Well informed or just loves books?
I've spoken about my passion for books in the past, and with 2022 seeing the publication of my own 'first' I find my book collection growing at around a 'Kallax' shelf a year...
Unfortunately though, a 3x3 matrix looks the best, so I've not actually managed to squeeze all of the shelves into this view (although a comparison with this post will show which shelves have appeared twice and which have not!).
Speaking to other modellers I find that the collection of printed material is not a universal trait, so what is it about my own approach to this wonderful hobby that centres around the printed word (and more importantly photograph).
My parents encouragement certainly lit the fire, my Dad published many books through his life and my Mum used to take us to the library every week to pick up fresh books, any books (which for me was great, always a new railway photo book to bring home), and she was also a teacher whom in my childhood was specialising in 'reading recovery', the passion for books started at home. However, if you go round to my brothers houses do they have walls of book shelves? (well one of them does...). Mum and Dad lit the fire, but what fanned the flames?
I remember 'starting' my model and railway book collection in earnest in my 20s. It was the re-discovery of this hobby that started the ball rolling again, books, those familiar objects, contained all the inspiration and information I needed to fuel my snowballing mind. I find the ability to change subject from one prototype to another through the medium of the printed page incredibly empowering in my model making. Not being ring fenced to slavishly recreate the same prototype again and again, and the joy of discovering a new railway, a new route, a new locomotive where I can see modelling potential has never diminished. This is what today maintains a steady trickle (well my partner might say torrent!) of books to keep landing on the door mat and finding their way to the library. Yes the internet is great for more casual research and thanks to a dedicated few we have some wonderful resources available there, but you can't beat going off line with a good cup of tea or coffee (or beer!) and a book. You can linger over a photograph, easily re-read a paragraph, contemplate, absorb, reflect - and most of all - enjoy it all.
Yes the book wins every day for me - so I guess, in answering the question, hopefully a love of books that at least in railway circles helps me to be relatively well informed. Until next time, more soon...
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I'm so keen on books I seem to have orderd two copies of Dan Quine's excellent new Hendre Ddu book! I think the size of the collection partly comes down to the breadth of our interests, but also it was through books that I first discovered many, many railways that were either long gone or beyond range of home
ReplyDeleteYes my ‘general’ books have often led to a deeper specialism developing later. We are blessed with not just a fascinating and deep railway heritage in the Uk, but also the breadth and depth of books on the subject.
DeleteI couldn't agree with you more James. I've been seriously collecting railway books since I was about eleven years old (1978) which is about the time I was getting into serious railway modelling. I had a thirst for prototype knowledge and inspiration which my monthly copy of the Railway Modeller only partly quenched. There were, and still are, so many interesting prototypes that attracted me. Four decades later my shelves are packed with a variety of books on all sorts of interesting subjects from the London Underground to Welsh narrow gauge, south American railways to Southern Railway branch lines and all manner of obscure industrial and light railways. Some I may get round to modelling one day, I suspect that many I won't, but all are interesting and inspiring in their own ways. I find it amazing that there are enthusiasts out there who don't share this passion for the printed word and scramble about on forums asking where they can find online information about a chosen location or item of rolling stock. Yes the internet can help, but it's so much easier with a book. If you can't buy what you need then why not visit your local library.
ReplyDeleteA quick glance at your shelves shows a few familiar titles. You really must add volume 2 of Laurie Cooksey's Selsey Tramway book to your library James. All sorts of wonderful locomotives and stock are detailed in there to inspire a talented designer such as yourself.
I always steered clear of the second of the Rye books… these days it holds less interest as I find my meanderings back in Wales but we shall see… perhaps one day. I’ve enjoyed revisiting titles from my childhood library days on eBay in recent months.
DeleteI wopuld add that when I looka t my bookshelves dedicated to other subjets, other than photography, they are extensive in depth, but not in the number of books. I have almost every book written about Coastal Forces in WW2. They take up a single shelf. So supply comes into it as well
ReplyDeleteThat is certainly true, I find it difficult to aquire North American titles in any real depth, although perhaps more a lack of accessibility rather than availability at all.
DeleteHi James
ReplyDeleteI like books as well and agree for me being able to look through a book anywhere and not tied to a computer is liberating. It may be my age but flip back and forth in a book seems much easier that consulting the internet. The latter is great for initial research but nothing in my opinion beats a book.
I have been collecting railway books magazines etc since the mid-1960’s and have several 10-foot high bookcases full in my study and more books up in the train room. My wife thinks I am obsessed but I say you can never have enough books covering or extending your interests. For instance I may have nearly every book published on North American logging railroads, many on US shortline and industrial operations, sugar mill tramways and industrial railways around the world but virtually nothing on UK mainline railways ( they don’t interest me at all). Each one adds something to my knowledge and I believe helps me understand our current and historic industrial heritage. In addition they can be an inspiration for my modelling whether to improve those in the loft or maybe just a pipedream if I had the time or the space.
Best regards
Alan
I’ve some way to go to match your library then Alan! There is immense enjoyment in both the collection and the joy of reading for me - let alone the learning and information contained within.
DeleteCouldn't agree more; I'm finding that my recent rediscovery of railway modelling mirrors my experience in my other areas of interest (music, art, IT, travel, cooking) in that flicking through a book sparks inspiration in a way that an internet search does not. Furthermore, I'm finding that the small collection of railway books I've already acquired provide information that (bizarrely) just doesn't seem to the out there on the web.
ReplyDeleteThat said, I can understand how books just aren't an enjoyable experience for some - there are many different learning styles and perhaps for someone who didn't spend most of their childhood with their head in a book, reading is an onerous task rather than a nostalgic joy. But for me, one of life's simple pleasures is curling up on the sofa with a brew or a beer, a book and a blank pad of post-it notes.
James, you light be right, however if my understanding of learning styles is right, we might have a preference for where to start but we all need to go through each stage or type to get a thorough understanding? That said plenty of my favourite books are more captioned photographs that detailed history, I need both, but prefer the former for its pure inspirational content.
DeleteAbsolutely, I think it's probably true that our learning style preference evolves with experience, successful outcomes, etc. I also doubt many of us benefit solely from one single learning style, either, especially with a myriad of varying external factors coming into play. And I certainly don't think one learning style is better than any other; I found that it helped a person to understand and employ whichever is working for them at any given time. But it's a long, loooong time since I was trained on that stuff so I'm very probably wildly out of touch with the current thinking.
DeleteYou can never have too many books! Whenever my shelves get full I get another book case.
ReplyDeleteI’ve done that too in the past!
DeleteI have too many books... for the shelves I have. Like Andrew, I need to get more. Shelves. And books.
ReplyDeleteSeasons greetings Steve, good to hear from you! This is a point too, well made!
DeleteSadly whenever I buy a new bookcase my wife decides we need to downsize so I have to dispose of books. Our next move is sometime in the New Year...
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