Ian Allan Publishing Subs Club - Members Only!

Farewell ‘Champagne’ Flight. British Airways Boeing 757

Emily Macmillan — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 15:34:37 +0000

Heathrow-Manchester (Overflight) – Heathrow. Saturday 6th November 2010

British Airways retires its last Boeing 757-200s from passenger service on 31st October 2010, ending another chapter in British civil aviation history. BA, along with Eastern Airlines in the USA, were the first to operate the sleek, Rolls Royce powered ‘pocket rocket’, in 1983.

Here is an opportunity to fly in this classic airliner after its withdrawal from the British Airways fleet. A 90 minute charter, including 60 minutes in the air, will depart London’s Heathrow Airport T5 at 13:00 hrs on Saturday 6th November, during which champagne and a snack meal will be served.

Routing will include a fly-by of Manchester Airport (subject to weather and ATC)

Price: £225 per person including taxes.

Why not stay the Friday and/or Saturday night in the Renaissance Heathrow Airport Hotel, in a Club Room looking
directly across the airport. Price includes hot buffet breakfast; in-room tea/coffee; return Hotel Hoppa tickets to the airport;
overnight parking; access to Club Lounge with complimentary soft drinks and fantastic views over the airport!
Price: £76.00 per person per night sharing a twin-bedded room; £147.00 per night in a single room

Itinerary & booking form can be read/downloaded from www.ianallantravel.com/aviationtours
or register your interest by telephoning +44 (0) 1932 255627, or e-mail: aviation.tours@ianallan.co.uk
Ian Allan Aviation Tours, Terminal House, Shepperton, Middlesex TW17 8AS, United Kingdom
ATOL: 288
IATA 91277410
ABTA 11185

Win a copy of Tornado by Tom Ingall

Paul Molyneux — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 08:43:29 +0000

There are three prizes to be won!

The first steam locomotive to be built in Britain for over 40 years, when Tornado first hit the rails earlier this year it generated nationwide media coverage and tens of thousands came to see it as it toured the country. When the list of locomotives to be preserved for the nation was drawn up in the early 1960s when BR’s steam fleet was being withdrawn and scrapped, the fact that no representative of Peppercorn’s ‘A1′ Pacifics was to be saved left a significant gap in Britain’s preserved railway heritage. In 1990 a group of enthusiasts put into action the ambitious plan to construct an exact replica of one of these locomotives. Over the next 19 years the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust put together the finance required and worked with large numbers of engineers and craftsmen to create the new locomotive. Although the engineering has faithfully recreated the original locomotive, it has been fitted with a modern day electrical system to enable it to run freely on Britain’s national railway network, day and night, at speeds up to 75mph, giving present day enthusiasts the chance once again to thrill to the sight of a steam locomotive in action at full pelt.

QUESTION:The Tornado is the first locomotive of its kind built since which steam locomotive last built by British Railways in 1960?

HOW TO ENTER: just go to www.ianallanmagazines.com/subscomp and fill in the necessary details or send your answer and address on a postcard to Magazine Marketing Department, Ian Allan Publishing, Riverdene Business Park, Molesey Road, Hersham, Surrey, KT124RG. Competition closes 25th August 2010.

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Only one entry per person. The competition will be drawn immediately after the closing date. The winner(s) will be selected at random, and will be notified by post. Please refer to http://www.ianallanmagazines.com/subsclub for full terms & conditions for this competition. From time to time, we may contact you by post or email with information or offers regarding subscriptions and other products.

Win a copy of of The Routemaster by Michael Baker

Paul Molyneux — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 15:28:40 +0000

There are three prizes to be won!!

The Routemaster bus is a universally recognised symbol of London. Developed in the 1950s it has been a familiar sight on the streets of the capital for half a century and still operates on selected heritage routes today. Although developed by AEC for London Transport Routemasters were sold initially also sold to Northern General and second-hand vehicles were later part of the fleets of other operators throughout Britain. Although its open-platform design ultimately led to it being phased out in London in 2005 it is regarded by many as a 20th century icon of British design – when developed its lightweight integral chassis, independent front suspension, fully automatic gearbox and power-hydraulic braking put it well in advance of most rival buses.
This volume tells the story of the Routemaster’s development and operational history in London and elsewhere, accompanied by approximately 100 colour illustrations of the vehicle from prototypes through the changing operational scene of the last 50 years to its continuing existence today. Written by a well known authority on the subject, Michael Baker has a number of best-selling titles to his name.

QUESTION:The Routemaster was built by which company?

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Win a copy of The Intemperate Engineer: Isambard Kingdom Brunel in His Own Words by Adrian Vaughan

Paul Molyneux — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 15:18:44 +0000

There are three prizes to be won!

Isambard Kingdom Brunel is a huge name in British engineering history, his legacy reaching almost legendary proportions. Brunel’s designs revolutionised public transport and modern engineering, and although his projects were not always successful, they often contained innovative solutions to long-standing engineering problems. During his short career, Brunel not only created the Great Western Railway and constructed numerous important bridges and tunnels, but he achieved many engineering ‘firsts’, including assisting in the building of the first tunnel under a navigable river and development of SS Great Britain, the first propeller-driven ocean-going iron ship, which was at the time also the largest ship ever built.

Although much has been written about the great man, this new book takes a unique angle and looks in depth at his letters and writings, revealing much about the real person. The author aims to make readers feel that they are standing next to Brunel as he works at his desk, and are travelling with him through Victorian Britain. They will feel the detail of his worries, his difficulties and tensions and ultimately realise his humanity – his genius and his fallibility.

There is an ocean of research available and the author has concentrated on his early diaries, his work in planning and constructing the Great Western Railway, his relationships with assistants and contractors, with his enemies and close friends and relations. Included are some letters not written by Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Some by his father, Marc Isambard because these relate to I.K Brunel’s very early life and domestic affairs of middle age and a couple by his trusted assistant, John Hammond because they show how those close to him understood their master’s drivers.

QUESTION:In what year was Isambard Kingdom Brunel born?

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Win a copy of The Elephant Never Forgot: London’s Trams in Retrospect by Paul Collins

Paul Molyneux — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 15:04:53 +0000

There are three prizes to be won!!

Following on from the author’s first book on the subject, this volume looks at several new areas which give further insights into the development and operation of London trams from the 1860s to the current Croydon Tramlink, through contemporary reports published in journals.

Topic areas include:
- The operation of G F Train’s three lines in the early 1860s
- Horse trams
- Experimental forms of motive power tested in London in the 1880s and 1890s
- The experimental overhead line at Alexandra Palace
- London’s cable tramways
- Operation of the conduit system
- Enlargement of the Kingsway Subway
- Tramcar maintenance
- The planning of Operation Tramway
- Filming ‘The Elephant Will Never Forget’
- Croydon Tramlink

A fascinating snapshot of the tramways of London perfect for anyone interested in London’s rich transport history, this book is certain to be popular with transport enthusiasts nationwide.

QUESTION:In what year did the tram make its final appearance in London?

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Win a copy of Steam Trails of North Wales by Michael Clemens

Paul Molyneux — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 14:31:25 +0000

There are three prizes to be won!!

Michael Clemens and his father were keenly interested in railways and travelled widely throughout the United Kingdom covering the changing railway scene using both cine and still photography. In the third of a series recording a pictorial tribute to the final years of steam operation, the author covers the lines of North Wales.

Covering an area largely north of a line from Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth and west of a line from Shrewsbury to Birkenhead, and including the Cambrian lines in the east (including Ellesmere and Whitchurch), the author provides a selection of largely unpublished photographs to illustrate the diversity of steam operation in North Wales. Always a popular area with enthusiasts, North Wales possessed a fascinating network of lines that are explored in the pages of this book. It will appeal to all enthusiasts who know the area as well as to locals looking back fondly on a long-lost era.

QUESTION: In which decade did the Welsh Highland Railway close?

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Win a copy of Scotland’s Railways: The Classic Photography of W. J. Verden Anderson

Paul Molyneux — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 14:22:32 +0000

There are three prizes to be won!

W. J. V. Anderson is undoubtedly one of the most widely respected railway photographers whose images are almost instantly recognisable from their unsurpassed technical accomplishment and the skill of their composition. Undoubtedly two of the best reviewed and commercially successful railway publications produced by Ian Allan Publishing in recent years have been the two volumes co-authored by Brian Stephenson and Keith Anderson drawing upon the stunning photography of the late W. J. Verden Anderson and featuring the dramatic landscapes of Scotland. The first volume, illustrated in both mono and colour, concentrated upon Anderson’s steam photography whilst the second volume, illustrated largely in colour, featured diesel traction.

This new book which is predominantly illustrated in colour throughout, draws upon the large number of unpublished images that did not feature in the original book, and portrays the Scottish Region during the years from 1960 through to around 1980. At the start of the period, Scottish Region was still predominantly steam operated with countless classes of locomotive that predated the Grouping of 1923. Although there had been some route closures, the large networks that once served the Highlands were still largely intact and the threat of the Beeching Report was yet to come.

Scottish main-line steam ceased in 1967 by which date significant closures — such as the Port Road — and already occurred and further significant losses — such as the Waverley route — were still to occur. The great variety of steam locomotive had been replaced by a range of diesel locomotive and multiple-unit classes, many of which were destined not to outlast steam by long. By the late 1970s, Scottish Region, as elsewhere, was dominated by Rail Blue, but there was still a sufficient variety of locomotive type to drawn enthusiasts to the country.

QUESTION: At the end of what year was the Scottish Region Railway wound-up?

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Win a copy of Railways of South Wales by Adrian Kenny

Paul Molyneux — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 14:09:56 +0000

There are three prizes to be won.

This new book reflects the changing face of railway operation in South Wales since the mid-1990s and includes a wide range of mouth watering railway scenes from some of the loveliest landscapes in the UK.The author encompasses a shot from every working branch line in South Wales, and covers all of the main classes of locomotive and unit that could have been seen in the time period stated. As many livery variations as possible are recorded and all the freight and passenger operators that have worked the area are also included.

The book will also include, where possible, a glimpse of the industrial scene in South Wales with coverage of Corus at Llanwern, Port Talbot and Trostre; Celsa in Cardiff; Hanson at Machen quarry; Murco at Robeston, Celtic Energy at Onllwyn, Miller Argent at Cwmbargoed, Unity at Cwmgwrach etc

The past decade has seen considerable changes to the railway operations in the area; Arriva Trains Wales has come to dominate passenger services with the demise of the original franchisees and a number of lines have reopened for passenger services, most notably the Ebbw Vale branch and the line from Bridgend to Barry. There remains, despite the closure of all of the deep level mines (with the recent demise of Tower) and the loss of the steelworks at Ebbw Vale, considerable freight traffic.

QUESTION: In what year was South Wales Railway amalgamated with the Great Western Railway?

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Win a copy of Island Fever by Robin Jones

Paul Molyneux — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 14:04:09 +0000

There are 3 prizes to be won!

Island Fever – a large format photographic journey around the many islands located off Britain’s coastline, each one revealing its own unique and characterful identity, illustrated with stunning photography.

Britain’s big strength is that it is an island nation. However, we often forget that it boasts hundreds of smaller islands off its shores, each with a distinct character of its own. This book concentrates on the islands of England and Wales showing a mixture of contemporary photographs and archive material to capture the unique atmosphere of each island.

Highlights include:

Steep Holm – wonderfully preserved World War 2 timewarp in the Bristol Channel.
Flat Holm – Welsh island with cholera hospital and amazing fortifications.
Lundy – pirate’s haven that issues its own stamps
Scillies – Britain’s own Hawaii. Five/six inhabited islands with their own stories to tell.
St Michael’s Mount – tidal survivor of the mythical lost land of Lyonesse, with a working railway.
Looe Island – subject of the book We Bought An Island.
Burgh island – tidal with the world’s only sea tractor and fantastic art deco hotel with Agatha Christie connections
Brownsea Island – inside Poole Harbour, famous for red squirrels and the boy scout movement.
Hayling Island – Hayling Billy train, seaside resort
Goodwin Sands – sunken island in the Channel, Britain’s biggest graveyard for boats
Eel Pie Island in Thames – famous sixties hangout
Foulness Island – secret MoD base, and other Essex marshes islands
Mersea Island – sailing haven and holiday resort
Sealand – military platform off Essex, claims to be a separate country
Read’s Island – Lincolnshire Humber
Spurn Head – not an island, but has been at times, and may be so again
Farne Islands – famous for Grace Darling connections
Lindisfarne – Holy Island
Hilbre Islands – fascinating inhabited set of islands off the west coast of The Wirral
Anglesey/Holy Island – last stand of the Druids
Bardsey Island – site of medieval monastery
Ramsey Island – off Pembrokeshire
Barry Island and Sully Island – famous steam graveyard

QUESTION:How many miles off the tip of Lands End Cornwall are the Isles of Scilly?

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Win a copy of abc British Railways Locomotives Combined Volume 1952

Paul Molyneux — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 13:36:07 +0000

There are three prizes to be won!

This is the latest in the very popular series of reprints of classic editions of the famous Ian Allan Publishing ‘abc’ volumes from the 1950s and 1960s which have been welcomed both by the generation of enthusiasts who used them when they first came out, and also by those who were not around at the time.

It lists all the locomotives operating on British Railways in 1952, together with their locoshed allocations, and includes the large numbers of pre-Grouping and Big Four locomotives that were still in existence with the recently formed British Railways. Also included are the first of the new steam locomotives built since nationalisation together with the early diesel and electric locomotives and multiple units.

QUESTION: What was established by the Transport Act 1962, as a successor to the British Transport Commission?.

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