The publications below are listed in date order within each category. The comments are purely the webmaster's personal opinions and are meant as a guide and not a definitive description. Some of these books may be out of print, so the ISBN numbers are included where available for ease of searching.
| TECHNICAL/HISTORICAL REFERENCE BOOKS | |||||
| BRITAIN'S NEW RAILWAY | O. S. Nock | 1966 | Ian Allan | A detailed look at the engineering and development aspects of the WCML electrification south of Weaver Junction. | |
| ELECTRIC EUSTON TO GLASGOW | O. S. Nock | 1974 | Ian Allan | ISBN 0-7110-0530-3 | As above, but detailing work on the northern section to Glasgow - written just as this section was being made operational. |
| BRITISH RAILWAYS DRIVER'S MANUAL A.C. ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVES | BRITISH RAILWAYS | 1973 ? |
BR.33056/40 ISSUE 1 | Official facts and figures about the various Classes (limited Class 87 information - not built at the time of printing). Drivers duties, proceedures, etc. | |
| AC ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVES OF BRITISH RAIL | Brian Webb & John Duncan | 1979 | David & Charles | ISBN 0-7153-7663-2 | Excellent in-depth technical coverage of Classes 80-87, with a wealth of facts and figures, also provides a snapshot of the fleet as it was in 1978. |
| MOTIVE POWER RECOGNITION:1 LOCOMOTIVES (1st Edition) | Colin J. Marsden | 1981 | Ian Allan | ISBN 0-7110-1109-5 | A useful spotter's companion of the time, featuring dimensions / performance details not easily found elsewhere. |
| MOTIVE POWER RECOGNITION:2 EMUS (1st Edition) | Colin J. Marsden | 1982 | Ian Allan | ISBN 0-7110-1165-6 | As above, but concentrating on the EMU fleet of the time. Perhaps LMR units don't quite get the same level of attention as their SR counterparts - one suspects C.J.M. is more of a Southern Electric fan! Good for archive dimensions, formations, operating areas. |
| BRITISH RAIL FLEET SURVEY 6 Electric Locomotives | Brian Haresnape | 1983 | Ian Allan | ISBN 0-7110-1332-2 | Good background information on BR's electric locomotive fleet from SR "Booster" locos through to Class 87. See also Vol 5 "High Speed Trains" (ISBN 0-7110-1297-0) for info on Class 370 APT-P. |
| MODERN RAILWAYS PICTORIAL PROFILE:7 CLASSES 81-85 | Colin J. Marsden (editor) | 1984 | Ian Allan | ISSN 0264-3642 | General overview of the AC fleet, with interesting archive photos. Magazine format. |
| BR ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVES IN 4mm SCALE | R. S. Carter | 1985 | Ian Allan | ISBN 0-7110-1501-5 | Essential reference material for all OO-scale modellers - and a mine of useful dimension and performance information. The late R.S.Carter's line drawings are superb. |
| THE POWER OF THE AC ELECTRICS | Brian Morrison | 1988 | Oxford Publishing Company (Haynes Publishing Group) | ISBN 0-86093-246-X | Mainly pictorial with brief histories and details of each class, together with some of R.S.Carter's line drawings. |
| BRITISH RAIL FLEET SURVEY 11 Overhead Line Multiple-Units | Alec Swain | 1990 | Ian Allan | ISBN 0-7110-1902-9 | Good overview of the evolution of BR's EMU fleet from LNER & MR designed units to Class 322. Useful technical information. |
| BRITISH RAIL MAIN LINE ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVES | Colin J. Marsden & Graham B. Fenn | 1993 | Oxford Publishing Company (Haynes Publishing Group) | ISBN 0-86093-446-2 | Summary histories of each class, with 4mm scale line drawings up to Class 91. Lots of photographs covering the early years up to the time of publication. |
| BRITISH RAIL MAIN LINE ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVES | Colin J. Marsden & Graham B. Fenn | 2001 | Oxford Publishing Company | ISBN 0-86093-559-0 | Updated edition of the above, including Class 92, Eurotunnel Class 9, and Class 373 power cars. |
| BRITISH MULTIPLE UNITS: Volume 3 CLASSES 302-390 | Ashley Butlin | 2001 | Coorlea Publishing | ISBN 0-948069-19-8 | Dates, reformations and disposals of AC and dual-voltage EMUs. |
| THE ALLOCATION HISTORY OF BR DIESELS & ELECTRICS: Third and Final Edition: Part Four | Roger Harris | 2004 | Roger Harris | Life-histories of every electric locomotive with a TOPS number: 99.9% accurate too! | |
| SPARKS | Charles Buchanan | 2006 | Triangle Publishing | ISBN 0-9550030-1-6 | In-depth historical information on the history, development and lives of classes 80-92. |
| THE AC ELECTRICS | Colin J Marsden | 2007 | Ian Allan | ISBN 0860936147 | |
| MODERN LOCOMOTIVES ILLUSTRATED:172 THE CLASS 86s | Colin J Marsden | 200? | The Railway Centre/Key Publishing | x | Magazine format 'partwork', based largely on the author's earlier works and website. |
| MODERN LOCOMOTIVES ILLUSTRATED:191 CLASSES 80-85 | Colin J Marsden | 200? | The Railway Centre/Key Publishing | x | Magazine format 'partwork', based largely on the author's earlier works. |
| MODERN LOCOMOTIVES ILLUSTRATED:199 THE CLASS 87s | Colin J Marsden | 200? | The Railway Centre/Key Publishing | x | Magazine formate 'partwork', based largely on the author's earlier works. |
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GENERAL AC ELECTRIC INTEREST BOOKS |
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| BR (MIDLAND REGION) ELECTRICS | B. Nicolle | 1979 | Oxford Publishing Company | SBN 86093-056-4 | Class by Class photographic record of the MR fleet in the late seventies - brings back memories. |
| ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVES ON THE WEST COAST MAIN LINE | Roly Longhurst with Michael Oakley | 1979 | D. Bradford Barton | ISBN 0-85153-355-8 | Basic technical overviews of each class. |
| TRAINS IN THE EIGHTIES 2 ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVES | series | 1980 | Ian Allan | ISBN 0-7110-1092-7 | Just photographs of ACs in the late '70s and 1980. A5 landscape magazine format. See also Vol 1: InterCity125 & APT (ISBN 0-7110-1091-9) if you're a Class 370 fan. |
| 100 YEARS OF ELECTRIC TRACTION | Colin J. Marsden | 1985 | Oxford Publishing Company | ISBN 0-86093-325-3 | General coverage of all electric traction, with slight emphasis on Southern Region units and locos. Good historical interest. |
| THE AC ELECTRICS (Rail Portfolios 13) | Chris Shaw (compiler) | 1991 | Ian Allan | ISBN 0-7110-1938-X | All colour photographic record from early years to Class 91s & MkIVs. |
| GENERAL REFERENCE BOOKS | |||||
| PROFILE OF THE CLASS 76s & 77s | David Maxey | 1981 | Oxford Publishing Co. | SBN 86093-156-0 | Good photographic record of 76s and 77s in action at home and abroad. |
| ROLLING STOCK RECOGNITION:3 DEPARTMENTAL STOCK | Colin J. Marsden | 1984 | Ian Allan | ISBN 0-7110-1446-9 | |
| DIESEL DISPOSAL VOLUME 5 (ELECTRIC CLASSES) | Ashley Butlin | 1986 | Coorlea Publishing | ISBN 0-948069-04-X | Provides detailed records of periods in store, as well as early disposal information. |
| DIESEL & ELECTRIC DISPOSAL | Ashley Butlin | 1987 | Coorlea Publishing | ISBN 0-948069-06-6 | General details of disposal, less detail per loco than above. |
| DIESEL & ELECTRIC DISPOSAL | Ashley Butlin | 1990 | Coorlea Publishing | ISBN 0-948069-10-4 | As above, updated. |
| BR DIESEL & ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE DIRECTORY | Colin J. Marsden | 1991 | Oxford Publishing Company (Haynes Publishing Group) | ISBN 0-86093-486-1 | Invaluable reference for renumbering histories, introduction, withdrawal, naming dates, disposal details etc. |
| BRITISH RAILWAYS MARK 1 COACHES | Keith Parkin | 1991 | HMRS / Pendragon Books | ISBN 1-899816-07-0 | Invaluable reference source for Mk1 stock. |
| DIESEL & ELECTRIC LOCO REGISTER (Third Edition) | S. A. Sugden | 1994 | Platform 5 | ISBN 1-872524-55-9 | Good quick reference for number series conversions, dates etc. Less detailed than the Diesel & Electric Loco Directory, but easier to carry! |
| PRESERVED LOCOMOTIVES OF BRITISH RAILWAYS | Peter Fox and Peter Hall | 2001 | Platform 5 | ISBN 1-902336-20-8 | Good reference for just about every locomotive and multiple unit which has survived beyond initial withdrawal. |
| NEWNES ELECTRICAL POWER ENGINEER'S | Warne | 200? | ELSEVIER | ISBN 0-7506-6268-9 | An essential general reference book on Electrical Engineering principles and equipment |