396

A little larger than most so not the best for line side use, but in my opinion one of the nicest of all the books, with lovely photos of each loco/unit with the numbers underneath.

What makes this a little different from the others is that the numbers are not in loco/unit class order i.e. 60, 66, 70, etc, but are listed based on the train operating company, i.e. Direct Rail Services, EWS, East Midlands, etc.

If you are one of those who are a completest, rather than going for all the class 66's for instance, you can see at a glance all the 66's to a particular TOC and which ones you need to get for that particular company.

As you say it does lay things out by TOC/FOC rather than purely by class, which is a different take on things. However I'd caution against it, the number of errors contained within is just unacceptably high in my opinion - its not just new stock either, there are missing HST power cars and 158s for instance!

Similar feedback from the wider membership is the reason we don't list it on the Stock lists and Rail Atlases category of the RailUK store.

 

[Aldaniti]

This is the Ian Allan book.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/ABC-Rail-Guide-2013-Marsden/dp/0711037396

A little larger than most so not the best for line side use, but in my opinion one of the nicest of all the books, with lovely photos of each loco/unit with the numbers underneath.

What makes this a little different from the others is that the numbers are not in loco/unit class order i.e. 60, 66, 70, etc, but are listed based on the train operating company, i.e. Direct Rail Services, EWS, East Midlands, etc.

If you are one of those who are a completest, rather than going for all the class 66's for instance, you can see at a glance all the 66's to a particular TOC and which ones you need to get for that particular company.

Could I just ask a question please... does the Ian Allan ABC Rail Guide also show the names carried?

 

[Boothby97]

Could I just ask a question please... does the Ian Allan ABC Rail Guide also show the names carried?

Bought this on Saturday, yes it does.

Thanks, Sam

 

[Aldaniti]

Bought this on Saturday, yes it does.

Thanks, Sam

Many thanks Sam!

 

[David Goddard]

Although I don't use for the purposes outlined in this thread, I buy (or more like my wife buys me for Christmas) the books for Locos, EMUs and DMUs every two years to keep up to date with fleet changes and new stock, as well as for looking up technical data such as vehicle dimensions, speed etc. I find them very good for this, and if using them for spotting would probably buy a second set for this as well.