Rail Data Review Details

Title:	Track Machines / On-Track Plant (10 books)
Author:	Roger Butcher
Publisher:	Various (see text)
Format:	Book
Subject:	Track Machines
Category:	Numbers - Current
Spec:	A5, 64-300 pages, card covers
Publication date:	1984-2009
Summary:	From 1984 the answer to 'what's that big yellow machine' could finally be answered thanks to an excellent new book detailing the BR Track Machine fleet.
Review:	In 1984, Platform 5 published two new books detailing types of rolling stock not previously covered in mainstream books. These were 'Track Machines' and 'Departmental Coaching Stock', both written by Roger Butcher (who had recently started his 'Departmental Developments' column in Rail Enthusiast magazine). Both books were much more than just a list of numbers, and they both went on to produce several subsequent editions. Track Machines covered Trolleys, Consolidators, Tampers, Ballast Cleaners and various other rail-bourne machines large and small. Also covered were cranes, snowploughs and (in the first edition) departmental locos that were not covered in the establised loco books. The basis of the book was the CEPS (Central Engineers Plant Scheme) numbering series, although some items not allocated CEPS numbers were also included. For each item, the CEPS number and any previous DB-series and regional series numbers were given, along with the builder's serial number and year of construction. Current vehicles also showed an allocation. Also listed were all machines allocated CEPS numbers but which were no longer in stock, the same details being given along with a brief history of each item's allocations and disposal. The lists were grouped according to the type of machine, and each section was headed with a text description of the purpose, functions and development of the type. Four further editions were produced over the following decade. However, the book was evolving into something of an industry directory, reflected in the inclusion of adverts and details of contractors. From 2000, the book was published by NPT Publishing (a company set up by the author) and was only available direct from them. Much of the existing content was retained but there was an ever-growing section on contractors, giving brief details of the machines (notably road-railers) that could be hired for track work. NPT did four more editions, each larger than the one before. The last appears to have been the 2009 edition (with 304 pages!), which is still listed as current on the NPT website.
Reviewed:	03/10/2019 by Thomas Young (Comments made by others can appear in the notes section towards the bottom of this page)
Sample pages:	(Click on any image to view full-sized in a new window) The cover of the 64-page first edition, published in 1984 Each section was headed with a desciption of the type, a listing of current machines, followed by a listing of machines no longer in stock The first edition had 22 photos, all black and white apart from the two on the covers. Most types were covered but some of the photos were not all that great As well as the main, CEPS-based listing, smaller machines with only regional numbers were also included A second edition in 1986 changed the cover colour to a more appropriate yellow and increased the page count to 72 The picture count was almost the same (at 25), but they seemed to be of a generally better quality The third edition (in 1988) ran to 80 pages with 22 photos From the fourth edition in 1991, the title was changed to 'On-Track Plant'. 23 photos were included in the 96 pages, along with adverts from several of the machine suppliers The photos covered most of the larger machines but also some of the smaller ones. Ironically (given the change of title) both of the two items of 'on-track plant' shown here are 'off-track'! A new section covered machines owned by contractors and other railways, although this initially ran to just 5 pages The fifth edition (in 1995) was very similar in format but it was now an SCT Publishing title. One change was that historical information was now only included for types where at least one example remained in stock The non-BR section had grown to nine pages, and there were also more adverts in the 96 page book The publisher changed again to NPT in 2000, and the establised cover design was thrown out The first 58 pages of the book (less 14 pages of adverts!) were similar to previous editions, but more attractively laid-out and with colour (albeit often smaller) photos Given the changing nature of the industry, machines belonging to other companies were now included in the relevant sections, rather than being listed at the end The CEPS numbering scheme was by then in use for various new types, including the 'conveyor' spoil trains shown here. Over half of the book was devoted to Road/Railers and small plant machines, the majority of which were owned by hirers or contractors. Build numbers were still included, although road-licensed road/railers showed just the registration number and owner Only hard-core spotters would bother with machines like these, although they are perhaps the spiritual successor to the Wickham trollies. Also on this page is one of the numerous adverts The third edition by NPT (and eighth overall) appeared in 2005, and was sponsored by EWS. The book was a chunky 256 pages, using quality paper and colour photos throughout The large machines covered seemed to be getting ever bigger and more complex, one other change being that all-over yellow was no longer the de-facto standard Now added were various wagon types used in connection with track work, although how is an open box wagon an item of 'large plant'? I suspect that the photos of the ZBA and OBA on this page have been photo-shopped into EWS livery, presumably at the request of the company! Road/Rail plant now took up almost half of the entire book, the Land Rovers shown here being amongst the more ordinary-looking of the types covered
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