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Sales
The Society offers for sale to members only a number of publications which are sold with a significant discount from the Recommended Retail Price.
Members receive a free copy of the "Guide to Minor Railways" when this is published.
Non-members should note that the Guide to Minor Railways booklet is available from the Sales Officer at a price of £5.00 which includes post and packing.
The Sales Officer is also able to supply - to members only - books and maps from a variety of publishers.
Generally, the Society will try and sell those books which are of interest to a significant number of members and which can therefore be purchased by the Society in bulk and the discount received passed on to members.
Details of books for sale through the Society are shown below. All prices include Post (2nd class) & Packing to UK addresses.
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Platform 5 - Locomotives and Coaching Stock 2026
British Railways Locomotives & Coaching Stock 2026 is the definitive guide to all locomotives, coaching stock and multiple units that run on Britain’s main line railways. It contains complete fleet lists of every item of rolling stock with owner, operator, livery and depot allocation information for every vehicle in service.
This essential reference book is fully updated to early 2026 and includes details of all new rolling stock on order for delivery in 2026.
Includes the following: Locomotives, Diesel Multiple Units, Electric Multiple Units, Loco-Hauled Coaching Stock, On-Track Machines, Network Rail Service Stock, Rolling Stock Awaiting Disposal, Multiple Unit & HST Formations, Lists of Depots & Workshops, Owner and Operator Information, Livery Details.
64 pages of colour illustrations. British Railways Locomotives & Coaching Stock 2026 will also contain a comprehensive overview of Britain’s railway network today including details of all passenger train operators and major freight operators, plus a wealth of useful technical data for every class of vehicle.
432 pages. Hardback.
RRP £32.95. Members Price £27.00 including P&P to UK Mainland addresses.
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Poland - Locomotives, Units and Departmental Stock - Fourth Edition - 2025
***FURTHER STOCK OBTAINED***
A fully revised and updated edition of this comprehensive guide to all standard and narrow gauge locomotives and multiple units registered to operate in Poland.
Covers all diesel and electric locomotives and multiple units, as well as standard and narrow gauge steam locomotives still in existence at preservation sites and private railways in Poland. Includes locomotives registered in Poland, as well as locomotives registered in other countries but equipped to work in Poland. For each locomotive or unit type, basic technical details are provided, along with tables listing all vehicles in existence in Poland today. Details included for each locomotive are number, operator and UIC number.
Other details such as names carried and former numbers are included where relevant. Illustrated throughout with colour photographs. 300 pages.
Members' special price just £25.00 including UK P&P when ordered with any other publication.
Price £26.95 including UK P&P when ordered separately.
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Czech and Slovak Railways Locomotives, Multiple Units, Metros and Trams
A fully revised and updated guide to the rolling stock operating on the railways, tramways and light rail networks of the Czech and Slovak Republics. Includes:
- A brief historical background to the railways of the Czech and Slovak Republics
- Detailed fleet lists of all locomotives & multiple units in service with national operators, CD and ZSSK
- Fleet information for Czech and Slovak private passenger and private freight operators
- Detailed maps of the Czech and Slovak railway networks
- An explanation of the classification and numbering system and the European Vehicle Numbering scheme
- Livery information
- Depot allocations
- Detailed fleet information for the tramway and light railway networks that operate in major towns and cities
- Full lists of operating main line steam locomotives, plus steam, diesel and electric locomotives and multiple units that survive in preservation
- Information about museums and museum lines with contact details and line lengths
This volume has been fully updated to reflect the many changes that have taken place since the 1st edition was published in 2016. 320 pages.
Cover price £34.95 Members' price just £29.00 including UK P&P
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The Beaten Track 5
The Beaten Track was first published in 2021. Its combination of outstanding colour photography from 1970-1985, featuring superseded motive power and long-lost extremities of the British railway network received widespread critical acclaim.
Although originally intended to be a single volume, the success of The Beaten Track gave rise to a second volume, published in 2022, which continued in the same vein and received similar praise in reviews. This was followed by The Beaten Track Volume 3 in 2023 and Volume 4 in 2024.
Platform 5 is now proud to present The Beaten Track Volume 5 - a fifth selection of the best colour photography from 1970-1985. More than 250 high quality colour images illustrate an assortment of traction types, very few of which can still be seen on the main line, many at railway locations that have long since disappeared or have changed out of all recognition.
All the photographs are accompanied by extensive captions, containing considerable historical and anecdotal information relating to the lines, stations and trains depicted.
Reviews of The Beaten Track Volume 1:
- "Your BLN Editor cannot recommend this book too highly ... hard to put down." - Branch Line News
- "A real "wow" book... superb selection... I'd highly recommend this book to anyone!" - Pip Dunn
- "Buy a copy - you won’t be disappointed. Product of the Month." - Railways Illustrated
Reviews of The Beaten Track Volume 2:
- "The best just got better ... sublime ... stunning ... truly excellent ... this series of books will become collectors' items." - Railways Illustrated
- "An excellent publication which we can unreservedly recommend." - The Diesel & Electric Preservation Group
- "Simply magnificent. A fantastically varied array of images. Worth going out of your way to read." - Rail Express
Hardback. A4 size. 176 pages.
Cover price £36.96 Members' price just £30.00 including UK P&P
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TRACKmaps Railway Track Diagrams 2 Eastern - Sixth Edition
76 pages with 51 colour maps showing the eastern side of Britain from London to the Scottish border. Shows latest track level detail including the re-opened Ashington line, Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade progress, latest station openings, transfers of signalling control and many other details.
RRP £18.95 Members' price just £14.50 including UK P&P
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Railway Track Diagrams Book 5
Soft back book, A4 72 pages (incl 55 colour maps), 5th edition, available at Member's rate of just £10 plus £3 P&P (second class delivery) from 21st October 2024.
Book 5: Southern & TfL covers the area of Network Rail’s Southern Region, TfL's Overground, Underground & London Trams and the Docklands Light Railway This edition also includes the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (HS1) and Euroteunnel in the entirety from St Pancras to Calais, as well as the Elizabeth Line and a number of Heritage and leisure lines. The maps include the latest features; Overhead Neutral Sections and platform lengths in metres for industrial users and closed signal boxes still in-situ for enthusiasts. Details are generally up to date as at the end of August 2024.
The contents include:
- An Index Map showing the routes covered.
- A detailed Key.
- A comprehensive list of Abbreviations.
- 55 pages of schematic maps in full colour showing the rail routes at track level detail.
- A comprehensive Index of locations with nearly 4,000 entries.
- A listing of Engineers Line References and Line of Route Codes in the Book.
Cover price £17.95 Members' price just £13 including UK P&P
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TRACKmaps Book 3: Western & Wales. Seventh Edition (Sep 2023)
This 60-page publication covering Wales and NR Western Region is now compiled by our member Martyn Brailsford. There are updates on every page and some have been restructured for clarity (particularly Bristol Parkway) with two extra pages of maps provided. The Elizabeth line is included to Abbey Wood and Pudding Mill Lane Jn as are small parts of adjoining routes (particularly to Worcester/Worcestershire Parkway) along with private/heritage and industrial railways in the area. Changes in the five years since the last edition include new stations at Bow Street, Corwen, Reading Green Park, Marsh Barton, Portway Park & Ride and Worcestershire Parkway. The Okehampton line is now part of NR, reopened to passengers; the Elizabeth line has opened and the Llanelli & Mynydd Mawr Railway is in.
Updates include curtailed GWR electrification, the discontinuous electrification of the Cardiff Valleys with many infrastructure changes plus the new Taffs Well Depot and the layout planned at Onllwyn, Gobal Centre for Rail Excellence (with electrification of the 6.9km outer test circuit).
Signalling control areas are updated and, for the first time, OHLE neutral sections, Electric Control Room areas and disused signal boxes, expected to remain, are shown. The comprehensive index includes Welsh language names and, as is now TRACKmaps standard, platform lengths are given in metres rather than coach lengths which do vary. Most of those named in the 'Acknowledgements' are our members; updates/amendments are always welcome for future editions and other books.
Cover Price £16.95 Members Price just £12.50 including Royal Mail delivery
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TRACKmaps Book 4: Midlands & North West
72 pages with 53 colour maps showing North West & Central Region from London to the Scottish Border plus the Midland Main Line.
Shows latest track level detail including, amongst many other changes, latest station openings, continuing electrification, 4 tracking from Bedford to Kettering and transfers of signalling control.
RRP £17.95 Members Price just £12.50 including Royal Mail Delivery
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Eisenbahnatlas Deutschland 12th Edition (Schweers & Wall)
A fully revised and updated 2023 edition of this definitive colour atlas of Germany’s railways in 1:300 000 scale.
Shows all lines with identification of double track, single track, narrow gauge lines, freight only, not in use, former line now removed, rack lines and lines under construction. Colours are used to show lines of different electrification voltages and German timetable numbers are shown beside passenger lines. Also shows all stations, halts, junctions, yards, freight facilities, preservation centres, museum lines, tramways and funiculars, plus all general geographic features including rivers, motorways and canals. Includes enlargements of major centres, index maps and a full index to stations and other significant places.
Key in German, English, French and Dutch. Large format hardback. 256 pages.
Your Sales Officer has secured a 10% discount from the RRP of this fantastic publication. Priced £45 plus £3.75 P&P or free delivery to BLS railtours.
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Eisenbahnatlas Schweiz (Schweers & Wall)
The definitive detailed atlas of Switzerland’s railways, fully revised and updated to 2024.
Switzerland, with its more than 5,300 km of predominantly electrified railway lines, is one of the densest rail networks in the world. In the completely revised new edition of Eisenbahnatlas Schweiz, you will find the entire country shown at a scale of 1:150,000, as well as numerous detailed inset maps at a scale of 1:50,000. The map sheets contain a wealth of additional information. In addition to a list of places and tunnels, the atlas also contains an overview of the Swiss railway companies, each with their address and internet address, as well as information on regular steam operations and museum lines.
Includes:
- The whole of Switzerland at a scale of 1:150,000, detailed inset maps at 1:50,000
- Detailed maps of Basel, Zurich, Bern, Lausanne, Geneva, Aigle, Montreux, Locarno, Lugano, Jungfrau region, Lötschberg, Gotthard, Albula, Bernina
- Tram line plans of Basel, Bern, Zurich, Neuchâtel and Geneva
- Details of railway lines that are not currently in use or that have been closed
- Clear distinction between single and multi-track routes, standard and narrow gauge railways, federal railways and private railways
- Information on track gauges, power systems, rack rail designs, gradients, infrastructure owners and operators
- Detailed index of stations and other significant locations
- List of railway tunnels
- List of railway companies
- Overview of regular steam and museum trips
- Key and information columns in German, English, French and Italian
Large format hardback. 112 pages.
RRP £44.95 Members Price £44.50 including Royal Mail Delivery
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TRACKmaps Book 1 Scotland & IOM Dec 2021
The new 7th Edition is now available: Since the November 2017 Edition this publication, used by the industry, has been comprehensively revised and updated by Martyn Brailsford, with help from various Society members, to the usual very high standard. There are changes on virtually every page.
Cover price £14.95 excluding P&P; price to our members £12.50 including UK P&P.
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SPECIAL OFFER: Own the complete set of latest TRACKmaps (excl Ireland)
RRP £86.75 Members Price just £65.00 including Royal Mail Delivery to UK addresses.
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