Monday 4 May 2015

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

2 comments:

Millsy said...

Nice!

Heisler said...

Nice Find! I'll have to keep my eye open for that one in the used bookstores. Its fun living in the heart of narrow gauge country!