Books on the Minimum Gauge

Is it me? Or are there fewer books on the narrow gauge being published in recent years?  I much prefer to sit down with a good book than to sit there on the computer or laptop trying to read detailed information.

I thought that I had very few books on the 15" (or 18"), but a look through my bookcase has un-earthed quite a few, some now a few years old, so I took photos of them in an attempt to summarise them for this blog:- 

The first selection shows a wonderful book on the Fairbourne Miniature Railway: 

"Rails through the Sand", W.J.Milner, H/B, 270 pages, with b/w photographs, a full history on the 15" gauge era. 1996

"The Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway" Railway World Special, P/B, 48 pages, b/w, short pictorial history. 1985

"A History of the Bure Valley Railway", A Vaughan, P/B, approx. 110 pages, colour and b/w photographs. 2000

"Rails to Jaywick Sands", I Banks, P/B, 40 pages, b/w, a lovely little history of this unique 18" gauge seaside line. 1988

"Sian and Katie" - The Twining Sisters" S Buck, P/B, 32 pages, b/w and colour. 1995. 

 

Selection two includes the definitive history on Sir Arthur Heywood.

"Sir Arthur Heywood and the Fifteen Inch Gauge Railway", 

M Smithers, H/B, 178 pages, b/w, detailed history, 1995.

"The Ratty Album - Volume 1", S Jenkins & D Jenner, P/B, 74 pages, historical b/w pictures of the Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway", 2002.

"The Ratty Album - Volume 2 - The Ferreira Years", D Jenner & A Smith, P/B, 74 pages, historical b/w pictures of the Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway", 2003.

"The Fairbourne Railway", P/B, 28 pages, b/w, short history, no date, but 1960's.

"One Man's Railway", J B Snell, H/B, 128 pages, b/w, the story of the Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway and one of my favourite books, 1993.

"Romneyrail", V Mitchell & K Smith, H/B, 96 pages, b/w, pictorial. 1999.

"Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway - in colour", D Smith, H/B, 64 pages, pictorial, good colour photographs. 1993.

"Ratty", W. McGowan Gradon, P/B, 50 pages, b/w, a nice history of the line. 1997. 

"Britain's 15-inch gauge Railways - Duffield Bank to Perrygrove", 

D R Jones, P/B, 192 pages, colour, a comprehensive survey of 15" gauge in Britain, history, descriptions, locos and stock. 2013.

"The Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway", W.J.K. Davies, H/B, 216 pages, b/w, complete history. 1988 edition.

This selection features two volumes containing old picture postcards, with some of my favourite images.  I think simply because they are photographed by many non-railway enthusiasts.  With generally good quality cameras for the time, they feature unique and sometimes run-down railways, many in a scenic, or even quaint, setting.

"A Survey of Seaside Miniature Railways", D.J.Croft, P/B, 136 pages, b/w, another comprehensive survey book of all small gauges, maps, historic photos and history's. 1992.

"British Miniature Railways", N.R. Knight, H/B, 176 pages, photos with short history and descriptions of the lines.  The first chapter is on the 15". 1999.

"Narrow Gauge and Miniature Railways from old picture postcards". A Neale, P/B, 60 pages, b/w, pictorial with descriptions. 1986.

"Steam on Britain's Miniature Railways", R. Butterell, H/B, 96 pages, b/w, pictorial - good images. 1976.

"The Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway - A journey through historic postcards", D Jenner, A Smith, P van Zeller, P/B, 88 pages, b/w, pictorial postcards with descriptions. 1991.

"Ratty's 100", D. Ferreira, P/B, 72 pages, b/w, historic pictorial. 1976.

"The Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway", W.J.K. Davies, H/B, 205 pages, b/w, full history. 1981 edition.

"Romney Remembered", L Jacques, J Emmins, RH&DR Assoc., P/B, 118 pages, b/w and colour. 75th anniversary compilation.

"Narrow Gauge Railways - England and the Fifteen Inch", 

H Household, H/B, 176 pages, b/w, general histories of lines. 1989.

"18 Inch Gauge Steam Railways", M Smithers, H/B, 176 pages, b/w, detailed, well illustrated history. 1993.

"Fifteen Inch Gauge Railways", D Mosley & P van Zeller, H/B, 96 pages, b/w, Illustrated History, locos, stock and equipment. 1986.

"A Single to the Seashore", L Little, NGRS, P/B, 50 pages, b/w, a history of this unique 18" line. No date.

"Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway", W.J.K. Davies, P/B, 160 pages, b/w, full history, a re-issue of the book in the previous selection. 2000.