European Railroad Discussion > Possible first UK visit in 2023

It's probable that I will make a long desired visit to the UK next fall.  Are there any good books I should have (thinking equivalent to the Canadian Trackside Guide type thing) ?

Have signed onto railcam.uk so I have that covered .....

 

Bill Miller
Galt, ON

CCMF Wrote:
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> It's probable that I will make a long desired
> visit to the UK next fall.  Are there any good
> books I should have (thinking equivalent to the
> Canadian Trackside Guide type thing) ?

There is no single equivalent to the CTG, but the following will give you plenty of information.

For current roster info, get the annual British Railways Locomotives & Coaching Stock volume by Platform 5 publishing. The 2023 edition will be published long before your visit.  https://www.platform5.com/

For preserved locomotive info, get Preserved Locomotives of British Railways, also by Platform 5.

For a good rail atlas, get the Rail Atlas of Great Britain and Ireland by S.K. Baker. The 15th edition was published this year.  Not published by Platform 5, but it can be purchased from them.

For comprehensive track diagrams in one volume, get the TRACKatlas of Mainland Britain. For details, visit  https://www.trackmaps.co.uk/  but this can also be ordered from Platform 5.

I also live in Canada and order from Platform 5 regularly. The service is good.

Another superb resource for the railfan is Realtime Trains, which will give you plenty of detail about that train you've just photographed. If only we had this in North America. https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/20/22 23:15 by railsmith.

There are plenty of knowledgable UK based railfans on TO so please feel free to ask more specific questions about traffic/locations etc.

Hello Bill. I'm going over there at the end of April... Give me a call if you want to...

Take a look at this website for information on freight in Great Britain. https://freightmaster.net/

Here is a sample freight table for a freight Hotspot. https://freightmaster.net/demo/tables/barnwrawby.htm       Note that this table is outdated and has been replaced.

They also have track diagrams like ATCS for much of the country where freight trains operate. Unlike ATCS the diagram gives you the train's symbol.

To access the most up to date freight tables you must be a subscriber. Current price for a monthly subscription is £8.49. Just remember to cancel when you are done. This also gives you access to their forums where you will find some people that you know from TO.

Just be warned that we have a range of strikes at the moment here in the UK. One of the things affected is mail which means anything you buy from companes like Platform 5 could well be delayed en route to the USA.

CCMF Wrote:
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> It's probable that I will make a long desired
> visit to the UK next fall.  Are there any good
> books I should have (thinking equivalent to the
> Canadian Trackside Guide type thing) ?
>
> Have signed onto railcam.uk so I have that covered

Consider going to the UK in 2025 for the 200th Birthday of Railways, much being planned. Check the website of The Friends of the Stockton & Darlington Ry.--the first common carrier railway in the world! 

CCMF Wrote:
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> It's probable that I will make a long desired
> visit to the UK next fall.  

Wait until 2025 when the UK will be celebrating the 200TH birthday of the invention of all the world's railways. There will be a great cavalcade of trains centered near Stockton and Darlington where the first common carrier railway ran!