Hello and welcome to the forum Larry.

Thanks Pavarossi. Do you sing? ;)

No, only in the shower, all though I used to. Very badly, I must add!

Better than me I bet!

Welcome Larry. When I started I soon found that new books were cripplingly expensive. Like Southern Steam says, there are a huge selection of secondhand books at preserved railway sites and they go for a couple of quid. Occasionally I treat myself to a new book, but for the same money I could take a chance on 5 second hand ones. The three or four books that I have bought that are no good I usually donate back to the railway to sell again. Everyone wins.

ebay is also a great place to pick up old railway books for pence.

I have found quite a few public libraries have surprisingly large railway book collections, although I do feel you have to shuffle in wearing your grubby mac and ask the librarian in a whisper for the railway books. In a back room of the building you often find it is the busiest part of the whole library. :D

Thanks Cat. If you could offer some examples of titles i might be able to search fro ones going free on bookmooch.com ( a site i use to get unwanted books, you'd be surprised what you can find there!)