With the festive season well and truly behind us we’ve been having a sort out in the shops and a bit of a move round and along with this has come some space on the book shelves which is lucky because we have also just had several excellent new narrow gauge books arrive.

In no particular order we have the second edition of Gordon & Ann Hatherill’s excellent ‘Slate Quarry Album’. We did have this in soft and hard back versions but the hardback version has sold it’s entire print run already which tells you something about its popularity. It is an excellent book for anyone interested in the slate industry and has many photos, maps and drawing within its 188 pages. Priced at £24 it is an absolute bargain.

Next in the hot off the presses department is Andrew Neale’s ‘Industrial Narrow Gauge Album’. Sponsored by the Association of 16mm scale NG modellers it has 108 pages of inspiration for modellers and non modellers alike. Another soft backed bargain at £19.95.

Anyone interested in The Corris Railway will know the name Gwyn Briwnant Jones as his series of books published by Gomer have gradually been being added to for some time. His latest offering brings the story bang up to date, called ‘A Corris Celebration’ it has a mixture of monochrome and colour pictures to illustrate the text which tells in brief the whole story of the line from its earliest days to the most recent happenings.  While I’m mentioning bargains its only £9.99... it would be rude not to buy it.

Published last year but new to us is W J K Davies ‘The Early Years of the Motor Rail & Tram Car Company’. This hardback is full of wierd and wonderful machines produced by Motor rail. If you thought you knew enough about simplexes then think again. One for the hard core quirks and curiosities enthusiast but once more representing great value for a hardback of 116 pages.

Middleton Presses latest narrow gauge offering comes from our very own John Organ and features the NG railways of Portugal from Porto to Pomerao. It is the usual format and the usual standard and as always represents great value at £15.95.

Give the shop a ring on 01766 516034 or surf along to the web shop at www.festshop.co.uk if any of these sound interesting to you.