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Matt PInto    [Publisher: Wild Swan]    Softback

The first book to be published on its subject, the complete story of how milk was transported in bulk by the railways - after the development of the milk tanker and demise of the milk churn, but before road transport took over. The arguably "happier" years before deregulation and the bullying dominance of the supermarket chains of recent years. The background and general history of the subject is covered, with the development of larger dairying companies and the formation of the Milk Marketing Board being being well explained. There is a large amount of detail, covering in particular the development and different types of railway milk tanks used for the traffic, together with comprehensive details of the dairies and locations sending out milk by rail tank, together with the varied destinations and depots that received it. Large depots such as Wood Lane, together with more obscure destinations like Eltham and Forest Hill. All of this is accompanied by a very large number of photographs and illustrations, many of which have not appeared in print before. The different routes and train workings are also explored, in addition to the varieties of specialist brake vehicles used, togther with the different types of motive power utilised. An appendix has the late Glen Woods' complete summary list of all milk tanks operated, and the book also has an index of the locations included in the text.

Paul Karau    [Publisher: Cygnet Magazines]    Magazine

Edited by Paul Karau, who muses on the quality of RTR models and how it might sidetrack us, centred around his own thoughts about 94XXs and the Rapido Bedford OB, the improvement of which forms an article in this issue. Peter Kazer leads the articles with his scratchbuilt 1/32 "Talieisin" in an early condition, Barry Norman builds a splendid hut for his new railway in 7mm scale, beautiful in its ordinary-ness, Steve Hall creates "Earl Haig" from a 40 year old DJH kit, superbly weathered in late careworn appearance, and also featuring on the cover running coal empties through Drighlington. After a couple of neatly weathered 7mm RTR wagons, John Hirst follows in Stan Roberts footsteps as he embarks upon an ambitious 7mm model of Bakewell, Steve Hall is back again building a coal stage for his next project, Ian Hopkins briefly considers raking shores and finally Chris Cox continues his construction of Coventry shed and pump house circa 1839. All this plus Paul's OB article, a tickled 94XX, a lovely 7mm scale 14XX in "Portfolio", letters and accompanying photographs. As good as it gets I think.

John Clutterbuck    [Publisher: Narrow Gauge & Industrial]    Magazine