Narrow Gauge Railways by David Cox

It was Friday 1st May and we had decided to have a tourist-y day in Stratford upon Avon. We had planned on a meal in the local Thai Restaurant, but at the moment were just promenading around the streets. I walked in to the Oxfam Book Shop and the very first book I saw (the very first one) was this one; Modelling Railways Illustrated Handbook No. 5 - An Introduction to Modelling Narrow Gauge Railways by David Cox.

I had first become aware of this book back when I was building Narrow Gauge Railway layouts. It was on sale in The Severn Valley Railway Station in Kidderminster. At the time I had thought that it included much that I had already seen. Fast forward 10 (maybe 15) years and I began to realise just how rare this book is.

I had even started searching for it on ebay, but the values it was going for meant that I was loathed to pick up a copy. In fact there are American Book Sellers who are offering the book for well over $100.00.

The near perfect copy cost me just £14.99, which is still above the original cover price of £9.95! I can tell you that I left the shop with a very good impersonation of a Cheshire Cat.

Needles to say, I've not put it down since purchasing it.

The book covers much of the subject matter needed to build a Narrow Gauge Model Railway and is very well illustrated with both Colour and B&W images.

A Great Find, and a Great Read.

Modelling Railways Illustrated Handbook No. 5 - An Introduction to Modelling Narrow Gauge Railways by David Cox
Published by Irwell Press in 1995
Cover price £9.95
ISBN 1-871608-45-7

Tony