BenS123
Member
Hi, so I was wondering which is the best book out of the Platform 5 series of rail guides, or Crecy Publishing's ABC Rail Guide series?
Thank you!
Thank you!
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Platform 5 v ABC Rail Guide
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htafc
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A good question and not the first time I've seen it asked. I have editions of both and they both have their strengths and weaknesses. It really depends what you are wanting them for.
The platform 5 guides are a series of five - paperbacks for locos, DMUs, EMUs, coaching stock (all increasing to £7.50 for 2023
) and finally the combined 'Locomotives and Coaching Stock (hardback, £26.95 this year). They are much more compact than the ABC guide (and hence easier to use when on the move), with the first four described as pocket books. Units are listed by class, with lots of detail provided for both classes as a whole and for each unit. There is space for ticking off sightings etc. but no check boxes.
The ABC guide is I believe a descendant of the original Ian Allan guides and is better illustrated than its compatriot. Listings are by operator rather than class. Because of this, there is more info about each operator and less about each class of train than in the P5 guides. At the end of the book there is a 'Number Cross-Link', containing check boxes for each unit in numerical order.
An alternative also on my shelves is the 2022-23 Rolling Stock Review (Key Publishing, £10.99), a magazine containing full technical details for each class of British train. See photos attached.
So that is a brief overview of each one; I'm sure others can provide further advice!
The platform 5 guides are a series of five - paperbacks for locos, DMUs, EMUs, coaching stock (all increasing to £7.50 for 2023
) and finally the combined 'Locomotives and Coaching Stock (hardback, £26.95 this year). They are much more compact than the ABC guide (and hence easier to use when on the move), with the first four described as pocket books. Units are listed by class, with lots of detail provided for both classes as a whole and for each unit. There is space for ticking off sightings etc. but no check boxes.The ABC guide is I believe a descendant of the original Ian Allan guides and is better illustrated than its compatriot. Listings are by operator rather than class. Because of this, there is more info about each operator and less about each class of train than in the P5 guides. At the end of the book there is a 'Number Cross-Link', containing check boxes for each unit in numerical order.
An alternative also on my shelves is the 2022-23 Rolling Stock Review (Key Publishing, £10.99), a magazine containing full technical details for each class of British train. See photos attached.
So that is a brief overview of each one; I'm sure others can provide further advice!
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Always had the Platform 5 books myself - both the pocket books and the combined volume. I can’t really comment on how they compare with the competition, but they fulfil my needs. As well as the technical specifications of the different types of locos, coaches, DMUs or EMU listed, for each listing they provide details of number, name and livery carried, and there is just enough space to tick off or underline things. It is sometimes a bit tight if I ever have to add new names or anything like that in myself, though. The photographs are nice to have, but I’m not too bothered that there aren’t all that many. Nowadays you can simply use Google if you need to know what something looks like. Crucially, the pocket books are lightweight and compact, so they are easy to carry around when I’m on my travels. The combined volumes are heavier and a bit less compact but they’re much easier to take with you than something that is say A5 or even A4 size. For what it’s worth, the pocket books are currently available from the Platform 5 website (platform5.com) for just £6.25 a piece when using the code PB23 at the checkout. In the last few weeks I’ve noticed a few promo codes giving discounts on their books being posted on their Twitter page. Hope that helps.
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