Ian Allan books


'abc' books 1948-1966

The titles covering GWR locomotives, as with the titles specific to the other railway companies, ceased to be produced following the nationalisation of the railways. The abc series continued however with the overall description of British Railways Locomotives. Every edition hereafter comprised a set of numbered booklets, each following the now familiar format and covering a particular region and number range or locomotive type. Towards the end of steam on BR the diminishing number of steam locomotives were able to be accommodated in a single booklet. August 1966 saw the publication of the last one to list non-preserved steam engines.

Starting with the final GWR abc booklet published in October 1947, the distinctive scraperboard artwork of A.N.Wolstenholme adorned the covers of the Ian Allan Locospotters series right up until 1958. His images were also sometimes featured on the frontispiece of the booklets. Arthur Nigel Wolstenholme was born in 1920 and was a prolific artist whose work appeared in a variety of media including British Railways posters and flyers through to the 1960s. His output was not limited to scraperboard images as he produced many coloured illustrations for posters and books, and not just railway books, but also road transport, shipping and aircraft.

We aim to collect most of those booklets which covered the ex-GWR steam locomotives within the newly formed 'Western Region' of BR right up until the final demise of steam. Those illustrated below are held in our collection.


1948 ABC edition

November 1948

abc - British Railways Locomotives - No.1
1-9999 Western Region Steam Locomotives

52 pages, priced at two shillings
'Printed in Great Britain in the City of St. Alban by Gibbs & Bamforth Ltd.'

The cover bears a drawing by A.N.Wolstenholme of the front of 'King' Class 4-6-2 6009 King Charles II, whilst the title page carries a general view of a marshalling yard and a heavy coal train about to depart which is annotated with the initials ANW.

The introduction by Cecil J.Allen runs to five pages and details the locomotive trials which had been taking place to compare the capabilities and efficiency of similar locomotives from all the regions. There are a number of interesting photographs of some engines originating from lesser known companies which had been absorbed by the GWR and, despite the booklets subtitle, it lists the 38 'GWR stream-lined diesel rail-cars' and 4 'Petrol Service Locos' in service.

Inside the front cover are details of Ian Allan annuals 1949 and Aircraft Annual 1949 which will cost 7/6 when published. These are the only advertisements as such, as the back cover lists a number of outlets from which Ian Allan publications may be obtained.


1949 ABC edition

August 1949

abc - British Railways Locomotives - No.1
1-9999 Steam Locomotives, Western Region

60 pages, priced at two shillings
'Printed in Great Britain in the City of St. Alban by Gibbs & Bamforth Ltd.'

The cover bears a drawing by A.N.Wolstenholme of 'County' Class 4-6-0 1017 County of Hereford painted BR black with red lining and bearing the new BR totem on the tender, whilst the title page carries the same image in black and white.

The introduction of slightly over five pages written by A.F.Cook is headed 'The first eighteen months - and after'. There are a no less than twenty pages of photographs and once again, despite the booklets subtitle, it lists the 38 'GWR stream-lined diesel rail-cars' and 4 'Petrol Service Locos' in service. Various diesel railcars feature in four of the photographs and two illustrate narrow gauge engines of the Vale of Rheidol and Welshpool & Llanfair railways.

Inside the front cover are details of Kings and Castles of the G.W.R. and L.S.W.R. Locomotives at 3/6 and 6/6 respectively. Trains Diary 1950 is promoted inside the rear cover.


1950 ABC edition

April 1950

abc - British Railways Locomotives - Pt.1
Nos 1-9999

60 pages, priced at two shillings
'Printed in Great Britain in the City of St. Alban by Gibbs & Bamforth Ltd.'

An unsigned drawing by A.N.Wolstenholme of 'Castle' Class 4-6-0 5020 Trematon Castle is carried on the front cover, whilst on the first page is a signed drawing of 1017 County of Hereford. The editor is noted as being A.F.Cook but there is no introduction this time other than just over a page on how to use the book .

Inside the front cover is dedicated to promoting the Ian Allan Locospotters Club with a cartoon of a young spotter kneeling on a cab roof enquiring of a surprised looking driver 'Excuse me! Did you start as a Locospotter?'


1950 ABC edition

Winter edition 1950 (published December 1950)

abc - British Railways Locomotives - Part One
Nos 1-9999 , Western Region

64 pages, priced at 2/-
'Printed in the City of St. Alban by Gibbs & Bamforth Ltd.'

The cover bears a drawing by A.N.Wolstenholme of an unidentified 'King' Class 4-6-0 with the new BR totem on the tender and show entering a stylised tunnel.

The front page notes the editor as being A.F.Cook, and the title has the word Steam added to it. Inside there are a number of adverts for various other Ian Allan products. Most interestingly, the un-numbered page 17 is headed Section Two - Publisher's Note which explains that the format of this edition '....is not entirely satisfactory, in that PartTwo has been inserted in Part One, instead of following it....' and asking for reader's views on the inclusion of shed allocations and whether they should be published in a separate publication.


1951 ABC edition

Winter edition 1951 (published September 1951)

abc - British Railways Locomotives
Western Region - Nos. 1-9999

56 pages, priced at 2/-
'Printed i Great Britain by McCorquodale, London, S.E.'

A drawing by A.N.Wolstenholme showing the 4-6-0 locomotive 73000 emerging from a stylised tunnel graces the cover of this edition. This, the first example of the new 'Standard 5MT' class left Derby Works in April 1951, subsequently heading to Sheffield on the Eastern Region. It lasted in service right into the final year of steam, not being withdrawn until March 1968.

There are no less than sixteen pages of monochrome photographs, the last of which shows three versions of diesel railcar numbers 14, 34 (a parcels car) and 33. All advertisements within the booklet promote other Ian Allan publications. Inside the front cover is a cartoon showing locomotive 70000 Britannia being overrun by keen locospotters (all boys) with the tagline For inside information join the Locospotters Club. It was probably not the best depiction of how members of the club were expected to behave!


1952 ABC edition

Summer edition 1952 (published March 1952)

abc - British Railways Locomotives
Western Region - Nos. 1-9999

56 numbered pages, priced at 2/-
Printed by 'McCorquodale, London, S.E.'

The cover illustration is another drawing by A.N.Wolstenholme and shows two steam locomotives passing at the end of a station platform. It is believd that the larger of the two is BR standard Class 7 no 7000 Britannia. Although designed at Derby, this new class was constructed at British Railways' Crewe Works starting in 1951. 7000 was withdrawn from service in 1966 but has survived into preservation. Just creeping into the picture is the front of gas turbine locomotive 18100, readily identified by the shape of the windscreen and the handrail below. Locomotive 18100 was ordered from Metropolitan Vickers by the Great Western Railway and was the second of two experimental gas turbine locomotives by different manufacturers. It was not not delivered until after nationalisation and neither locomotive proved a success. The first, 18000, is preserved at the Didcot Railway Centre but 18100 was rebuilt as an electric locomotive for use in driver training in the early days of the Crewe-Manchester line electrification project.

This edition contains little editorial content, other than one page explaining how to use the book and a list of running sheds and their codes. Internal adverts are limited to two pages relating to the Locospotters' Club. Inside the rear cover is taken up by the final page of a weights and measures table whilst inside the front is a full page advert for other 'abc' spotters' books released for the summer of 1952.


Winter 1953/4 ABC edition

Winter edition 1953/4 (published October 1953)

abc - British Railways Locomotives
Western Region - Numbers 1-9999

61 numbered pages, priced at 2/-
'Printed by McCorquodale, London, S.E.'

The unique cover carries a drawing initialled ANW (A.N.Wolstenholme), but is unusual in that it portrays two locomotives. One locomotive is the 'King' Class 4-6-0 6028 King George VI and the second is an unidentified Southern Region 'Bulleid Pacific'.

There are no articles or notes inside and only one advert which takes the form of a subscription application for Trains Illustrated magazine. This magazine is apparently only available printed on ART PAPER via subscription. On the reverse of this page is the usual application form to join the Locospotters Club. The club is promoted inside the front cover with the tag line 'Come on, fellows!! It's time to join the NEW Ian Allan Locospotters Club'. Both the experimental gas-turbine locomotives, 18000 and 18100, are illustrated and a later page illustrates three versions of the GWR diesel railcar.


Summer 1954 ABC edition

Summer edition 1954 (published June 1954)

abc - British Railways Locomotives
Part 1 - Western Region

58 pages, priced at 2/-
'Printed by McCorquodale, London, S.E.'

The cover illustration is a drawing by A.N.Wolstenholme of 'B.R. Standard class 9F' 2-10-0 locomotive number 92000 hauling a train of mineral wagons. Inside the front cover is a full page advert for the monthly magazine Trains Illustrated, and inside the rear cover one is urged to join the Ian Allan Locospotters Club.

Of interest amongst the black and white photographs are two of ex-GWR diesel railcars one being streamlined railcar number 1. On the same page is a photograph of the experimental 'Brown Boveri' gas turbine-electric locomotive 18000.


Winter 1954/5 ABC edition

Winter edition 1954/5 (published October 1954)

abc - British Railways Locomotives
Part 1 - Western Region

58 numbered pages, priced at 2/-
'Printed by McCorquodale, London, S.E.'

The cover again carries a drawing siged by A.N.Wolstenholme, this time showing the front of 'B.R. Standard class 8' 71000 Duke of Gloucester emerging from under a stylised bridge. This was a class of 4-6-2 Pacific steam locomotive designed by Robert Riddles for use by British Railways, with Crewe Works constructing the sole example in 1954. It was a replacement for the 'Princess Royal' Class locomotive number 46202 Princess Anne, which was destroyed in the Harrow and Wealdstone rail disaster of 1952.

Inside, there are several pages of adverts for other Ian Allan publications, and two pages devoted to the Ian Allan Locospotters Club. Amongst the black and white photographs are one of a mixed freight on the Welshpool and LLanfair line, and one of the gas turbine-electric no 18100 entering Sonning Common on its way with an express passenger train from Minehead to Paddington. Just visiible in the background is the vast bulk of the old provender stores building at Didcot.


Summer 1955 ABC edition

Summer edition 1955 (published May 1955)

abc - British Railways Locomotives
Part One - Western Region

68 pages, priced at 2/-
'Printed by McCorquodale, London, S.E.'

The cover illustration is a drawing by A.N.Wolstenholme of 'B.R. Standard class 7MT' 4-6-2 locomotive number 70000 Britannia which first saw service in 1951. Inside the front cover is a full page advert for the monthly magazine Trains Illustrated, and inside the rear cover one is urged to join the Ian Allan Locospotters Club.

Amongst the many black and white photographs is one showing V of R engine number 9 on a section of temporary track, presumably inside Swindon Works. A large table towards the rear of the book lists the numbers applied to Western Region passenger trains and details both station and time of departure together with the destination station. The rear cover is aimed at school leavers (for boys of 15 years and over) offering opportunities in several departments within British Railways. For Grammar and Public schoolboys there were apparently special training facilities available in the Civil, Mechanical and Signal Engineering Departments.


Winter 1955/6 ABC edition

Winter edition 1955/6 (published October 1955)

abc - British Railways Locomotives
Part One - Western Region

68 pages, priced at 2/-
'Printed by McCorquodale, London, S.E.'

The cover illustration is a drawing by A.N.Wolstenholme of 'B.R. Standard class 4' 2-6-0 locomotive number 76023 which was one of a class of 115 locomotives designed by Robert Riddles for British Railways (BR). They were built between 1952 and 1957, with this particular one being withdrawn from service in 1965. Inside the front cover is a full page advert for the the second edition of Locospotters' Special costing 5/-.

The centre spread black and white photograph shows 4900 Class no. 5908 Dingley Hall and 4073 Class no. 5072 Hurricane climbing Sapperton Bank with a Sunday South Wales to Paddington express. The rear cover is again aimed at school leavers listing the opportunities available in many departments.


Summer 1956 ABC edition

Summer edition 1956 (published April 1956)

abc - British Railways Locomotives
Part 1 - Western Region

64 pages, priced at 2/6
'Printed by McCorquodale, London, S.E.'

The cover illustration is a drawing initialled A.N.W. (A.N.Wolstenholme) of what would have been a very new 'B.R. Standard class 9F' 2-10-0 locomotive number 92021 with its distinctive additional chimney on the fireman's side clearly visible. The locomotives in the series 92020-92029 were originally built with Franco-Crosti boilers during 1955 at Crewe works, but were all gradually converted to standard boilers and had all been withdrawn from service by the end of 1967.

Adverts are restricted to one for the Ian Allan Locospotters Club inside the front cover, and inside the rear cover one for Trains Illustrated magazine. The rear cover carries the unchanged advertisement offering job opportunities with British Railways.


Winter 1957 ABC edition

Winter edition 1957/8 (published September 1957)

abc - British Railways Locomotives
Part one - Western Region

64 pages, priced at 2/6
'Printed by McCorquodale, London, S.E.'

The cover illustration is a drawing by A.N.Wolstenholme (initialled A.N.W.) of stationary GWR '4300' 2-6-0 locomotive number 6339. Inside the front cover one is urged to join the Ian Allan Locospotters Club. Inside the rear cover is a large illustrated advert for Corgi toys, apparently being 'the Ones with Windows!' and 'featured on T.V.'.

There are a number adverts within the body of the booklet for other Ian Allan publictions and, amongst others, a table detailing the numbering of W.R. passenger trains for 1957/8. The rear cover carries the advertisement, unchanged from earlier editions, offering job opportunities with British Railways.


Summer 1958 ABC edition

Summer edition 1958 (published May 1958)

abc - British Railways Locomotives
Part 1 - Western Region

64 pages, priced at 2/6
'Printed in the United Kingdom by McCorquodale, London, S.E.'

The cover illustration is an unsigned drawing by A.N.Wolstenholme of the 'A4'class locomotive 60022 Mallard. This locomotive was built at Doncaster in 1938 and was withdrawn from B.R. service in April 1963, eventually ending up on display at the National Railway Museum in York. It is famous for setting the world speed record for a steam hauled train at 126 mph (203 km/h) on 3 July 1938 on the slight downward grade of Stoke Bank south of Grantham on the East Coast Main Line.

Adverts are restricted to one for the Ian Allan Locospotters Club inside the front cover, and inside the rear cover one for Corgi toys which are promoted as being 'Model Perfection'. The rear cover carries an updated advertisement offering opportunities in several departments within B.R. and giving the address of each region to contact for further information.


Winter 1958 ABC edition

Winter edition 1958 (published October 1958)

abc - British Railways Locomotives
Part 1 - Western Region

64 pages, priced at 2/6
'Printed in the United Kingdom by McCorquodale, London, S.E.'

In a departure from what had become the standard style of cover illustration, this edition uniquely carries a line drawing of a locomotive, being 'Hall' class 4901 Adderley Hall. This engine was built in December 1928 and was withdrawn from service in September 1960

Adverts are again fairly restricted with one for the Ian Allan Locospotters Club inside the front cover, Corgi toys inside the rear cover, and one inside for the latest edition of the Locoshed Book. The rear cover promotes Trains Ilustrated magazine.


1959 ABC edition

Summer edition 1959 (published April 1959)

abc - British Railways Locomotives
Part 1 - Western Region

64 numbered pages, priced at 2/6
'Printed in the United Kingdom by McCorquodale, London, S.E.'

This edition sees a revamped cover style with a new 'Ian Allan abc' logo which looks rather like an old television screen. Rather than a drawing, as in previous editions, for the first time the cover carries a colour photograph. Featured is 'King' class 4-6-0 6009 King Charles II. There are several full page adverts for other Ian Allan titles including those for Ships, Aircraft, Motoring, and Road Transport. The first page carries a comprehensive list of Ian Allan Railway books some of which were becoming quite expensive. Inside the rear cover is an interesting advert for Rosebud Kitmaster plastic scale model kits from 4/6 each.


1959 ABC edition

Winter edition 1959/60 (published November 1959)

abc - British Railways Locomotives
Part 1 - Western Region

64 numbered pages, priced at 2/6
'Printed in the United Kingdom by McCorquodale, London, S.E.'

Featured on the cover is a painting by V.Welch of 'Castle' class 4-6-0 5071 Spitfire carrying the Cathedrals Express headboard. This named service was introduced by B.R. in 1957, leaving Hereford early in the morning it returned from London (Paddington) in the evening. The service was not particularly fast as it stopped at several stations en route including Oxford. Once again there are several full page adverts for other Ian Allan titles including those for Ships, Aircraft, Motoring, and Road Transport. The advert for Rosebud Kitmaster plastic scale model kits has moved to the back cover. Inside, on page 48, there is a full page advert proclaiming that the Ian Allan Bookshop is now open with the location given as being at Hampton Court in Surrey. The exclusive photographic collection of the Locomotive Publishing Company containing 25,000 negatives is advertised as being on view there also.


1960 ABC edition

Summer edition 1960 (published May 1960)

abc - British Railways Locomotives
1 - Western Region

64 numbered pages, priced at 2/6
'Printed in the United Kingdom by McCorquodale, London, S.E.'

This edition sees the cover carrying a black and white photograph of locomotive 6911 Holker Hall which was built January 1941. Its last shed allocation was to Banbury before being withdrawn in April 1965 to be scrapped by Bird's at Long Marston. There are five full page adverts for other Ian Allan titles and one for the Ian Allan Locospotters Club. On the rear cover is an advert for AIRFIX The World's greatest value in construction kits from 2/- to 10/6d.

This booklet contains a number of short articles describing, amongst others, how tractive effort is calculated, the notation for describing wheelsets on diesel and electric locomotives, Western Region summer timetable train reporting numbers and, perhaps very importantly, notes on how to use the book. A table lists the shed codes in use across all the regions of British Railways. Just squeezed in at the end of the main listing is a short list of 'Service Locomotives', six diesel mechanical and two petrol with sections at the rear listing British Railways standard locomotives and tender types. There are many black and white photographs illustrating a wide variety of steam locomotives.


1960/1 ABC edition

Winter edition 1960/1 (published November 1960)

abc - British Railways Locomotives
1 - Western Region

64 pages, priced at 2/6
'Printed in the United Kingdom by McCorquodale, London, S.E.'

This is the last edition dedicated solely to the Western Region with the Western and Southern regions subsequently being combined into one booklet.

The cover photograph shows 'Modified Hall' class 4-6-0 7917 North Aston Hall. Inside the back cover is an application form to join the Ian Allan Locospotters Club, whilst the back cover unusually carries an advertisement promoting careers with British Railways. Inside the front cover is a full page advert for 'A new Ian Allan publication' "Railway Roundabout" being the book of the monthly BBC TV programe.

This booklet contains the same short articles and tables as in the previous edition. Within the body of the book is a large advert for British Trains of Tomorrow which promises 'This profusely illustrated survey of the modernisation programme describes in non-technical terms the sleek diesel and electric trains of tomorrow'. Three locomotives are listed as being preserved in store at Swindon and several pages are devoted to listing 'Great Western Locomotive Classes of the Past'. Sections at the rear list British Railways standard locomotives and tender types and there are many black and white photographs illustrating a wide variety of steam locomotives.


1961 ABC edition

Summer edition 1961 (published May 1961)

abc - British Railways Locomotives
1 & 2 - Western and Southern Region

92 pages, priced at 2/6
'Printed in the United Kingdom by McCorquodale, London, S.E.'

This is the first edition to combine both the Western and Southern regions into one booklet, this being reflected in the title. Whilst having a brightly coloured cover it only features a black and white photograph of 'B.R. Standard class 9F' 2-10-0 Evening Star. The 'extra colour plates' touted on the cover comprise three photographs at the centre of the booklet. The centre spread being a large colour photograph of the famous City of Truro.

The adverts are confined to one for Model Railway Constructor and one for a new line of 'Railway Pottery' from Ian Allan comprising various items each with a choice of six locomotive designs. Page 81 carries the reminder 'DO NOT TRESPASS ON THE RAILWAY'.


1961/2 ABC edition

Winter edition 1961/2 (published October 1961)

British Railways Locomotives - an Ian Allan abc
1/2 - Southern & Western Regions

92 pages, priced at 2/6
'Printed in the United Kingdom by McCorquodale, London, S.E.'

This edition is something of a departure from the norm as it is uniquely subtitled an Ian Allan abc rather than carrying the abc logo, and it reverses the regions to be Southern & Western Regions although Western Region locomotives are still listed first. The cover photograph is of the Bulleid light pacific 'West Country' class 34031 Torrington. Built in 1946 and rebuilt in 1958 it was subsequently withdrawn from service in 1965.

Three colour plates of paintings by V.Welch featuring British Railways steam locomotives form the centre spread of this booklet. Possibly to fill up some unused space page 81 carries an advert for Modern Railways magazine. The pottery is again promoted inside the rear cover whilst an advert for Coronet cameras appears inside the front cover.


Summer 1962 ABC edition

Summer edition 1962 (published May 1962)

abc - British Railways Locomotives
1•2 - Western & Southern Regions

92 pages, priced at 2/6
'Printed in the United Kingdom by McCorquodale, London, S.E.'

The subtitle has reverted to Western & Southern Regions and this sequence is echoed on the cover which shows GWR 'Castle' Class 4-6-0 5976 Gladiator ('Drysllwyn Castle' until August 1938) foremost with SR 'Schools' Class 4-4-0 30917 Ardingly on the right. The back cover repeats the advertisement from the previous edition which promotes careers for school leavers (boys only apparently!) with salaries starting at £330 p.a. at age 16 and the promise of Plus extensive travel facilities, at home and abroad.

Three colour plates of paintings by V.Welch featuring locomotives preserved by British Railways form the centre spread of this booklet.


1962/3 ABC edition

Winter edition 1962/3 (published November 1962)

abc - British Railways Locomotives
Parts 1 and 2 - Western & Southern Steam

84 pages, priced at 2/6
'Printed in the United Kingdom by McCorquodale, London, S.E.'

The sub-title now includes the word 'Steam'. The coloured cover illustration is from a painting by V.Welch of 'King' Class 4-6-0 6026 King John. The application form to join the Ian Allan Locospotters Club has been moved to inside the back cover and inside the front cover are now some notes on how to use the book. The back cover interestingly carries an advertisement promoting History on Wheels which can apparently 'be seen and enjoyed at The Three Transport Museums', these being at Clapham, York and Swindon.

Two pages towards the rear carry lists of locomotives either in, or scheduled for preservation. Colour plates at the centre of the booklet are taken from three more paintings by V.Welch. Locomotive hauled Pullman cars running on British Railways are listed and, despite this being a steam book, the Pullman electric multiple unit cars are also listed.


1963 ABC edition

March 1963

abc - British Railways Steam Locomotives
Part 1 - Western & Southern

76 pages, priced at 2/6
'Printed in the United Kingdom by R.J.Acford Ltd., Chichester, Sussex'

Rather than being labelled as a combined 'Parts 1 and 2' it is now simply 'Part 1'.

The cover carries a painting by V.Welch of 'West Country' class Pacific 34002 Salisbury. The centre pages carry three more colour plates from paintings by the same artist. Remaining inside the back cover is an application form to join the Ian Allan Locospotters Club and inside the front cover are notes on how to use the book.

All the ex GWR and Southern (and its constituents) steam locomotives are covered together with B.R. steam locomotives and standard tenders in use across the two regions. There is a short list of 'Locomotives Preserved by the Railway Companies before 1948', one of 'Locomotives preserved by the British Transport Commission', an even shorter list of 'Locomotives Donated since 1953', and finally one of 'Locomotives Scheduled for Preservation'. The lists of Pullman cars are repeated from the previous edition.


1964 ABC edition

May 1964

abc - British Railways Steam Locomotives
Part 1 - Western & Southern

72 pages, priced at 2/6
'Printed in the United Kingdom by R.J.Acford Ltd., Chichester, Sussex'

This is the last edition to cover the combined Western and Southern regions, there being a single British Railways Steam locomotives booklet from 1965.

The cover photograph shows 'Modified Hall' class 4-6-0 7901 Dodington Hall. The insides of the front and back covers remain unaltered from 1963.

All the ex GWR and Southern (and its constituents) steam locomotives are covered together with B.R. steam locomotives and standard tenders in use across the two regions. There are two pages listing preserved locomotives and one listing locomotives scheduled for preservation. The lists of Pullman cars are repeated from the 1963 edition.


1966 ABC edition

April 1965

abc - British Railways Steam Locomotives

96 pages, priced at 3/-
'Printed in the United Kingdom by R.J.Acford Ltd., Chichester, Sussex'

The number of pages has grown somewhat as this is the first edition to combine all the regions into a single booklet.

The cover photograph shows 'A2' class Pacific 60528 Tudor Minstrel. The insides of the front and back covers remain unaltered from earlier editions.


1966 ABC edition

May 1966

British Rail Steam Locomotives

72 pages, priced at 3/-
'Printed in the United Kingdom by R.J.Acford Ltd., Chichester, Sussex'

The set of booklets published in May 1966 were the subject of a minor re-branding. The 'abc' has been dropped and the title has been shortened to British Rail as opposed to British Railways. In addition, each of the four booklets in the series (Steam Locomotives, Diesel Locomotives, Electric Locomotives and MUs,and Diesel Multiple Units) carried a different stylised logo, with a chimney representing steam.

The cover photograph shows 'B.R. Standard class 7P6F' Pacific 70003 John Bunyan. The insides of the front and back covers remain unaltered from earlier editions, but the number of pages has been reduced reflecting the dimishing number of steam locomotives remaining in service.


1966 ABC edition

August 1966

British Rail Steam Locomotives

64 pages, priced at 3/-
'Printed in the Great Britain by Jarrold & Sons Ltd., Norwich'

This is the very last edition to cover non-preserved BR steam locomotives and to have Steam in the title.

The cover photograph shows BR 'Black 5' class 4-6-0 45121. The insides of the front and back covers remain largely unaltered from earlier editions. The quickening rate of the withdrawal of steam results in even fewer pages than in the May edition .


~~~~~~ ooooooOOOoooooo ~~~~~~

Other booklets of GWR interest


Famous locos - No5

Famous locomotive types No.5 - Kings and Castles of the G.W.R

Published in March 1949

Written by O.S.Nock

72 pages, priced three shillings and sixpence
'Printed in Great Britain in the City of St. Albans by Gibbs and Bamforth Ltd.'

This is the only booklet in the series to deal with Great Western locomotives. As may be expected, this comprehensive book contains much historical, technical and operational information including diagrams of 'King' and 'Castle' footplates and side views with principal dimensions. The book is also illustrated by thirty six photographs. The final page, inside the front cover, and both inside and outside the back cover carry several advertisements for other Ian Allan pubications.


Loco-Shed Book - 1950

abc Supplement - Loco-Shed Book
Pt.1 Western Region

Published in October 1950

32 pages, priced 1/-
Printed by ' The Falstaff Press, 316 Vauxhall Bridge Road, London, S.W.1.'

Whilst other publishers had previously sold booklets listing locomotive shed allocations, this is the first such published by Ian Allan. As with the Locospotters books there were separate booklets for the different regions being Part 1 for Western, Part 2 for Southern, Part 3 for London Midland, and Part 4 for the Eastern and North Eastern Region. This was repeated for both 1951 and 1952, but from 1953 there was just one booklet covering the shed allocations of all British Railways locomotives.The price had been increased to 2/6, which had been the price of the combined edition, and there it stayed until 1965 when it went up to 3/-. Decimalisation saw a steady rise in price, albeit with a few price reductions along the way, until the final edition in 1985 which by now was 95p.

This first edition contained no editorial content or illustrations, save for some notes inside the front cover explaining how to use the book. There were only a few adverts promoting other Ian Allan publications and an application form to join the Locospotters' Club. The cover illustration by A.N.Wolstenholme shows the cab of 'King' class 4-6-0 6021 King Richard II and the front of 2-8-0 locomotive 4701. Both these locomotives were apparently allocated to shed 81A, which was Old Oak Common.


Famous trains series

In January 1955 Ian Allan published the first four of what would become a series of eight 'Famous Trains' booklets priced at sixpence (6d) each. A fifth followed in the November with numbers 6 and 7 in January 1956, then the final one in that July. They were all reprinted in 1959 but with the price being increased to 9d each, number 1 was published in the January with the other seven following in May. They were all written by G.Freeman Allen and all followed the same format with a short introduction followed by a description of the route illustrated with a sketch of the relevant portion of the route alongside and several monochrome photographs of trains and major features. All the covers carried a drawing by A.N.Wolstenholme of the train featured, similar in style to the covers of the 'abc' booklets at the time. Of the eight booklets produced, two were relevant to the GWR.

Famous trains No.3 - The Cornish Riviera Express

Famous trains No.3 - The Cornish Riviera Express

Published in May 1959

28 numbered pages, priced at 9d
'Printed in the United Kingdom by Crampton & Sons, Ltd., Swanston, Cambridge'

Inside the front cover was an advert for several of the 'Railway abc' series of booklets which were available, and inside the rear cover was a list of the other books in the 'Famous Trains' series with the prompt Why not collect the series?. The monthly Trains Illustrated magazine, also published by Ian Allan was promoted on the back cover.

The front cover shows 'King' class 4-6-0 King Richard II with the B.R. totem on its tender and bearing the 'Cornish Riviera' headboard. This locomotive entered service in June 1930 and was withdrawn in September 1962. It was fitted with a double chimney in 1957, but is shown in its original form as the illustration would have been produced for the first edition of the booklet which predated this modification.


Famous trains No.5 - The South Wales Pullman

Famous trains No.5 - The South Wales Pullman

Published in May 1959

29 numbered pages, priced at 9d
'Printed in the United Kingdom by Crampton & Sons, Ltd., Swanston, Cambridge'

Whilst following the same format as the other booklet in our collection it differed in having the inside back cover numbered as page 29 and listed the numerous members of the 'Castle' class of locomotive. The other 'Famous Trains' booklets were now advertised on the inside front cover but the back cover still promoted the Trains Illustrated magazine, albeit with the latest logo which looks rather like an old television screen and was now being used on both the magazine and the ''abc' series of booklets.

The unidentified 'Castle' class locomotive on the cover carries the shed code '87E' denoting Swansea Landore depot, which makes sense as the 'South Wales Pullman' terminated at Swansea High Street station. Starting in the summer of 1934 the GWR introduced a system of train identity numbers. Those trains starting at Paddington had a number starting with a '1', the other two numbers were used to identify the service. This system was retained for a number of years by B.R. until they replaced it during 1960 with their own new standard version.