As featured in

Rail

The book is a delight to leaf through and anyone with an interest in early railways will want a copy, no matter what their modelling scale.

Engineering in Miniature, August 2019

This book is well illustrated, both with reproductions of contemporary artworks, dimensioned/scale drawings and photographs of models.

Stephenson Locomotive Society

Sources of models and further reading round off this interesting window into a rarely travelled path of railway modelling, a period which certainly deserves wider attention.

Railway Modeller, July 2019

This is a fascinating book, dealing with a subject which is not all common in modelling...

... For those contemplating making models depicting scenes from the last-but-one century, this is definitely for you.

British Railway Modelling

"Although I have not modelled railways for a number years this book could get me building then again. The book provides a wealth of information for anyone interested in this era of railways."

As featured in

IPMS Magazine

An excellent introduction to anyone wishing to model the earlier period.

Historical Model Railway Society

"Editor`s Choice"

Heritages Railway

This book provides a wealth of information for anyone interested in this era of railways.

IPMS Magazine, May-June 2019

The book concludes with a list of sources of both complete kits and individual parts, a bibliography, and a somewhat vestigial index. All in all it’s a splendid book, highly recommended for those wishing to build models of the period, or anyone interested in the early history of railways

Ffestiniong Railway Magazine, Summer 2019

This is a most attractive publication, well produced on quality paper with plenty of eye catching illustrations. It covers railway development in the early part of the Nineteenth Century for the model maker and in doing so covers new ground.

The book is supplemented with a look at layouts and models inspired by this period, starting with the prolific work of Mike Sharman who was a pioneer in this field fifty years ago. A model of York, Newcastle & Berwick Railway 2-2 2 Plews is featured. The chapter devoted to recent work by present day modellers shows how standards have been raised with some outstanding work by those now attracted to this early theme. Quite inspirational.

North Eastern Railway Association

5.0 out of 5 stars. Very good book on an interesting subject.


This is an excellent publication, covering many aspects of the early railways with much for the interested modeller to learn from. As the period covered was one of experimentation, many features that were later passed over are nicely covered, with excellent drawings, not only of locomotives and rolling stock, but also of the track-work (e.g. stub points).
For anyone interested in modelling this fascinating period, this book is a must purchase item.

Amazon Review

The historical detail in this book is fascinating and the detailed diagrams of the early engines and rolling stock will be very useful to a modeller of this era. The book is aimed at the '0' gauge modeller. I would suggest that this book is more aimed at the experienced modeller and, if you're a master scratch builder, it would be a must have reference.

On the whole a really great historical reference book of long forgotten trains with stunning examples of dioramas from top modellers.

Read the full review here

Vintage Airfix

A work of joy.

Read the full Spanish review here

Miniaturas JM

It is comprehensive, very informative and very well written. It is likely to appeal both to railway modellers who have a specific interest in its subject, and to those of a similar ilk who are just interested in ‘early’ railways, but with no inclination towards actually modelling the era. Transport Historians with an interest in early British, Continental and American railways may also find it of interest, while Social Historians seeking depictions and descriptions of early Nineteenth Century Britain may also find it worthy of their perusal.

Keith Rimmer, NZ Crown Mines

Profusely illustrated throughout, "Early Railways: A Guide for the Modeller" is a unique and extraordinary contribution to railroad modeling information and instructional reference collections, making it an ideal and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, and community library collections.

Midwest Book Review

Really interesting and informative, just the job if you are a bit bored up with Sprinters, Class 66s, Panniers, the latest Hornby Terrier (is it as good as the Rails one, yawn) etc etc. Here is a whole different world of railways you might model, illustrated with good source material including drawings and some lovely examples of early model railways that folk have built, including the fascinating work of Mike Sharman. There is s ome coverage given to North American prototypes and the authors are well known as proprietors of "Parliamentary Trains" who manufacture model kits for the earlier eras of railways.

Titfield Thunderbolt Bookshop Web Page

This book covers railways 1830 to 1880, and is aimed at modellers, although this reviewer, who has no particular interest in railway modelling, found great interest and pleasure in its pages.

The book is a quality, 120 pages hardback, which is nice to handle. It is profusely illustrated with photographs, drawings, plans, and paintings of full size and model railway infrastructure, locomotives, carriages, wagons and layouts, and a list of sources of supply for modellers... A most handsome book, which I will add to my library with pleasure.

John's Machines

Beautiful & inspiring book on a fascinating under-explored era for model railway enthusiasts.

A very handsome A4 hardback, of approx 120 pages, filled with great pictures in both colour and black and white. Authors Peter Chatham and Stephen Weston, themselves manufacturers of high end trains etc, have produced a book to inspire and inform railway modellers with the earlier period, pre-1880, of steam. One minor gripe is that the book assumes a knowledge of the subject I don't as yet have, and there's no glossary, so it's a bit opaque in places for an interested layman like me.

After a decent introduction to the subject, there's a chapter on a pioneer of modelling this period, Mike Sharman, followed by chapters whose titles - Infrastructure, Locomotives, Carriages, Wagons, Layouts and Models - tell you what to expect. There's an appendix listing sources of model suppliers, and a bibliography. The chief attraction, however, are the copious and very attractive illustrations, which range from a decent number of crisply* reproduced linear diagrammatic plans, to old prints and photos, and colour images of models and layouts.

I'm primarily a wargame figure collector and miniature model builder focussed on WWII stuff in 1/72. But I do have an interest in model railways, and this is a beautiful, fascinating and inspiring book on an area of train modelling not often covered. Definitely worth having a look if you're interested.

5 out of 5.

Sebastian Palmer (Amazon Review)

This is a great book for the scratch built modeller. What is great about this book is that it covers in detailed areas the Broad Gauge of I K Brunel which is sadly missing in mainline publications

A great book highly recommended

James Simmonds