The following books can be downloaded or are available mail order from the publisher - Peter Scott. To order, send an E-Mail to scott.pe[at]btinternet.com with requirements and details. Payment should be made by Bank Transfer. Alternatively, write to the following address: 93 Josephine Court, Southcote Road, Reading, RG30 2DQ. For further details send an SAE to this address or E-Mail to scott.pe[at]btinternet.com. The most recent additions are shown in RED.   

This is a new series of short histories of minor railways, which do not warrant a full Minor Railway History volume. They are written and presented very much in the same format and style, but with the content more condensed and less detailed.

The Mini Histories series are available as free downloads. Please respect copyright when using these downloads. You are welcome to download the books for personal use and research. Permission must be requested before reproducing any of the content in any form. Thank you. Further information about any of the railways described, or any corrections, are very welcome.

A list of those now available, in preparation, or proposed, is shown below.

M1 - A HISTORY OF THE INGOLDMELLS MINIATURE RAILWAY
A short history of an east coast 7¼" gauge railway.

 Download Ingoldmells

 

 

 

M2 - A HISTORY OF THE COATE WATER MINIATURE RAILWAYS
A short history of two 10¼" gauge railways in the early 1950s.

 Download Coate Water

 

 

 

M3 - A HISTORY OF THE HUNSTANTON MINIATURE RAILWAYS
A short history of railways on the Pier and at the South Beach.

 Download Hunstanton

 

 

 

M4 - A HISTORY OF THE PLYMOUTH CENTRAL PARK MINIATURE RAILWAY
A short history of a temporary 10¼" gauge railway in the 1940s.

 Download Plymouth Central Park

 

 

 

INDEX TO MINOR RAILWAY MINI HISTORIES
A complete index to M1 - M4.

 Download Index to M1 - M4

 

 

 

M6 - A HISTORY OF THE MAIDSTONE ZOO RAILWAY
A short history of a 2ft gauge railway in Kent.

 Download Maidstone

 

 

 

M7 - A HISTORY OF THE GLASGOW INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION MINIATURE RAILWAY
A short history of the 15" gauge railway at the 1901 Exhibition. Revised 2nd edition.
 

 Download Glasgow 1901

 

 

 

In preparation:

M5 - A HISTORY OF THE HERNE PIER MINIATURE RAILWAY
A short history of the 7¼" gauge railway on the Pier.
Research is now complete and it is now being proof read and prepared for publication.

British Seaside Miniature Railways

Proposed:
Walton-on-the-Naze Pier Railway
Easthampstead Park, Wokingham
Yarmouth Miniature Railway, Great Yarmouth
 

This series of books aims to provide definitive histories of various minor railways, both miniature and narrow gauge. The subjects chosen have been rarely featured in written works before - this being a major consideration in selecting the railways concerned. The books are all fully researched, back to primary sources whenever possible - research for each usually taking some 2-3 years. Likely sales of the books restricts the production to spiral bound, A4 sized volumes - but of least 70 pages, fully illustrated with maps and track diagrams. Unfortunately, limited print runs mean many of the books in the series are now out of print, but are detailed here for reference. However, many of them are now available as free downloads. Additionally, libraries local to the railways concerned will have copies, as will the excellent Railway Studies Library within Newton Abbot Library in Devon. Those still in print, or being researched, are listed in the next section below. You can view limited pages from some of the out of print books in the Minor Railway Histories series on Google. Go to: Google Book Search and type in the book title - then click "Search".

 

No.9 - A HISTORY OF THE SKEGNESS MINIATURE RAILWAYS
The story of miniature railways in the well-known "bracing" east coast resort of Skegness, detailing their development, history and locomotives, set against the social and economic history of the resort. A definitive history of all the miniature railways and tramways that have operated, or were planned, in the area of the former Skegness Urban District Council. We follow the story from an early horse drawn tramway and the first miniature railway in the 1920s - through a lean time due to the influence of Billy Butlin, to the most well-known miniature railway in Skegness - a 10¼" gauge railway, which opened in the post Second World War era. The detailed history of the various locomotives operated on all the railways described in the book are also covered in a separate chapter.  A4 spiral bound with plastic covers. 181 pages. 28 colour and 42 black & white photographs. 13 maps and diagrams.
ISBN: 978 1 902368 53 5
Published: December 2022
Reviewed: Miniature Railway 58. Heywood Society Journal 92. Narrow Gauge News 384.
Price: £22 plus £6 postage & packing

 

 

 

 

Some of the out of print books are now available as downloads. Please note they are as published (not updated), with only minor corrections.
Please respect copyright when using these downloads. You are welcome to download the books for personal use and research. Permission must be requested before reproducing any of the content in any form. Thank you.

No.1 - A HISTORY OF THE ALTON TOWERS RAILWAY
Includes other Railways and Transport Systems at Alton Towers, together with the Railways at Lilleshall Hall and Trentham Gardens.
ISBN: 1 902368 06 1.
Published: May 1998
Reviewed: Narrow Gauge News 227

 Download Alton Towers

No.2 - A HISTORY OF THE BUTLIN'S RAILWAYS
A detailed history of Billy Butlin's Amusement Park and Holiday Camp Miniature Railways, including other associated Railways and Transport Systems.
ISBN: 1 902368 09 6.
Published: February 2001
Reviewed: Narrow Gauge News 245

No.3 - A HISTORY OF THE WICKSTEED PARK RAILWAY
A detailed history of the 2ft gauge railway and park created by Charles Wicksteed in the Northamptonshire town of Kettering.
ISBN: 1 902368 15 0.
Published: November 2002
Reviewed: Narrow Gauge News 254

 Download Wicksteed Park

No.4 - A HISTORY OF THE THAMES SIDE PROMENADE MINIATURE RAILWAYS
A detailed history of the two 10¼" gauge railways operated by Harold Judd, which ran on the Thames Side Promenade in Reading, during the war and during the early 1950s.
ISBN: 978 1 902368 20 7.
Published: November 2005
Reviewed: Narrow Gauge News 272. Branch Line News 1010

  Download Thames Side Promenade

No.5 - A HISTORY OF THE PAIGNTON ZOO RAILWAY
A detailed history of the Paignton Zoo Railway, from its opening as a 12" gauge railway during the Second World War, through its conversion to 10¼" gauge.
ISBN: 978 1 902368 25 2.
Published: September 2008
Reviewed: Miniature Railway 9.

 Download Paignton Zoo

No.6 - A HISTORY OF THE ERNEST DOVE RAILWAYS
Nottingham based Ernest Dove built a number of 7¼" & 10¼" gauge steam & petrol locomotives - the best known being his LMSR 4-6-2 "Coronation", now based at the Eastleigh Lakeside Railway in Hampshire. Less well known were the extensive tours he undertook between 1945 and 1951, mostly with two of his 10¼" steam locomotives.
ISBN: 978 1 902368 35 1.
Published: July 2012
Reviewed: Miniature Railway 20.

 Download Ernest Dove

No.7 - A HISTORY OF THE CLEETHORPES MINIATURE RAILWAY
The story of the seaside miniature railway, from opening in 1948 to the present day Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway, including the railways at Wonderland & Pleasure Island. A definitive history of this well-known and historic seaside miniature railway. Chapters cover a brief history of the resort of Cleethorpes, the first 10¼" gauge railway in 1948, its development through private and public ownership, the extension and regauging (to the unique gauge of 14¼"), to its return to private ownership through to the present day railway. A separate chapter covers the historical background to the many locomotives employed over the years. The miniature railways at Wonderland Amusement Centre and Pleasure Island Theme Park are also fully described in the final chapters. All research has been taken back to primary sources were ever possible. A4 spiral bound with plastic covers. 185 pages. 65 colour and 35 black & white photographs. 15 maps and diagrams.
ISBN: 978 1 902368 41 5.
Published: September 2015
Reviewed: Miniature Railway 33.

No.8 - A HISTORY OF THE LOWESTOFT MINIATURE RAILWAY
The story of a typical seaside miniature railway, from opening in 1948 on the South Pier, to relocation on the Esplanade in 1955, and closure in 1973. A definitive history of this 10¼" gauge railway, which opened during the post Second World War domestic holiday boom and closed as that market declined with the growth of overseas package holidays. That life span coincides almost exactly with the boom years for the typical British seaside resort. Chapters cover a brief history of Lowestoft, the railways on the South Pier and the Esplanade, and other miniature railways in Lowestoft. A separate chapter covers the historical background to the three locomotives employed over the years. All research has been taken back to primary sources were ever possible. A4 spiral bound with plastic covers. 99 pages. 17 colour & 23 black & white photographs. 8 maps & diagrams.
ISBN: 978 1 902368 46 7.
Published: March 2018
Reviewed: Miniature Railway 41.