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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.
8/7/10
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
ALL
NEW BOOKS IN STOCK WILL BE SENT POST FREE UNTIL
2ND JULY TO ANY UK ADDRESS
email me for a list.
23/6/10
A tough budget as expected but thankfully NO VAT ON BOOKS
and MAGAZINES.
Oh and ENGLAND through to the last 16 in the World
Cup, bring on the Germans!!
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.
I also have a lovely bound run..
Model Railway
Journal Bound Run From Volume 1 to Volume 15 Wild Swan Publications A
rare chance to acquire a super bound run of Model Railway Journal.
Issues 0 to 115, bound in 15 volumes. Beautifully bound in green cloth
with gilt titling (not publishers binding), marbled endpapers,bound
without covers. Both magazines and binding are in truly fine
condition.Offerred as a run, but if unsold after 1.10.10 I will
consider offers for individual volumes.The cost of binding the 15
volumes alone to this standard would be no less than £300, plus
the 115 magazines of course! £350.00+ 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.
I also note that future Ian Allan catalogues (splendid though they are,
in full colour and nicely printed)will be £4.95 each PLUS a
ridiculous £4.50 for postage and packing (This appears to be
their minimum postage charge for all orders , and I worry I overcharge
at £2.50 minimum!) Nearly £10 for a catalogue-amazing!!
27/5/10
Back from holidays! A splendid couple of weeks that incuded a visit to
the NRM at York (first time for about 30 years!) for The Colonel
Stephens Society AGM, followed by a trip to The Dewent Valley Light
Railway and to an members private railway, complete with replica Ford
railbus!
A trip into Hull on the "big railway" was an interesting day out, what
a super station Hull is.
Then onto The Yorkshire Dales, for a few days in the
Ribblehead/Ingleton area. An ambition was realised when 60019 Bittern
came over the viaduct, southbound, and I was there to see it! The first
live steam loco I have seen over Batty Moss.I also saw a class 70 on a
coal train, southbound, the newest UK addition to Loadhauls diesel
fleet, ugly yes but not as bad as I the pictures imply! I truly think
the view out over Ribblehead is one of THE greatest views in the UK,
and The Station Inn adjacent is always good for a pint or two of real
ale and a hearty meal-Why not try it?
Anyway this years holiday is over, next year the Colonel Stephens
Society's AGM takes us to the RHDR and KESR, where I understand that
City of Truro maybe performing! Roll on.
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.
17/4/10
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
Given
the ever rising price of fuel (£1.20 per litre is now average) I
am expecting book sales to rocket any day,as no-one will be able to
afford to go anywhere soon!
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!
Anyway-catalogue 69 is in preparation, should be available mid April. I
have 3 collections to buy in this month, so look out for some new
goodies on the website.
Then it is Thornbury and Porthmadog shows in early May, followed by a
10 day break to York and district, involving the Colonel Stephens AGM
at York and hopefully a bit of fell walking in the Yorkshire Dales and
Lake District.Roll on Summer!!
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............
UK: Kilburn Bookshop closes
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.
Later that day we travelled to Penistone, via Huddersfield, to see the
very depressing site of the redundant Woodhead Route, the stumps of the
catenary are all that remain, it is a disgrace that this line was
closed.
Wednesday we managed a short walk passed Blea Moor Box, and over
the aqeduct, returning via the arches. Then by road to Dent, which was
rather chilly, with snow lying on the platform. The coal road over to
Garsdale was closed, due to ice and snow,so we took the long route to
Garsdale to see Ruswarp on his plinth.VERY cold so we didn't linger
long, then on to Appleby for our next B&B, The Royal Oak.
Thursday saw us venture to Newcastle, from Carlisle-a lovely run on a
super sunny bright day. A quick pint in The Head of Steam and,
following advice from a couple of locals our plans to visit Hexham
changed to a visit to Wylam,definately the right decision.The
Boathouse, adjacent to the station was superb-14 hand pulls, delicious
home made thick vegetable soup, and we could see the railway from the
warmth of the pub. The ex NER signalbox over the tracks was something
new for me, how wonderful that it, and one at Hexham still survive.
Friday saw us return home, with stops at Scout Green (WCML) the Lune
Gorge, and Oxenholme, where we had a trip up the Windermere Branch.
Arrival back in west Wales was about 9pm, another fantastic few days.
Plans for 2011 are already in place-likely to be Barnetby (nr. Hull)
and surprise surprise Wylam!!
We will of course take a trip on the S&C surely the most scenic
line in the UK?
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!
Plenty of back issues in stock if you need any!
20/1/10
Catalogue 68 now live on my website
www.nigelbirdbooks.co.uk. Paper copies despatched 15th January.
About a third of the US books now listed on my website, with rest to
follow asap.
Oh and the snow has gone at last. Back to rain!
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.
Please be patient if you are awaiting an order from me as soon as
conditions allow they will be on the way.
No mail deliveries inwards are being made either at present.Roll on
Spring!
3/1/10
HAPPY NEW YEAR and may all the railway books you seek
turn up this year!
Late in 2009 I purchased a large collection of model railway books,
over 300 in total, mostly fom 1930s/40s and 50s but the odd one much
earlier.Many by Ahern, Greenly, Carter, etc. these are now ALL listed
on my website-www.nigelbirdbooks.co.uk -why not have a look?
Catalogue 68, should be ready within 7-10 days, a bumper issue!!
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.
Another book, Corris and Vale of Rheidol by Middleton Press, their
usual format hardback at £15.95 (with some new Corris pictures
included) is due within 10 days and can be pre-ordered now.
A new book on post preservation Talyllyn Railway by Alan Holmes is also
due within a few weeks. Very much in the style of Chronicles of Pendre
Sidings (Bate) and provisionally £33, again advance copies can be
ordered.
21/11/09
MY LAST POSTING DAY FOR CHRISTMAS 2009 is
23rd December
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-
The 10 top sellers are (in no particular order!)
1-Slate Quarry Album-Hardback limited to 300 (and almost sold out the
publisher tells me)
2-KESR (Hart) Wild Swan
3-Titfield Thunderbolt Then & Now
4-Great Western Way (New edition) MUCh enlarged
5-Simplex (Not new but still sells
ing really well)
6-Snailbeach (Tonks) again not new but continues to sell.
7-Great Western Wagons before 1948 Volume 2
8-Private owner wagons Volume 8 (Turton)
9-The Wisbech & Upwell Tramway (Oakwood)
10-Slates From Glyn Ceiriog (Milner)
and of course the DVD Welsh Byways, with fantastic coverage of lines
rarely seen on dvd, like Aber-Carmarthen!
Good stocks of all
the above. Order now 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!
Some talk of doing it the other way next year, might have recovered by
then.
The couple of pints of Double Dragon and the steak and kidney pie at
The Talbot, Tregaron, were well received I can tell you!
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!
I never got to travel the line whilst it was open so this is the
nearest I can get till it reopens, hopefully sometime in my lifetime.
I'll do a write up if I survive!
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.
Sales going well there and I think there is much potential for the
future.
Had a truly outstanding meal in the cafe. A great day amongst lovely
people. What a super railway this is. The FIRST and still in many ways
the BEST.
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!
Lull before the storm, catching up with my paperwork on another wet
Sunday in August-two shows over the next two weekends, Corris
Exhibition 28th-30th August at Corris School, adjacent to Corris
Railway station and Welshpool & Llanfair Narrow Gauge Gala,
September 5th & 6th, Sue & I will be at Raven Square,
(Welshpool end of the line) for these two very busy and hectic days-why
not pop and see us at what is always a super gala-lots to see and do.
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!
I am pressing ahead with my planned book on the Aberystwyth to
Carmarthen Line, for publication in late 2010. Should you have ANY
pictures off the line or its branches at any time, of stations,
locomotives, carriages,structures etc. PLEASe get in touch.
31/7/09 BIRD joins TWITTER
I have today signed up to Twitter, the latest internet
"keep in touch" craze.If you wish to follow me and my ramblings go to
www.twitter.com/nbrailwaybooks
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!!!
I have just acquired a super collection of Rolt's,some 40 books in all,
many are first editions and very rare indeed is a SIGNED copy. I am
presently listing them on my website. Feel free to email me if you have
any wants.
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.
4/6/09
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.
Sadly our trusty Toyota Surf has expired big time and is uneconomic to
repair (it is 18 years old after all) so busy looking to buy a suitable
replacement,maybe another ultra reliable Subaru?
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!)
On the way up we encountered an operational overhead cable way, taking
material into a brick works at Claughton, a real antique survivor and
amybe unique across an A road in UK?
We managed to get to Heysham from Ribblehead, on the only train of the
day, via Morecambe.Not the most scenic line in the area but well worth
the trip if only because I do wonder how secure the line is from
Morecambe to Heysham.
Wednesday was glorious and we did the Dent to Ribblehead walk, over the
top of Blea Moor tunnel (A public right of way) amazing scenery. And
thousands of tons of stone and rubble still lying on the ground from
when the tunnel was built. A walk well worth doing if you are resonably
fit, and have a couple of hours spare.Leave your car at Ribblehead,
train to Dent and walk back.
Thursday saw us off to Stalybridge, by train via Leeds. Super buffet
and bar on the station at Stalybridge, great plate of pie and peas for
£2 odd and several pints of great local ale.On to Marsden for the
brewery tap of Riverhead Ale, then to Huddersfield station for a little
more refreshment!, in the very old fashioned,and dingy, but well worth
visiting Kings Head.(We avoided The Head of Steam on advise froma
regular Real Ale Drinker) (Thanks Matt-Harrogate!) What a wonderful
station Huddersfield is, all that stone and giant supporting pillars, a
real gem.
Back to The Station Inn for food to soak up all that beer, and a couple
more pints-a great day all round.
Friday saw us heading south and back to wales, another cracking few
days, maybe a week next time!
9/3/09
We all love banks don't we! (In fact if you live in the
UK you own most of them!)
I recently saw this.......and felt it worth sharing:-
Beggars make rags
Rags make paper
Paper makes money
Money makes banks
Banks make loans
Loans make beggars
9/3/09
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.
This year? who knows? A bit of walking, maybe Denthead to Ribblehead? A
few pints in Dent?
8/3/09
Catalogue 65 now available on the web site.
Very enjoyable event last Saturday at Stafford ( Railway Collectors
Fair), always a busy day, great chance to meet some of my regulars and
of course friends within the book trade.
Despite the downturn trade still good IF you have the right stock of
course!
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?
2/1/09
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.
No further orders will be dispatched until 2/1/09.
Merry Christmas and a Very Happy New Year to you all.Your custom is
really appreciated.
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??
I am increasingly finding it hard to sell certain publishers new books,
due to very heavy discounting by a well known on line seller.(Think
Jungle) If I sold certain titles (mainly Ian Allan and Noodle Books)
for what they sell them for it would not be worthwhile bothering,
£2-£3 profit (less card fees etc.) on a £20 book, how
do I make a living on that? Sell 40 a day would do it, but that
is not going to happen.
I fear that when they have put all independent booksellers (mostly
those that care, have a passion and know what they are doing) out of
business the big discounts will disappear.Why I am telling you this?
Well all I would say is support your INDEPENDENT bookseller otherwise
one day they will be gone and gone with them will be the knowledge,
experience and passion that these sellers have.You have been
warned!
3/11/08
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.
Possible hiring in of ex Corris locomotives from the Talyllyn Railway
is also being discussed.
As dates and events get firmed up I will post details on my
website.With the reopening in full of The Welsh Highland Railway from
Caernarfon to Porthmadog also set for 2009 it really promises to be a
rather special year in Wales for narrow gauge fans!
10/10/08
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?
3/10/08
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.
23/9/08
Catalogue 63 now well on the way to being issued, should
be out in about 7-10 days if all goes to plan.
22/9/08
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.
At Bridgnorth MPD the replica loco built for Trevithick 200 was in
steam, along was Black 5 45110, now sadly out of ticket, one of the
very last steam loco's to run prior to the end of steam in august 1968.
The only sad thing all day was the sight of the lovely red brick
cottgae that overlooks Bridgnorth yard, empty and rather forlorn. I
always fancied living there. What a fantastic view over the yard and
station, and I guess a good place to live if you are a railway
bookseller!.Why it is empty I don't know, maybe the railway has
acquired it for security of the site, anyway its a real shame.
Both the Dukedog and 3440 City of Truro will be at the Llangollen Gala
next April, another entry in my 2009 diary, along with of course Corris
150 and the opening of The Welsh Highland Railway in full.
9/9/08
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.
Now everyone looks forward to the reopening of The Welsh Highland
Railway in full, at Easter 2009. Be there or miss out on the 21st
centuries greatest narrow gauge 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!
2/9/08
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!
Just in-a full run from 1-42, busy listing on my website over the next
few days.
Be quick.
11/8/08
Nice to see so many friends old and new at the
delightfully friendly Aberaeron Exhibition, yesterday.
Despite heavy rainshowers early and late in the day, co-inciding with
unloading and loading the car (of course) it was as always a great day.
This must be THE best location for a model railway show in the
UK, and some of the best refrshments too.
Lots happening in the town too as it is Cob Day (horses) Why not come
in 2009 and see for yourself?
24/7/08
Another excellent show at Telford, a real must for those
of a narrow mind (in modelling terms!)
A quiet period now, until late August-trying to enjoy the summer,
whilst it lasts! See you at Mach, Welshpool or Dinas? or maybe all 3!
The Motorhome will be earning it's keep in the next month or two.
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.
If all goes to plan (for a change!) it should be available in about
10-14 days time.
In the meantime I hope to see some of you at the Fleet Air Arm Museum
exhibition at Yeovilton this coming weekend (14th and 15th June)
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
Baltimore to Boston on One Gallon of Diesel Fuel
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.
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
New arrival
today is from Xpress Publishing, "District
Controller Severn Valley Railway and Branches", working information,
allocations etc for the mid 1950's, as always from Xpress there is so
much information in their books that you won't find elsewhere. A
bargain at £11.95 + p&p.
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.
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 3rd 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!
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