The Railway Times

7 notebooks containing manuscript copies of "The Railway Times" from 1905 to 1937. "The Railway Times" (not to be confused with the national journal of the same name) was an amateur newsletter that circulated free among a group of railway enthusiasts in the South London area.

The coverage of the volumes is as follows: June 1905-May 1906 (nos. 66-77, indexed, with fragments of Jan. 1900 and Feb. 1904 issues inserted) June 1906-August 1907 (nos. 78-92, indexed)

September 1907-December 1908 (nos. 93-108, indexed) January 1909-July 1911 (nos. 109-139, indexed) August 1911-March 1915 (nos. 140-183, indexed) September 1919-May 1924 (nos. 237-293, indexed) June 1924-October 1935 (nos. 294-333; then lists of unusual locos spotted and locos seen on various trips 1935-1952).

The names of the editors of the Railway Times and those who received it have now been lost, but it first appeared on 1 January 1900. The editor described its aims thus: "This pamphlet is, to a certain extent, a pioneer in its particular line, for it aims at something entirely new, videlicet: - circulating gratis among "a select few," copies containing particulars of new locomotives, current railway facts, and other items of interest to LOCOISTS. The expression used above, "select few", will in its fullest sense be true, for this pamphlet will have its circulation strictly limited to five copies, monthly. As all concerned reside in the southern environs of London paramount importance will be given to railways passing through that district. It is to be published on the first Monday in the month." Originally the pamphlet was printed, and a fragment of the first issue is inserted in the first volume. A note dated 9 April 1955 in the first volume unfortunately records that "Earlier numbers of this amateur publication have been destroyed." It seems likely that at some point printing ceased, and the newsletter was written straight into these notebooks, which were then circulated. The contents cover new locomotives, disposals, liveries, unusual locomotives noted in the area, reports on trips undertaken by the editors, articles on topics such as headcodes and railways in particular areas, etc. Photographs and cuttings from other journals are occasionally pasted in.