ANDREW NEALE

incorporating PLATEWAY PRESS

Consultancy Services

Book Search Service
Research & Authorship
Technical Information & Advice
Railway Materials & Obsolete Parts
Railway Manufacturers' Catalogues
Scale Drawings

Book Search Service

If you would like us to search for a book in our speciality, we provide a free service provided replies can be made by e-mail. Otherwise please send a SAE (two IRC if outside the UK.)

Research & Authorship

If you are seeking detailed information on a particular locomotive or whatever for a modelling or restoration project it might be that the most practical way for me to provide what you need is by way of a specific information package tailored to your particular needs. I am always happy to quote for such work when I can and it is charged on a time and materials basis with a minimum charge of £25.00. All such commissions must be paid for in advance unless specifically agreed otherwise at the time of accepting the order.

Technical Information & Advice

I always keep a varying stock of material in stock that will be of use to those who have an involvement with heritage railways and other vintage machinery. These usually cover books on the maintenance and operation of both steam and diesel locomotives, some handbooks and manuals for older diesel and petrol engines, signalling and sometimes material on permanent way work. Beyond these particular areas I usually have a selection of technical material on various other old machinery so if you need information it might well be worth contacting me.

Railway Materials & Obsolete Parts

Having been involved in narrow gauge railway preservation for over 50 years plus an involvement with vintage cars and other early machinery I have undertaken work for various museums, heritage railways and commercial organisations over the years. I can offer a consultancy service on research, writing/producing guide books, exhibit captions etc and can sometimes source light railway materials, obsolete parts for vintage cars, locomotives, internal combustion engines etc. Again enquiries invited but, as such work can be very time consuming, if I agree to help with any enquiry I do require a modest deposit in advance as a guarantee that the enquiry is a serious one.

Railway Manufacturers' Catalogues

The sales catalogues produced by locomotive and railway manufacturers often contain much detail of great use to modellers or those undertaking research. Original examples are very collectable and are sometimes quite costly, but there are an increasing number of high quality reprints available. I usually have a selection of European examples in various languages including English, particularly of locomotives and light railway plant from firms such as Decauville and Orenstein & Koppel. Please contact me if of interest.

Scale Drawings

I can supply copies of scale drawings of a number of narrow gauge locomotives, steam and otherwise, (mostly industrial ones) and a few standard gauge industrial locomotives. These are primarily the original manufacturer’s drawings in A0 size and are either general arrangement drawings or sometimes 'pipe arrangement drawings.' In these latter the pipework is drawn in bold with an outline of the complete locomotive. I also have a few competently drawn private drawings of similar locomotives and odd items of narrow gauge rolling stock. As the drawings I hold are slowly increasing in range it is not possible to list all that I have but they include some from most of the principal U.K. builders with the narrow gauge products of Hunslet, Kerr Stuart and Motor Rail Ltd particularly well represented. Price per drawing depends on size but A0 drawings cost £20.00 each with smaller drawings down to £5.00. In amongst the drawings are some for individual locomotive parts such as boilers, wheels, motion, gearboxes etc.

Copies are posted out flat packed between thick card for protection, with postage and packing charged at cost. Some drawings can be supplied immediately from stock but where I cannot do this there may be a delay until I can arrange printing.

Enquiries for drawings are welcome but please try to be as specific as possible as to what you want. For instance within the Kerr Stuart drawings there are several variants of a standard class such as a “Wren” or a “Tattoo” dependent on gauge and when built.