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Occasional notes, thoughts
and jottings from the pen of a wandering railway bookseller
........watch this space !!! 19/7/10 Re -Wild Swan Publications- I regret due to ongoing problems I am unable to obtain stock from this publisher at this time.
Catalogue 70 now live on my website. 25/6/10 Catalogue 70 now under preparation, should be ready in
10-14 days. 24/6/10
23/6/10 A tough budget as expected but thankfully NO VAT ON BOOKS
and MAGAZINES. 19/6/10 Need any Model Railway Journals to complete your set? I
have most issues from 1-190 in stock at £2 each plus postage.
3/6/10 New catalogue of forthcoming books from Ian Allan arrived
today, a few new and reprinted titles look interesting- Each a Glimpse
(Gifford) reprint due October at £30. New titles include another
study of IK Brunel by Adrian Vaughan, looking at the man through his
letters and writings, Adrian's books are always worth reading as his
depth of research is always thorough, this is due in October. Another
abc combine reprint is coming-1952, with allocations at £12.99,
due July.. A book on Tornado (you may have heard about this locomotive
in the press) in fact I am fed up of reading about Yawnado as its been
christened.What looks like (at last) the definitive book on the
Woodhead Route, 128 pages, with over 200 illustrations is due in July
at £19.99, this has to be, along with the Cambrian, Central Wales
Line, The Cumbrian Coast and the S&C one of my all time favourite
lines, I travelled it just once behind one of the unique class 76
electrics, a full return journey Manchester-Sheffield, a foggy day in
November,a lifetime ago! Also Noodle books are re-issuing in September
(sadly in paperback) LMS Signals by Warburton at £14.95. ALL of
these can be ordered NOW for despatch and payment when published. 27/5/10 6/5/10 I SHALL BE AWAY FROM 12th to 27th MAY ON HOLIDAY THE
HOUSE WILL BE OCCUPIED, (INCLUDING A LARGE DOG!) SO MAIL WILL GET
THROUGH OK.ALL EMAILS ETC. WILL BE DEALT WITH ON MY RETURN.
Catalogue 69 is now live on my website. 9/4/10 Whatever political party you support, this has to be good news. The
Conservative Party has pledged not to add tax to books if it is elected
on 6 May. Questions have been raised over VAT after the Tories said
they would not raise National Insurance contributions. There is,
however, a possibility that VAT will be added to e-books - and that
would help the sales of printed books 30/3/10 Well it's nearly Easter, and its snowing! Yes really,
what a long hard Winter it has been. Last weekend I was in the garden
in a T shirt now its five base layers and waterproofs! 19/3/10 So you love the way Amazon discount do you? Well read
this, because the future of booksellers and (indeed the book) is in
peril, mostly thanks to the end of the Net Book Agreement and the heavy
discounters. Use your local bookseller or he won't be there
soon............ Nowadays, when a 'high-street' bookshop closes it is not big news, except when the closure is a major independent bookseller. Although the Kilburn Bookshop, in North London, is primarily selling new books, anyone who wants to know what might happen at some point in the future to our side of the trade should read this excellent and thought provoking observation. What happens in the new book trade will eventually affect our side of the trade. Simon-Peter Trimarco, the manager, reflects with passion and anger on the state of the book trade. Simon has spent some twenty-two years selling books and is one who welcomes PCs and technology. The Kilburn Bookshop's owner, Steve Adams also owns the Willesden Bookshop which he intends to keep open, blames a rent increase and the disruptive effects of lengthy local engineering works as factors exacerbating the trends that already make life tough for independents. Let's hope his efforts prevail. Simon writes: The Kilburn Bookshop is closing its doors for good on 31 March, 2010, after 30 years' service to the good folk of NW6. I'm gradually de-stocking the shop, but it's vile working in a not-very-good bookshop, and the shelves are starting to look pretty ropey. I'm was trying to put down my thoughts about where I see the industry going and realized that I think the whole industry will fail in the next couple of years. Dillons, Ottakar's, Hammicks have all gone; Borders went bankrupt in December; Waterstone's has obviously been struggling for ages; most independents have closed, or will do soon; and those stalwarts and new shops which (we are told) are "thriving" are situated in out-of-the-way places, or in very affluent neighbourhoods, with no competition for the mass market and people with money to burn. Since the destruction of the NBA (Net Book Agreement) we’ve had to suffer the online folk like Amazon and the big chains demanding huge discounts from publishers in order to then discount themselves to oblivion. Idiot publishers have just rolled over saying “yes, take it all." Backlist titles are now coming in at silly money prices - £14.99 for a Penguin Classic anyone? Now, as the independents close, we have supermarkets stocking - at a loss making price - the "top twenty bestsellers" that, somewhere, got mistaken for books; soon there won't be enough stock-holding shops for publishers to get a new title, let alone a back-list one, on the shelves and sold - then they'll start failing too. What will happen? If publishers can't afford the small print-runs for those few stock-holding shops left then it just leaves e-books and print-on-demand. Various multinationals have been trying to hive off these awful "reader" things, Kindles, iPads etc. We have Apple and the like demanding all manner of things from publishers (oops, I mean "working with"), even before the actual launch of their sorry attempts. You can tell these products are no good by the desperation of them trying (and failing) to be as much like a book as possible. If you've invented something to replace another product, surely it should be a better alternative to the original, not a poor copy? It's a backwards step: none of these readers is anywhere near as good at being a book as a book; none of them is capable of being the myriad things a book is. How do you annotate an e-book? How do you lend an e-book (free)? How do you turn down its corners, throw it down in annoyance? How do you not break your reader on the Tube when you stuff it into your pocket? How do you browse for something to read when you don't know what you want? How do you come across a biography of someone you didn't know existed when you were vaguely looking for a novel? How do you pass it on? But if Big Business, the money men, want us to have something, then that is what we‘ll have. No - that is all we'll have! Weird how Apple is somehow seen as above the fray, a collection of holy men, when in reality it’s just another multinational corporation out to make as much money in as short a time as possible. And if it has to destroy the book trade to get its way, well, that's the way it goes, buddy! And now Google (Don't Be Evil) has come up with their master plan to bypass all copyright laws, to hold everyone, author and reader alike, to ransom; how long will it be before the second hand and exchange trade has all gone too and the upstart Oxfam shops are left with the same books going round and round... My guess is that, once almost all the bookshops have closed, Amazon, or some similar mega-company, will start opening little Browsing Bookshops. It'll be like TescoMetro or Starbucks: first put all the other shops and suppliers out of business, then go in there yourself and tell everyone what a great job you do, a great service to the "consumer", that we‘ve never had it so good. Am I bitter? Yes! I hate what’s happening to the whole trade and I’m so angry that we independents could do nothing about it - look back to the demise of the NBA and read the letters and arguments published against its abolition. We were right. But things turned out not just as we predicted but worse than we ever thought. I am accused by some as being an old fogey but I refute that: I have a science background, I love technology, I think the computer has helped me do an infinitely better job than before. But we are being funnelled into a dead end. Where did this idea that all information should be free, all research should not be charged for, all the nonsense given an equal billing with hard won knowledge come from? One of the only things that I agree with Rupert Murdoch about is that Newspapers should charge for their online content. So should publishers, so should anyone whose hard work is available to use or enjoy. Why do we accept that the workers: the writers, musicians, journalists, editors, the endless list, no longer have the right to be remunerated for their work? If all is to be paid for by 'advertising' then from now on nothing can ever be trusted. I’ve been at Kilburn Bookshop, on and off, for 22 of its 30 years and God knows what I'm going to do now. Vaguely, I look at anywhere that has jobs advertised but they all seem to want Dynamic! Forward-Thinking! Planners! Who Work Well In A Team! and Thrive On Challenges! What on earth does it mean, and would I want a job that demands that anyway? Mostly I have no idea what these employers are asking for, or even what the actual job is, other than someone who will work endless hours for no money and be damn grateful. None of which am I able or willing to do. Anyway, I'm not going to think about that now. So goodbye from Kilburn Bookshop, and goodbye to the book trade. Simon-Peter Trimarco, London Amen to that. 9/3/10 What a superb week.Glorious weather all week, including
snow on Tuesday morning, when I drew back the curtains at The Station
Inn to view Ribblehead Viaduct I was greeted with an unforgettable site
of an over night snow fall. A quick walk to the viaduct was just magic.
27/2/10 I shall be away 1st to 5th March inclusive, my annual
"out of season" trip to the wonderful Settle & Carlisle Line. This
time two nights at The Station Inn, Ribblehead and two nights at The
Royal Oak, Apppleby. Plenty of train travel, good company, good food
and good local ales. Hopefully we can travel from Carlisle to Newcastle
via Hexham, a line I have never travelled on, but am assured its well
worth the trip, and maybe just maybe I might get some walking in. 13/2/10 Just in... Talyllyn Revived. A splendid new book covering the TRPS
from its inception.256pp ills. incl. colour, dealing with the
administration and operational aspects of the TR and TRPS (from 1951
onwards) during the preservation era (rather than the engineering
side, which was well covered in John Bates book "Chronicles of Pendre
Sidings") Hardback with dustwrapper in the style of Bates book
and a great compliment to it.IN STOCK now £33 plus postage. 11/2/10 Just back from a great day at the Talyllyn Railway,
celebrating Tom Rolt's 100th birthday (Had he been alive, he would have
been 100 today) A lifetimes ambition for me was realised when I met and
chatted to Sonia Rolt, (Tom's widow). We then too a lovely train trip
up the line followed by a superb buffet,which rounded off a truly
memorable day.Thank you the TR, still the best narrow gauge railway in
the world! 22/1/10 Attention GWR Journal buyers (The Wild Swan publication)
There is now an on line searchable index at
www.gwrjournal.com a very useful site! 20/1/10 Catalogue 68 now live on my website
www.nigelbirdbooks.co.uk. Paper copies despatched 15th January. 10/1/10 Catalogue 68 now complete,(over 500 items) and should be on the website soon.Paper copies may well get delayed due to the ongoing poor weather conditions in the UK. 10/1/10 Over 150 cracking USA Railroad books into stock today (no narrow gauge) I will be listing them on my website asap, but will take quiet a while, however if there are title(s) you need please email me I will check the pile! 8/1/10 Managed to get all parcels away today, despite continuing
bad weather. More snow is forecast for most of UK this wekend.Postal
deliveries inwards are still affected. 6/1/10 SNOW!!! Due to adverse weather conditions, I am unable to get to
the Post Office to despatch parcels. 3/1/10 HAPPY NEW YEAR and may all the railway books you seek
turn up this year! 17/12/09 The new book on the Talyllyn (Talyllyn Revived) has been
delayed until early 2010. Some details are now available- 256pp ills.
incl. colour, dealing with the administration and operational aspects
of the TR and TRPS duing the preservation era (rather than the
engineering side, which was well covered in John Bates book "Chronicles
of Pendre Sidings") Hardback with dustwrapper in the sytyle of Bates
book and a great compliment to it. Publication is due in early
2010. Advance orders taken now. 4/12/09 Attention Corris Railway fans! you are in for a treat-not
one but TWO new books on the railway. Firstly (and IN STOCK) A Corris
Celebration.This book by Gwyn Briwnant-Jones covers the railways early
history in text and pictures but interestingly mostly covers the POST
preservation era, right up to 2009.Tons of pictures, (many in colour)
showing the major developments at the railway since the 1970s. Some
very young looking volunteers are evident! Highly recommended at
£9.99 plus postage. 21/11/09 MY LAST POSTING DAY FOR CHRISTMAS 2009 is 21/11/09 Very busy at present,some 600 books added to my website in the last 2 weeks (this may have something to do with it!) including well over 100 modelling titles, model engineering books, Irish narrow gauge and much more.Still some 700+ to add, including more mdelling and soon some nice Americam titles all being well. 21/11/09 Lots of new books coming in for Christmas- 12/11/09 Another very wet day in west Wales can only mean one
thing.............yes I was out trackbed walking again! Along with a
pal we did the Llanerchaeron to Aberaeron path, along the old trackbed,
about 2 miles.Very pleasant walk but very wet towards the end.Then
joined by another pal we went on to the area above Tynygraig, by which
time it was just too wet so we retired to the Talbot in Tregaron with a
roaring log fire and a pint of Cribyn Ale. One day we will get to walk
in the dry!! 10/11/09 The new book pre Christmas rush is starting, with the
wonderful full colour 2nd edition of The Slate Quarry Album now in
stock (£32 hardback VERY Limited run) and £24 softback both
IN STOCK.The new much expanded edition of Great Western Way at
£37.50 is also in stock. I have also re-stocked, following
reprint, with the Titfield Thunderbolt Then & Now book a bargain at
£8.95. Several from Wild Swan-Severn & Wye Vol 4, KESR,New
Modellers Signalling Book also promised.Also due from Plateway is a new
Narrow Gauge Industrial Album, in softback and hardback editions.A
quick email or phone call will confirm availability of any of the
foregoing. 10/11/09 All seems back to normal at Royal Mail, at least until
the New Year, when more action is threatened. 23/10/09 Postal Dispute:Whilst the actions in the postal dispute remain
intermittent I will continue to use Royal Mail for despatch of your
orders. I very rarely suffer a non-delivery and although there might
currently be some delays I feel this is better than using a carrier
with the associated increase in posatge costs and the need for all
items to be signed for, which can be inconvenient. I will watch the
situation closely and will keep you posted via Nigels notes. 23/10/09 What a week! We all made it, all 20 or so miles,
Aberystwyth to Tregaron, heavy ran for about half the journey didn't
spoil the walk.What a wonderful train journey that must have been
when the line was open, oh to have a time machine! 13/10/09 Myself and 2 or 3 friends are planning to walk the
Ystwyth Trail next tuesday 20th October. This is mostly on the old
trackbed of the closed line Aberystwyth-Tregaron, some 20 miles or so,
and weather permitting should be fun! 13/10/09 It would appear that Royal Mail are likely to be on
strike next week (22nd is rumoured) so please be aware that deliveries
maybe held up.All seems to be running OK at present. Just what any
small mail order business nedds on the run up to Christmas! 28/9/09 New catalogue (67) now uploaded to my website. 23/9/09 Delivered fresh secondhand book stock to Talyllyn
Railway, prior to AGM this coming Saturday. 16/9/09 Catalogue 67 well under way. I hope to have it available
within 14 days.A few gems too! 7/9/09 Great to see so many old friends at the WLLR Gala.(and sell a few books!) Another very busy few days. Shame about the overcast skies. What a lovely railway it is-such nice people too. 31/8/09 Great few days at Corris exhibition. The new venue at The school Corris seemed to work well. Numbers good and lots travelling on the railway. 23/8/09 More stock of the very popular Welsh Byways dvd now in! 10/8/09 Wow, what a really busy day at The West Wales Model
Railway Exhibition, Aberaeron, Ceredigion. Some 400 visitors and yet
another really cracking show-well done Dick and Martyn. The new dvd
"Welsh Byways", featuring the Aberystwyth-Carmarthen line and
branches, Barmouth Junction to Llanuwllyn track lifting train and much
more was very popular, in fact all 15 copies were sold in a few hours.
Footage is rare on these lines and the quality us excellent.Fresh stock
on order!
31/7/09 All the Rolt books are now listed, and already The
Clouded Mirror,Sleep No More and Hunslet Hundred have been sold.Plenty
more on my website! 15/7/09 ATTENTION L T C ROLT Collectors!!! 8/7/09 IMPORTANT...........Please note that my phone line (01974 821281) is currently out of order. Please EMAIL me on nigelbird.books@virgin.net ADDED 10/7/09- PHONE NOW REPAIRED.
Catalogue 66 now up on the website. Paper copies posted
tomorrow. 29/5/09 Catalogue 66 is well under way, and hopefully will be
available within the next 7 days. Lots of good stuff too! 19/5/09 RAILWAY MAGAZINES! Most are worthless however a few are
sort after, mainly for thier historical content. I have excellent runs
of the following now in stock...British Railway Journal,Locomotive
Illustrated, Model Railway Journal and Modellers Backtrack. If you need
any just email me. 19/5/09 It's another Subaru! A green Forester this time.J555
JGL.Look for it and me at shows! A pleasure to drive and I hope,
reliable. I now need to sell lots of books to pay for it. 14/5/09 Busy sorting through two large collections which I have
just bought in. Much Welsh material and some really good quality
general stock, if there is anything you need just email me I may have
it. 3/4/09 Just received confirmation that my stall at the
Llangollen Gala will be located at the Glyndyfrdwy Station Site along
with other traders and numerous miniature gauge railways. This
really is to be THE gala of 2009, with an amazing array of visiting
locomotives, including 9017 (Dukedog) IN BLACK!,246 Morayshire,1306
Mayflower,3440 City of Truro,6100 Royal Scot, (tbc) 5690 Leander
(tbc),5526,Beavertail observation car and the home fleet of
locomotives.The gala runs from 18th to 26th April. I will be present
for 18th and 19th AT LEAST, maybe longer depending on how busy it is!
This really is a must do event, see you there? 28/3/09 Back from another wonderful S&C trip. I never tire of
the line, the scenery, or the friendly locals. (or the local brews!) 9/3/09 We all love banks don't we! (In fact if you live in the
UK you own most of them!) Rags make paper Paper makes money Money makes banks Banks make loans Loans make beggars
I shall be away from 16th to 20th March. My annual visit
to the Settle-Carlisle line. Myself and 3 pals stay at The Station Inn
Ribblehead, enjoying the trains and the real ale. Last year we did the
Cumbrian Coast route via Workington, what a really superb line that is.
Catalogue 65 now available on the web site. 16/2/09 Currently working on catalogue 65, which should be out
within 10 days. Some goodies in this one, especially for GWR fans! 14/2/09 Unfortunately due to the severe weather I was unable to
attend The Stafford Model Railway exhibition a few weeks ago. The first
show I have missed due to the weather in almost 25 years of doing
shows. Global warming, where are you when we need you?
Due to family illness, regretably I have had to
withdraw from the Leamington & Warwick Show at Stoneleigh on
17th/18th January. 22/12/08 All orders received and paid for upto 21/12/08 have now
been despatched. 11/12/ 08 Catalogue 64 NOW AVAILABLE ON LINE 4/12/08 Catalogue 64 including a small sale section will be early
next week. 3/11/08 NEW BOOKS! Do I stop selling them??
Interested in Canals? If so, you may wish to get my "one off " canal list, due out in about 10 days. 150 or so books/maps etc.Just email me for a copy. 21/10/08 2009 sees the 150th anniversary of the first (horse
drawn!) trains on The Corris Railway in Mid Wales, some exciting events
are planned including a re-run of the first train, complete with one
horse power.
Despite all the fears about the economy, catalogue 63 has
gone well. Many thanks to all you buyers out there. Your support is
really appreciated. I fear that 2009 maybe much worse, trade wise. I
hope I am wrong. Maybe I can get nationalised?
Starting to book a few shows for 2009. One that looks
very interesting is Steel, Steam & Stars 11, at the
Llangollen Railway. 9 days in total, with lots of very interesting
locomotives booked to appear, including 9017 and 3440.Stalls to be at
Carrog-see you there? 3/10/08 Catalogue 63 is now available.Click the catalogue link or
email me for a copy.Almost 500 items of a varied nature-UK, Standard
and Narrow Gauge, Overseas, Working Timetables and much more.
Catalogue 63 now well on the way to being issued, should
be out in about 7-10 days if all goes to plan.
Managed to grab a day off and visited the Severn Valley
Railway Gala on 20th. A stunning day, with Dukedog 9017 (Earl of
Berkeley), City of Truro,Double Headed Manors (Erlestoke and Bradley)
and a local auto train, Kidderminster to Bewdley. I thought I was back
o the Cambrian in the late 1950's. The sun shone, the trains were
packed and a real holiday spirit was evident.
Garratt 50 has come and gone but wow what a fantastic
Gala. Superb live steam in umpteen gauges, displays of loco
plates,models, photos etc.An unrepeatable event. 3/9/08 Sue and I leave tomorrow (4th) for the Garratt 50 Gala
based at Dinas on the Welsh Highland Railway. I understand that
over 60 Garratt's of varying gauges will be on display, and mostly
operational. The Gala starts Friday 5th and runs for 3 days.Plenty of
quality stock with me, despite selling quite a lot at the WLLR Gala
last weekend.Including the new book on Alan Keef the locomotive and
rolling stock builder from Lea, Ross on Wye, which is selling well. 3/9/08 I am delighted to annouce that with effect from 5th
September 2008 I will have stock on sale at The Talyllyn Railway,
Tywyn, North Wales. Only a small quantity for starters but who
knows if it is successful more space may be made available. If you are
in the area why not pop in?. Excellent cafe and museum, and the train
ride's not bad either!
Another super WLLR Gala,very busy on the Saturday, we
even had some sunshine!. A locomotive failure late on Sunday
necessitated use of the Welshpool Classic Coack to ferry stranded
passengers from Sylfaen to Raven Square. I have to say the staff at
Raven Sqaure coped very well and soon got matters sorted. As to the
Resita (the failed locomotive, which also failed at 2007's Gala) which
broke an axle I believe, many suggestions at to her fate were
suggested. No doubt repairs will be undertaken in time to break down
again next year? 13/8/08 If you collect Foxline publications TAKE NOTE! 11/8/08 Nice to see so many friends old and new at the
delightfully friendly Aberaeron Exhibition, yesterday.
Another excellent show at Telford, a real must for those
of a narrow mind (in modelling terms!) 16/7/08 Narrow Gauge Railways your interest? Then this coming
Sunday 20th July you may care to visit the narrow gauge modelling event
at The Park Inn Hotel, Telford (off Junction 5, M54), 10.30 am to 4 pm,
plenty of layouts and a variety of traders, including a really good
book seller!! I am also at 3 other narrow gauge related events in
August and September, all in Wales, see my calendar of events for dates
etc. 21/6/08 Catalogue 62 is now available on my website. 9/6/08 Preparation for catalogue 62 now underway. 28/5/08 Wow what an experience! I refer to the Tom Rolt Rally at
Tywyn,and in particular the winds (gusting at over 100mph apparently) A
really super, friendly, well organsed vintage rally turned into a
nightmare for Sue and I (and our motorhome "Scottie") when very high
winds picked up on the Sundday night, blowing down the large tent
adjaent to our pitch. Sadly the show was cancelled on the Monday. I
really hope that there is a 2009 show-if so we will be there! 27/5/08 Interesting piece from The Association of American
Railroads website... Railroad Fuel Efficiency Sets New
Record WASHINGTON, May 21, 2008 — What's more fuel efficient than the newest hybrid car? A freight train. And last year, freight railroads were more fuel efficient than ever. In 2007, major freight railroads in the United States moved a ton of freight an average of 436 miles on each gallon of fuel. This represents a 3.1 percent improvement over 2006 and an astonishing 85.5 percent improvement since 1980. "That's the equivalent of moving a ton of freight all the way from Baltimore to Boston on just a single gallon of diesel fuel," said Association of American Railroads President and CEO Edward R. Hamberger. He noted that thanks to railroads' fuel efficiency gains, since 1980 freight railroads have reduced fuel consumption by 48 billion gallons and carbon dioxide emissions by 538 million tons. Hamberger pointed out that railroads are three or more times more fuel efficient than trucks, adding: “In fact, if just 10 percent of the freight currently moving by truck went instead by rail, the nation could save one billion gallons of fuel per year." Moving more freight by rail does more than just reduce fuel consumption and pollution, he said. It also reduces highway congestion. "A single intermodal train can take 280 trucks off the highways. And because the average size of a truck is equal to almost four automobiles, that's the same amount of space that 1,100 automobiles would occupy." Railroads are taking concrete steps to further reduce fuel consumption and emissions. "Railroads and their suppliers have developed technologies that reduce the need to idle locomotives when not operating” said Hamberger. “They have developed new hybrid and "gen-set" locomotives that also reduce both fuel consumption and emissions in rail yards. And they are working to develop new hybrid locomotives and fuel cell locomotives that have promise to bring further improvements in both areas.So WHY are we in the UK still using road haulage as our main form of freight distribution? Could it be the huge amount of revenue that fuel duty generates? Surely not?
13/5/08 Please note we will be on holiday, in Cornwall/Devon from
14th to 22nd May. 7/5/08 Just booked what looks like a very interesting new show
South West Model Railway Show, Fleet Air Arm Museum, Yeovilton,
Somerset.(June 14th/15th) Some 30 layouts spread throughout the
museum.So for the normal admission price of £10.50 you get
to see lots of interesting planes (Including Concorde) and the model
show thrown in for free. See you there? (and parking is free! Unlike
the NEC!!)
What a wet, cold, miserable Easter weekend in prospect.
Glad to be at home in front on the computer and the log fire! 28/2/08 Catalogue 61 has now been uploaded to my website. 25/2/08 Catalogue 61 is now completed and will be uploaded very
shortly.Paper catalogues will be mailed out later this week. 25/2/08 Back from a few days break at the Station Inn, Ribblehead
(S&C) Wonderful weather with glorious sunshine.The upgrade of this
line is nearing completion to enable even more freight traffic
(and a rumoured hourly passenger service!) to use the line. 6 additional
block posts are being installed to allow tighter headway for trains. 7/02/08 Early days but I am very hopeful that I shall
shortly be able to announce a new outlet for my second hand book sales.
A major preserved railway in Wales is all I will say at present! Stock
should be in place before Easter. 6/2/08 First show of the year now over-Stafford Model Railway
Exhibition, and what a super show too. Really high quality and varied
layouts, many I had not seen before, and a good selection of traders.
It was busy all weekend and I am sure the word is out that this
show really should be on all modellers lists for a visit. Catalogue 61 is under preparation and should be issued
late in February. 11/12/07 The very first Loyalty Club catalogue is now available,
some 400 items ALL HALF PRICE. You have to be a loyalty club
member to get a copy, cost is £25 or £27.50 by card as a
one off payment. You could recover that cost from just this catalogue
alone, but you also get 10% off all future purchases and free paper
catalogue (UK) for ever! 29/11/07 I would normally be packing now ready for the Warley Exhibition at the NEC, Birmingham, however I am not attending this year due to rising costs.I shall miss meeting many of you, and the money! but falling sales and increasing costs make it impossible to make any profit. A glut of new books have come in, in the last 10 days,
have a look at my "new stock" section for a full listing ALL those
listed are IN STOCK for immediate dispatch, post free for orders of
£25 or over to a UK address. Others are expected shortly
including LNER Wagons Vol. 2 from Wild Swan, and operation Norfolk from
Xpress.I will be posting right up to December 21st but don't leave it
too late! A special sale catalogue for Loyalty Club customers ONLY
will be issued within the next 14 days, with some real bargains.A
£25 one off payment (£27.50 by card) gets you signed
up-email for details. 10/10/07 Catalogue 60 is now complete and paper copies will be
mailed out very shortly. However, due to the ongoing postal strikes
delivery will undoubtedly be slower than normal.
A very difficult trading year so far.Money seems to be
quite tight and costs seem to be ever rising-fuel, stand rents etc.The
"out and about" trading year starts to wind down for me now. Only 2
shows left, Cardiff and Carmarthen, (see diary) sadly I have had to opt
out of the Warley Show at the NEC due to costs, at almost £500
for a 10 foot stand it is impossible to make a profit, I am not sure
how this show will continue to survive, as costs continue to rise much
faster than takings, the smaller traders like myself will be pushed
out, thus making the show less attractive to visitors. A very busy
August and September saw me (and Sue my wife) at several shows, as
always my favourite was the WLLR Gala-always a superb weekend-new
locomotive and the second Pickering coach, both operating all
weekend.Guildex at Telford was very disappointing and sadly I shall not
be at the 2008 show. 8/8/07 Just off to see Standard 76079 on the Cambrian Coast
Express, Machynlleth to Porthmadog. It is working Mon-Fri until the end
of August. Sun shining.camera in the bag!
11/7/07 Catalogue 59 now available on line, order now before its
too late. Telford Narrow Gauge show this Sunday (15th) a very nice
little show lots to see, well worth the trip. 26/6/07 Will it ever stop raining I wonder? Hottest Summer on
record they said-WRONG again. Anyway to books...Two very recent
collections both GWR biased, wagons, coaches,loco's etc etc anything
you need GWR I may well have. Usual prompts-search the website or email
me, much is not yet listed (several weeks work yet)
New arrivals today include some 20 odd Ian Allan and
Runpast all colour albums, now on my website.
Off to Pembrokeshire and Llanelli tomorrow to collect two
recent buys. One collection is canal stock, unsure what is available,
the other is a nice general collection with lots of Foxline Books,
which are always very good sellers but hard to acquire. A price is
agreed so they will be available on the website very soon.Also
collecting more stock of "The Red Dragon and other old friends", the
Swansea book, which has sold very well and I suspect will be out of
print before long-so If you are dithering BUY WHILST YOU CAN! 21/3/07 Production of catalogue 58 is now well under way. I hope
it will be completed and distributed before Easter. 25/1/07 At last a book on the railways of and around Swansea has
been published."The Red Dragon and other old friends" is highly
recommended and available now at £28 plus postage. See website
stock listing for full details.
Now up and running-"Nigel Bird Books Loyalty Scheme", for
a one off lifetime fee of £25,(£27.50 by credit or debit
card) you will get:- 3/1/07 Happy New Year to you all.
ALL UK orders of £30 or over for items in stock,
new and used, (NOT special orders) will be sent postfree until 31/12/06
just quote X06 to get this offer.Overseas orders will be charged at
cost LESS the UK postage on the item(s) ordered.I will be posting upto
22nd December, then resume posting Tuesday 2nd January 2007.As usual a
batch of new just pre Christmas titles have appeared from Wild Swan,
including The Selsey Tramway Vols 1 and 2,Claughton & Patriots,LMS
Class 5 Capriottis,Swindon Engineman, Off Northampton Shed all should
be in stock for Christmas despatch (postfree over £30 see above!)
5/12/06 The major model railway show(and my busiest) of 2006 is
now over-Warley National at the N.E.C. Birmingham. Attendance was up
again at some 18,500+, if only they all spent £1 at my stand, I
would be a very happy bunny. Still-a successful show with some at least
spending, although in line with many shows takings they were down on
2005, a sign of the times I fear. Plans for 2007 shows are now shaping
up and a list will be posted on my website calendar section very soon.
One super addition (a must for GWR enthusiasts) is the GWR Study Group
show at Portishead in June, dates etc will be posted soon. 6/11/06 Catalogue 57 is now available on-line. Click on the
catalogue link. 5/11/06 Catalogue 57 is now complete and will be uploaded to the
site very soon.The printed versions were posted on Friday so should be
out there tomorrow (Monday) A major change with printed copies has
taken place. I have ceased having them professionally printed and
instead have run them off myself on a no frills basis. This will cut
costs and time of production which should in turn mean more lists per
annum (at least 4 maybe more I hope) Please read my amended terms in
the catalogue as I have now brought in minimum postage charges
(£2.50) and minimum transaction levels for credit/debit cards
(£10) this is an attempt to defray every increasing bank charges
and commissions which just keep going up (like the Bank's profits at
the expense of mine) 30/10/06 Two long awaited new books have now been published and
are in stock-The Selsey Tramway (Volume 1) from Wild Swan by Cooksey
and the new Darjeeling book from Rail Romances also volume 1 of a
planned 2 volume set by T Martin both highly recomended. Order via the
website or phone me (01974 821281) for prompt despatch. 10/10/06 Latest acquisition is a medium sized all diesel/electric
book collection. Includes all the colour portfolio's (Jane's, later Ian
Allan) many of the Ian Allan diesels in the regions series,at work,and
some 12 Bradford Barton diesel titles, many on hydraulics.I am sure
these will go pretty quick as this market is very strong. Most are now
on the website but do email me to check if I have what you want.
Been rather busy of late, with shows and other none
railway happenings.In particular we have acquired a motorhome, which
has taken much longer than expected (don't all jobs?) to get all
outstanding jobs done on.All is now completed, fully mot'd and taxed.
we hope to get on the road with it in about 7-10 days and actually have
a few days holiday, the first of 2006.You may well see it at some
events, like the WLLR Narrow Gauge Gala in 2007. The 2006 event which
has just passed was rather spoiled on the Saturday by rain, however
visitor numbers were very good on the Sunday and as usual it was a most
enjoyable day.It was the last appearance of Orion, which is returning
to it's homeland of Finland, very soon, rather a sad loss in many ways
as this very impressive machine certainly gets noticed when running,
still the P'way will last a little longer now I am sure. This coming
weekend 9th/10th sees me with my bookstall at Guildex, Telford, The
Gauge 0 Guild annual show, and jolly good it is too. This is the 50th
so should be rather special.
Just getting back to normal after a hectic couple of
weeks which has seen my trusty Subaru heading for North Wales,Stafford
and then locally at Aberaeron. All enjoyable events but as always my
local show in Aberaeron was a real pleasure to do, such a friendly
show, exhibitors, traders and visitors all seem to really enjoy the
day. The location is stunning overlooking Cardigan Bay and the home
made food is always a delight. Why not come next year? 2nd Sunday in
August. 24/7/06 Another very warm day, we Brits are just not used to it,
if this is Global warming I assume much more to come.At least my
tomatoes are ripening quickly!Off to the cinema tonight (I bet that
will be warm) (Pirates of The Caribbean 2) don't think of "visiting"
our empty house the 3 dogs will have you (honest-you are warned) 19/7/06 Much too hot to go outside today, set to be the highest
temperature ever reached in Wales today, its already well over 30
degrees at 9.50 a.m. and climbing steadily.
Catalogue 56 has now been uploaded my site (just click on
the catalogue tab) lots of goodies to tempt you.
Stock of Reservoir Railways of South Wales by the late
Harold Bowtell (and completed by Geoffrey Hill) arrived today.
Excellent too, goes as far west as Llanelli and north to Brecon, at
£14.95 for a hardback of this quality it's excellent value. I
would guess this will sell out pretty quick! Buy now! 27/6/06 Catalogue 56 has gone to the printers today. I hope to
get it issued next week, both in paper and electronic form. 23/6/06 Well done Royal Mail! A parcel posted to me on 22nd June arrived next day, not that unusual you say BUT the address was Bird Books 20/6/06 Also today I have booked an additional event, Telford Narrow Gauge Show,(www.ngtrains.com/telfordng.htm) 16th July,10-30am to 4 pm, an all narrow gauge event with some 20 layouts listed as attending,009.H0e,0e,0-14,0-16.5,16mm etc. as well as 15 traders and 5 Society stands. I hear on the grapevine that it really is an up and coming quality show,I will have an interesting selection of mostly narrow gauge books on my stall so I hope to see you there. Welcome to a new feature of my
website, I have felt for sometime that this, along with a bargains page
were
two omissions from my site, so thanks to
my expert web designer Iain this has now
been put right. As to what will appear on this page-lets see how it
develops!
Your ideas and input welcomed! Progress on catalogue 56 is
well advanced, only slowed down by watching The World Cup (come on As catalogue 55 was a half
price sale one off of older stock,(still some items left if you hurry!)
56 will
have new stock acquired since catalogue 54 so may well be a little
larger than
normal and will of course have some gems. For the modellers out there,
and there are lots and lots of you I know , (in fact I read sometime
ago that
railway modelling was the 3rd most popular hobby in the Finally, in today has come the new issue of Locomotives
Illustrated,
number 162, a stunner, covering The Locomotives of the Cambrian and
Midland
& South Western Junction Railways, 46 pages, and including many
full A4
size illustrations, I have extra stock of this issue in anticipation of
a few
local sales! They are £3.50 plus postage (£1.50
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