The Titfield Thunderbolt Bookshop

The Titfield Thunderbolt Bookshop Specialist railway bookshop with extensive stocks of quality railway books from all the quality publishers. Also home of Wild Swan Books Ltd.

The South West's leading Transport, Transport History, and Local History bookshop specialising in Railways. We also stock maps, greetings cards and a growing selection of railway models and modelling materials. We can obtain any book currently in print.

The re-arranging continues and I also have a brand new book, Brian Hart's fabulous "Uckfield's Railway Triumph and Trage...
18/07/2025

The re-arranging continues and I also have a brand new book, Brian Hart's fabulous "Uckfield's Railway Triumph and Tragedy", a huge hardback absolutely packed with information, full details in the link below.

https://wildswanbooks.co.uk/Books/Uckfields-Railway.htm

Clinker is today getting acclimatised to the new space and we are also all getting ready for "Larkrail" that is taking place on Saturday next weekend.

https://www.rmweb.co.uk/forums/topic/192543-larkrail-2025/

Also, Tom Mallard's new book on locomotive construction has been sent to the printer and is now in production.

With the delivery of a new book later today, I have taken the opportunity to re-arrange the office somewhat.The idea is ...
01/07/2025

With the delivery of a new book later today, I have taken the opportunity to re-arrange the office somewhat.

The idea is to create more space for book launches and other jolly events in the future - I have several ideas brewing..

It has all been quite a big project, here are various random shots of the chaos it has caused. Today's projects have included Vaxing several dubious stains in the carpet...

A fabulous day was had on Saturday, thank you very much to everyone who visited. Clinker was very well behaved, she only...
12/05/2025

A fabulous day was had on Saturday, thank you very much to everyone who visited. Clinker was very well behaved, she only chewed a very small piece of a drawstring from an understanding and dog owning visitor's back pack(!)

We had a grand day out yesterday, Clinker and I showed James some of the local sights - trains featured...

Thank you again to everyone who contributed to Saturday's enjoyment!

I now have a small stock of signed copies of James books for those that are interested.

The latest Voie Libre is in stock, and of course, all of James books. Still sunny outside, Clinker gone into "Calm" mode...
10/05/2025

The latest Voie Libre is in stock, and of course, all of James books. Still sunny outside, Clinker gone into "Calm" mode...

All getting ready for visitors today, sunny outside and plenty of parking!
10/05/2025

All getting ready for visitors today, sunny outside and plenty of parking!

Just back from a fabulous weekend helping out young Mr Hudson at the Wales and West show at Bristol. Ian Pope of Lightmo...
04/05/2025

Just back from a fabulous weekend helping out young Mr Hudson at the Wales and West show at Bristol. Ian Pope of Lightmoor fame was also in residence, and we all had a very jolly weekend. James Hilton's new books were selling well, and all is set for his visit and display next weekend in the Wild Swan office.

James Hudson of course runs "Bill Hudson Books", and does a fantastic job carrying on the business set up by his late Dad Bill.

https://www.billhudsontransportbooks.co.uk/

I thought I'd just say here how incredibly hard working he is, he takes huge amounts of high quality stock to shows and provides an excellent service, making him a deservedly popular figure at shows up and down the land. All done with humour, good grace and inimitable northern James-ness.

He will be at Expo EM next weekend, and will have a full stock of James Hilton's new books, plus all his earlier titles, in addition to other Wild Swan stock, Lightmoor, Platform 5 and much much more besides.

So if you can't get to Batheaston next weekend, then Bracknell will be another worthwhile destination!

https://www.rmweb.co.uk/forums/topic/190445-expoem-spring-2025/

Hot News!First ever public event at Wild Swan Headquarters, come and meet James and his trains!Saturday 10th May, 4 Toll...
28/04/2025

Hot News!

First ever public event at Wild Swan Headquarters, come and meet James and his trains!

Saturday 10th May, 4 Tollbridge Studios, BA1 7DE. Free parking on site, regular buses from Bath centre, services 3/13/231 from Bath bus station.

This is a special book launch event, in addition to "Small Layout Design Construction", James has been very busy and as a consequence we also have "Model Railway Companion 2" available...

All other Wild Swan titles will also be available, but most importantly, James Hilton will be in residence and displaying a number of his small layouts.

Close by attractions include riverside pub, walks, historic toll bridge, Kennet and Avon Canal, and Bathampton Junction.

Just in from the printers - the new Spring 2025 booklist featuring all available Wild Swan titles, together with details...
06/02/2025

Just in from the printers - the new Spring 2025 booklist featuring all available Wild Swan titles, together with details of forthcoming publications.

There are also some new and attractive special offers in this list, including the lovely books I produced with Peter Barnfield. See https://www.titfield.co.uk/Special-Offers.htm for these offers.

Also, at the printers and available very soon, a new range of postcards and three greetings cards. The postcards are sent out with orders, the greetings cards will be available for sale.

Pictured is a beautiful shot by the much missed Peter Barnfield taken at Barmouth in 1961, this will be one of the greetings cards.

The new booklist is being included with all new orders.

If you would like a copy on its own then please send a stamped and addressed A5 envelope to Wild Swan at 4 Tollbridge Studios. A "normal" letter post stamp is all that is required.

Just delivered today, Matt Pinto's utterly fabulous new book on railway milk traffic....."Milk On The Rails"Available to...
05/11/2024

Just delivered today, Matt Pinto's utterly fabulous new book on railway milk traffic.....

"Milk On The Rails"

Available to order direct from Wild Swan Books

https://www.titfield.co.uk/Books/Line-History-Reference-det.htm #5673

And on its way to other stockists so available from your favourite booksellers very shortly.

Both the book and I will be attending the National Festival of Model Railways at the NEC on the 23rd and 24th November;

https://www.rmweb.co.uk/shows/nfrm-2024/

I shall be on the Bill Hudson Books stand and look forward to meeting lots of people and selling lots of books!

It is a fascinating story, well told, and the book is absolutely full of information and high quality photographs.

Softback, 192 pages, ISBN 9781912038572, £28.95

Simon Castens presents James Hudson of Bill Hudson Books with prize Chrysanthemums this afternoon at Guildex in Stafford...
08/09/2024

Simon Castens presents James Hudson of Bill Hudson Books with prize Chrysanthemums this afternoon at Guildex in Stafford. The presentation was in recognition of services to railway bookselling, with especial regard to selling Wild Swan books.

Simon was reported as saying that James was the future of railway bookselling. James said it was blooming marvellous how well the books sold!

Now in stock and available to order, James Hilton's all new "Model Railway Companion". My take on it and direct orderin...
15/08/2024

Now in stock and available to order, James Hilton's all new "Model Railway Companion". My take on it and direct ordering details are here:

https://www.titfield.co.uk/Books/Painting-Finishing-Layout-Planning-det.htm #5667

Stock is already winging its way to James at Bill Hudson Books, who will have the new book for sale at Expo EM this coming weekend in Shipley - properly "oop north"!

Early signs are that it will be popular, which will encourage interesting future publications from James I hope....

In other news, I have also just taken into stock issue 118 of the wonderful "Voie Libre" magazine. A glorious Gallic publication, produced for some years in an English Language "International Edition". Full of imagination and inspiration, centred around narrow gauge lines, my thoughts and a direct ordering link are here:

https://www.titfield.co.uk/Books/Modelling-Scale-Drawings-det.htm #5668

Address

Studio 4 Tollbridge Studios, Toll Bridge Road
Bath
BA17DE

Telephone

+441225462332

Website

https://wildswanbooks.co.uk/

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