He also coined the word trainspotting but preferred the term. Ian allan abc british rail combined volume 1986 good condition unmarked. Bringing back those box brownie and ian allan combined volume days. Jul 06, 2015 ian allan, who has died the day before his 93rd birthday, triggered the postwar explosion of trainspotting as a british pastime by publishing the first booklet of engine numbers in 1942 and starting a club which had 230,000 members by the time steam gave way to diesel. Nov 08, 2011 michael harveys new book brings to its reader the excitement of trainspotting in the 1950s and 60s, the hobbys heyday. The literature of this famous hobby is, it would appear, very much alive and well owing its legacy to the father of trainspotting ian allan and his famous abc guide. Great savings free delivery collection on many items. I used to get an ian allan book with a all the numbers and neatly underline them. A reprint with the new title of abc of southern locomotives was quickly ordered, with the authors credit of ian allan. Jul 07, 2007 ian allan abc books theres a confessional tone to todays posting. Michael harveys new book brings to its reader the excitement of trainspotting in the 1950s and 60s, the hobbys heyday. Locospotting arrived in 1943, when ian allan, a clerk on the southern railway, began to publish cheap little books which listed every locomotive in britain. The abc of british railways locomotives by allan ian.
For many, probably now over 50, his name is synonymous with his series of abc and combined volume train number books. The drawings of anw can be found in other ian allan publications of the time and all share a sure touch and crispness of execution. Ian allan himself introducing the word trainspotting and which became a hobby for hundreds of thousands of boys and girls. Allan, ian the abc of southern locomotives ian allan, 1942. The ian allan abc rail guide has been published since the 1940s and is the essential reference for enthusiasts, listing all the locomotives, multiple units, coaches and track machines operating in the uk. Oct 24, 2019 the late ian allan founded the business in 1942 when he published the groundbreaking book abc of southern locomotives. In modern times cellphones andor pagers are used to communicate with others in the hobby, while various internet mailing lists and web sites aid information. Ian allan published the first abc spotter book and this led to a boom in trainspotting. A young ian allan far rightsharing centre stage with no less than laurel and hardy at the reopening of the romney, hythe and dimchurch railway in 1946 having lost his leg at the age of 15 in 1937, ian allan began his working life two years later in the office of the general manager of the southern railway at waterloo station, which allowed. Plastic lapel badge, ian allan locospotters club green for southern. Jun 30, 2015 ian allan, who has died the day before his 93rd birthday, triggered the postwar explosion of trainspotting as a british pastime by publishing the first booklet of engine numbers in 1942 and. Abc british railways locomotives combined volume summer. Today the company still publishes masonic books under the lewis masonic imprint which is the oldest masonic imprint in the world having been formed in 1886.
Another set of books which gives rise to the question abc or not abc. Responsible if thats the right term for promoting in the main railway enthusiasm or trainspotting, his abc books became famous. Aug 25, 2016 in the uk, this aspect of the hobby was given a boost by the ian allan abc series of booklets from the 1940s onwards. Mar 30, 2017 ian allan himself left is pictured here talking and trading experiences with a keen spotter as they pore over one of the very first abc titles, the little number recognition books that first started the trend of trainspotting. Sep 20, 2012 absolutely does what it says on the tin. Ian allan abc british rail combined volume 1988 superb condition unmarked. It was sad today to hear that ian allan died peacefully yesterday aged 93, after a long illness. Ian allan, who has died the day before his 93rd birthday, triggered the postwar explosion of trainspotting as a british pastime by publishing the first booklet of engine numbers in 1942 and.
Dec 05, 2014 the literature of this famous hobby is, it would appear, very much alive and well owing its legacy to the father of trainspotting ian allan and his famous abc guide. The ian allan locospotters club richard cunningham. Ian allan books for sale in uk 60 used ian allan books. It was the advent of the famous ian allan abc locospotters books that really gave the hobby the impetus, as they gave transpotters all the information they required. It was founded by ian allan 19222015 in 1942 ian allan, then working in the public relations department for the southern railway at waterloo station, decided he could deal with many of the requests he received about rolling stock by collecting the information into a book. However i do wish ian allan would publish these combined volumes together with the shed allocations as they did when they first started doing these reprints e. All the rest are smaller in format, although larger than other standard locomotive abcs. Abc rail guide 2014 by colin j marsden postscript books. Books for the other three big four railway companies lms, lner and gwr followed, with the first gwr one being published in. However i do wish ian allan would publish these combined volumes together with the shed allocations as they did when they first started. Buy ian allan books and get the best deals at the lowest prices on ebay. Since then the company has gone from strength to strength as a leading independent publisher of books. They were produced to cater to the then fashionable pastime of trainspotting, decades before it became an indicator of social inadequacy. Detailsthe ian allan abc rail guide has been published since the 1940s and is the essential reference for enthusiasts, listing all the locomotives, multiple units, coaches and track machines operating in the uk.
Ian allan abc books for sale in uk view 48 bargains. The late ian allan founded the business in 1942 when he published the groundbreaking book abc of southern locomotives. Thank you in advance, happppppy everythings, len of westonsupermare. View current stock of abc books by published ian allan or ian allan ltd.
The ian allan locospotters club was founded to bring order to a hobby that was gaining something of a bad reputation particularly where magistrates and prosecutions for trespass were concerned. In the uk, this aspect of the hobby was given a boost by the ian allan abc series of booklets from the 1940s onwards. This 2014 edition reflects a significant number of changes made on the network during 20 including new locomotives and multiple units ordered and entering service and new details of. Ian allan himself left is pictured here talking and trading experiences with a keen spotter as they pore over one of the very first abc titles, the little number recognition books that first started the trend of trainspotting.
Since the small beginnings of a one shilling book of locomotive numbers in 1942, the group evolved into a diverse portfolio of operations which, over the years, has encompassed publishing, printing, book and model shops, travel, garages, hotels, organics, regalia and property management. When thinking of trainspotting it conjures up an image of teenagers stood at the ends of. It was published in december 1942, and so started the world famous series of abc books. Abc british railways locomotives combined volume summer 1961. Ian allans british rail locomotive books came in 5 versions. The abc of british railways locomotives by allan ian abebooks. An inspirational figure in the world of railways and transportation publishing and of course the abc books, he will be greatly missed when thinking of trainspotting it conjures up an image of teenagers stood at the ends of station platforms in coats clutching a note book and pencil and of. I should make it clear that i never actually met the man himself, indeed at that time i doubt i realised there was an ian allan. We only ever had one criminal case, i think, involving an older locospotters club member interfering with younger chaps.
The ian allan locospotters club was formed in 1948 to help control the craze. Ian allan abc british railways locomotives combined volume 17 winter 196263. The store crecy publishing ltd unit 1a ringway trading estate shadowmoss road manchester m22 5lh england 0161 499 0024. Trainspotting schoolboys watching an lms train pass by at tring. City centres famous trainspotting bookshop to close. Ian allan publishing is a uk publisher, established in 1942, which specialised in transport books. The abc of lms locomotives abc locomotive series ian allan on. Very rare ian allan abc locoshed book i guarantee it be legit. Ive long been acquainted with these books thanks to a childhood passion for railways that has never really gone away. Jun 29, 2015 it was sad today to hear that ian allan died peacefully yesterday aged 93, after a long illness. But the catalyst for the trainspotting fad was ian allan, who in 1942 published the first abc spotter book and in 1948 created the ian allan locospotters club. This 2014 edition reflects a significant number of changes made on the network during 20 including new locomotives and multiple units ordered and entering service and new details of the. Pin back badge, ian allan transport trackers, 39mm across.
Jul 06, 2015 but the catalyst for the trainspotting fad was ian allan, who in 1942 published the first abc spotter book and in 1948 created the ian allan locospotters club. Could anyone suggest a site which would be of interest have contacted ian allan publishing. Forget the anorak sets out to provide the reader with a personal account of what the hobby entailed. Ian allan, obe 29 june 1922 28 june 2015 was a publisher who specialised in transport titles through his company ian allan publishing. Ian allan very sorry to see that he had passed away recently just one day short of his 93rd birthday. Allan was born at christs hospital independent school, horsham, sussex, where his father, g. Forget the anorak by michael g harvey overdrive rakuten. The ian allan locospotters club got off the ground around mid 1945 then being known alternatively as abc locomotive series spotters club, after some 18 months of discussion between o j morris and ian allan. Enamel lapel badge, ian allan locospotters club red for midland region, deluxe hatched back, made by caxton of kew. An inspirational figure in the world of railways and transportation publishing and of course the abc books, he will be greatly missed. These books were like bibles to the railway mad kids in the 50s and 60s. Ian allan publishing specialises in railway, road transport, military, maritime and history books. The ones which indicated the numbers and names that you then ticked off or underlined.
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