Occasional notes, thoughts and jottings from the pen of a wandering railway bookseller ........watch this space  !!!

13/5/08

Please note we will be on holiday, in Cornwall/Devon from 14th to 22nd May.
All enquiries/orders will be dealt with upon our return.

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!!)

21/3/08

What a wet, cold, miserable Easter weekend in prospect. Glad to be at home in front on the computer and the log fire!
For those of you who see me about on the stall etc. you will no longer see my trusty Subaru Legacy, it has been sold on to a good friend of mine. Lots of life in it yet but we have acquired another more modern MotorHome so it had to go!
Future events will see me arrive in either the MotorHome or our Trusty Toyota 4x4.
 I have today updated my calendar of events, which this year features 2 new events for me. The Garratt 50 Gala on the Welsh Highland in September and The Model Railway Exhibition in Wadebridge, North Cornwall. Nice to do some different venues.Sadly the Gauge 0 Guild event at Telford has been chopped from my schedule due to the good old favourite of falling sales and increasing stall rents.(thats before I add in diesel  fuel at £1.17 per litre, is this Government trying to bring the country to its knees I wonder? I am as eco friendly as the next person (probably more so) but we cannot all drive small cars, or use the train/bus all the time, not when carrying  umpteen boxes of books around!
As to the proposed plans to close thousands of Post Offices in the UK , including many in rural areas,(including my local one in Llangeitho)  that are generally the only shop in a village, are they MAD. These places are the lifeblood of many villages and small towns.Why do we put up with letting the people we elected do what THEY want rather than what we want them to do? Give me a party to vote for that listens to peoples wants and acts accordingly PLEASE! Slowly I fear the days of going to shows are limited, as costs soar and takings level off or fall.But hey-no Post Offices so no mail order either! Talk about stifling enterprise. Perhaps I'll become a Civil Servant, like the rest of the country seems to be. Safe and Sound but so boring!
He ho, roll on that premium bond win!

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.
 We were able to take in the KWVR as they were running for half term-my first visit to this line since the early 1970's. A super out and back trip with a stop over at Haworth to visit The Fleece for few pints of Timmy Taylors fine ale.
Another day saw us doing the "round robin", Ribblehead-Carlisle-Carnforth (via Cumbrian Coast Line)-Giggleswick-then walk to-Settle-Ribblehead, again via the odd hostelry selling decent real ale.
On our return we were fortunate enough to see ex LNER K1 62005 heading with support coach for KWVR Gala, just North of Hellifield. A stop for tea and cake at the splendid Hellifield Tea Rooms rounded off another wonderful few days on this most magnificent line, surely the finest line in England for scenery?

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.
My takings were up on 2007 which in itself is unusual in the present market!
Make a date for 2009-February 7th and 8th.I'll be there!

21/1/08

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!
"Normal" catalogue, number 61 will be issued in January 2008.
Happy Christmas/Nadolig Llawen to you all.

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.

11/9/07

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.
To clear old stock I am offering a "buy one get one free" deal,on certain books, see bargains page.
I also hope to post catalogue 60 within the next month.

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)
Catalogue 59 well on the way, should be distributed within 7-10 days, plenty of goodies including lots of Oakwoods, Ian Allan colour albums, and much more.
Don't forget my Loyalty Scheme, pay £25 (£27.50 by card) and get 10% of all future purchases, free paper catalogues (UK) and more.Email for application form.Off for me brolly now.....

22/5/06

New arrivals today include some 20 odd Ian Allan and Runpast all colour albums, now on my website.

22/4/07

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!
Another new book recently released is the expanded Oakwood on The Manchester and Milford Railway (Pont Llanio one of the stations on the line is about 2 miles from my door, and the water tank and platform are still clearly visible) an extra 62 pages from the first edition, with many new pictures, some even provided by yours truly. A fascinating line which should never have been closed,as it cuts off the rural Mid Wales from the urbanised South Wales, in fact re-opening is fully supported by Elin Jones our local Assembly Member-who knows what may happen in the future if we get a Government who are serious about public transport and green issueS?

21/3/07

Production of catalogue 58 is now well under way. I hope it will be completed and distributed before Easter.
My Loyalty Scheme is proving very popular-why not join before the next catalogue and save yourself some money? (see below 8/1/07)

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.

8/1/07

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:-
1-10% off ALL orders (excluding postage)forever (new and used books)
2-FREE paper catalogues forever, or by email for overseas customers.
3-Priority booksearch service, members will be the first to be offerred stock items matching their wants.
4-Special one off offers exclusive to  members-sale catlalogues etc.
Email me nigelbird.books@virgin.net for an application form.

3/1/07

Happy New Year to you all.
Now that  life is slowly returning to normal, I am delighted to advise of the imminent launch of  the "Nigel Bird Books loyalty club" coming very soon.The club will offer discounts on ALL orders, free paper catalogues (UK members only) exclusive special offers, and more, for life, in return for a one off payment.Full details will appear here very soon.This is to reward regular buyers and hopefully will encourage you to stick with me!

12/12/06

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)
A very large GWR and South Wales collection (some 1500 items) has just been acquired-not yet listed but your wants welcomed-there is some super stuff in the collection all in fine condition.

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.

5/9/06

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.

14/8/06

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.
I have a couple of weeks off now, then Welshpool Narrow Gauge Gala (2/3 September) followed by Guildex at Telford-hope to see you!

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)
New piece of computer kit fitted today wireless router, the window sill is now overflowing with kit, wires etc.Mark my friendly very reliable computer fix it man asked why I didn't have an Ebay shop-good question! I do now..
Massive magazine sort out continues, amalgamated all my small piles of British Railways Illustrated's into one massive "in date order" pile, so now have several hundred for sale (many duplicates of the early issues, which seem plentiful) all £1.50 each plus postage, buy 50 I will send them postfree in UK.Still plenty of Model Rails,Backtracks and MRJ's awaiting you if you need to fill gaps, or are starting to collect them.Really special deal on orders that fill the boot of my car!!

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.
I attended a delightful narrow gauge show last Sunday (16th) in Telford, very well organised (well done Steve  Warrington) a super venue, The Moat House Hotel (as was),air conditioned large room, lots of free parking, great coffee and more!. Lots of super layouts and some top traders present. I met a lot of customers old and new who were all very enthusiastic about the location and show.Despite much flack about my shorts, from my assistant for the day Mr. Iain Fraser, I survived and despite a 14 hour day (I left home at 5 am) will definately add it to my regular list. If you are into Narrow Gauge modelling or otherwise make sure you go next year. The date for 2007,will be added to my diary section in due course.
As the world of the digital newsletter and magazine grows, I have decided to take a small advert, starting in August, in the splendid on-line magazine "The Railway Herald" (www.railwayherald.co.uk) this is a free weekly magazine, claimed to be read by over 20,000 people, well worth a look as it covers all the current happenings on the UK railway scene, particularly strong on news items,unusual workings,new locomotives and liveries etc. with top draw pictures too.I suspect in years to come the paper magazine maybe a thing of the past and we will all be getting our railway fix this way, sad really cause taking a computer to bed really is awkward!

2/7/06

Catalogue 56 has now been uploaded my site (just click on the catalogue tab) lots of goodies to tempt you.
So No England v Germany then! oh well maybe next time?
Having a mad clear out of back issues of Bylines,Garden Rail,Brill,Backtrack and Model Rail attempting to make some shelf (and floor!) space. If you need any just email me, they are going fast!

28/6/06

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!
No football on tv tonight-how odd! Still, Friday and Saturday will compensate, who would bet on  England v Germany in the final?

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.
Need any Narrow Gauge World's to make your set? I have most issues in stock at £2 each or 10 for £15 (Plus shipping)

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
Tregaron
SY25 6PY

and it found me, helps being famous locally!!
Catlogue 56 is now complete and off to the printers next week, should be available within 10-14 days.

20/6/06

19/6/06

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 England) and the need to regularly mow the lawn and weed the veg patch. I hope that the catalogue will be available early in July which means I will have a month to deal with orders before my busy show season starts in August and September.

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 3^rd most popular hobby in the UK, after gardening and football –funny that! I hasten to say this was pre computer games and the internet! so it may now be different.) I have just acquired a full set Model Rail, the Emap title and one that really seems to have gripped the new modellers and those that feel that the likes of MRJ are rather too high brow. So if you are short of any copies (they are £1.50 each or 4 for £5) email me now with your wants at nigelbird.books@virgin.net  I also have acquired a large quantity of the high quality magazine Backtrack, again at £1.50 each or 4 for £5.

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 UK)  per copy. Of course, as always I have very substantial stocks of this fine magazine, including many of the long out of print earlier issues,you know where I am if I can help!