Chris Green (Left), Vic Mitchell and Brian Knowlman (Right) at the launch of Rail Times
Why do we need a printed book? You have your own reason(s) for purchasing this volume, but countless other needs have been offered in the vast number of complainants’ letters included in the various rail publications.
Having purchased most timetables since long before the demise of Bradshaw’s masterpiece, I read with disbelief of the plan to exterminate a piece of British life. However, enquiries revealed that the little-known OAG Rail Guide, which had evolved from the ABC of 1853, was on offer.
I arranged in March 2007 to market this slim volume through Middleton Press, which I had founded in 1981 to publish local railway albums. However, the new owners of OAG decided in August to discontinue the product and thus, in view of the disappointment of all avid timetable users, I decided to produce a volume to fill the impending gap.
In 1981 our journey album concept was rejected by three large publishers, but they were thankfully proved wrong and we have now published almost 400 different titles. Hopefully history will repeat itself with RAIL TIMES, as we anticipate a steady, albeit modest, demand in the future, so please spread the word!
Our market research has shown portability to be at the top of the list; also it revealed that much unwanted data was included in their earlier timetables. Times of trains on heritage lines are too complex to include and their leaflets are readily available directly. Ian Allan’s publication Railways Restored gives all the details except times.
Halving of the weight and thickness has meant an 80% reduction of table size, but 90% of our sample group found no visual problems. I apologise for any inconvenience, but the data supplied to us cannot be rearranged otherwise. The long term alterations to the timetabling computer systems may allow improvements, such as the elimination of two columns of station names on a page, plus a more suitable typeface.
Tickets can be obtained by post and times confirmed by using Ffestiniog Travel (01766 772040). In this way you support the survival of this historic and unique railway. It will please me, as I was one of the founders of the revival scheme in 1951!
As a lifelong railway advocate, I am pleased to have had the opportunity to launch this product and, as a conservationist, to know that anything that reduces road and air travel is better for us all.
Finally, an interviewee jocularly suggested that my second name should be Bradshaw and so I can now sign off using my new pen name.
Vic Bradshaw-Mitchell
