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The first book appeared in 1987 and covered the air-braked opens and vans. This title had just 36 pages (including covers).
Typical inside page, with lists of numbers arranged into lots. Information on individual variations is given by the use of symbols. 19 of the pages in the book are like this. Note that the former identities of converted wagons (such as the VEAs shown here) were not given, while those for the ODAs were.
There are 19 photos in the book, all black-and-white and reasonably well reproduced. Apart from the one on the cover, the rest are arranged two to a page as seen here.
Volume 2 came out in 1988 and had a colour photo on the cover and 68 pages.
Devoted to the large hopper wagon fleet, most pages are just long lists of numbers.
Since the book only covered two main types of wagon (HAA and HEA plus derivatives), the inclusion of just 9 photos seems fair.
Coverage of the air-braked fleet was completed in 1989 with this 52 page book covering the steel-carrying and freightliner types.
This edition made greater use of symbols for individual variations, as seen here. Former numbers (for example of the BDAs) were not given and there were only 9 photos.
Also published in 1989, Volume 4 covered the brake van fleet in 44 pages and 14 photos.
All 5247 BR-built vans were listed, with TOPS codes for those still in stock. Diagram numbers were given for each batch but there was no attempt to include individual design codes.
The 238 pre-Nationalistion brake vans which remained in stock were also listed, all with their current TOPS code.
The largest book so far appeared at the end of 1989 and had 116 pages and 33 photos. It listed all current wagons numbered in the BR departmental series.
Each batch was headed by the build details, including the diagram number. Individual TOPS code variations were highlighted with symbols, but design codes were not included. Only current wagons were listed.
To cover the private owner fleet in one volume, this book ran to 196 pages and featured 40 photos.
As with most titles in this series, the inside photos were all in black-and-white, arranged two per page.
Each batch was headed with build details, including design codes (variations being highlighted with symbols) and information on where the wagons operated. Numbers were shown in full (i.e. with prefixes).
Later in 1990 the international wagon fleet was covered in a 100 page book with 16 photos (6 in colour).
The authors acknowledged the fact that many of the build details were not known. However, each batch included full (4-letter) TOPS codes, design codes and the full number (with exchange code and check digit).
With not much of the wagon fleet yet to be covered, the next title came out in 1992 and looked at Internal Users, being authored by 'Departmental Developments' columnist Roger Butcher. 100 pages with 22 photos (3 in colour).
All current internal users were listed, showing their former number and TOPS code along with their location. Vehicles which did not carry their IU numbers were indicated with an asterisk.
An extra feature in this title was a list of vehicles no longer in stock, this covering all items transferred to internal use since about 1980. For each, the same details as for the live fleet were given, along with information on their subsequent fate.
The largest group of wagons not yet covered were those with B-prefixed numbers, and these were dealt with in 1994. 116 pages, 29 photos, 7 in colour.
As usual, most of the photos were laid out two per page, and they included some interesting survivors.
All wagons in stock at the start of 1990 were listed, with those withdrawn in the 1990-1994 period indicated with a W. Each batch gave diagram numbers while individual TOPS and design codes (and weights) were also given using symbols. For some types, this resulted in a lot of symbols being needed!
Although the (admittedly small) fleet of pre-nationalisation wagons had not yet been covered, the next title was an updated edition of volume 5, covering the BR engineers series in 84 pages and with 25 photos (7 in colour).
All wagons in stock at June 1993 were listed, with later withdrawals marked. Individual TOPS and design codes were given, while former numbers for converted wagons were included, where known (such as the Topes seen here).
Volumes 1 to 3 were updated in 1994, being combined into one new title with 116 pages and 41 photos (7 in colour).
Former numbers were included for some (but not all) types, while individual TOPS and design codes were again shown with symbols. As far as I know, this was the last title published in this series. |