About the Collection

From the age of four, Michael Whatton spent a lifetime in the company of railways — and, above all, the Great Western.

What began as an interest grew into a real and carefully kept library: hundreds of volumes gathered over many years, from sweeping line histories to finely detailed studies of locomotives, signalling and rolling stock, alongside railway art, modelling guides and a good few signed and limited editions. These weren't books bought to fill a shelf — they were the good ones, the proper references, sought out and read.

As anyone who knew my late husband, Michael Whatton, will tell you, his love of railways — and especially the Great Western — was immense, from the time he was four years old. He was an avid modeller, and was completing a carriage just weeks before he passed.

I compiled this list shortly after he died, and it now feels like the right time to pass these books on to someone who will appreciate them as he did.

— Kathryn

His pride and joy

Hawksmoor Road

Michael's own Great Western layout, modelled in O gauge — a small Western country town and its station, built and detailed over many years. It's the carriage for this line that he was finishing in his final weeks.

The Great Western at its heart

The GWR was always the centre of it — Swindon and the works, the Castles and Kings, the branch lines and the regional histories. The earliest book in the collection dates to 1898 and the newest to 2018: well over a century of railway writing under one roof. Many are from the names enthusiasts know and trust — tap any to see what's available:

Finding new shelves

Rather than have them sit boxed away, Michael's books are now being passed on to fellow enthusiasts — people who'll read them, use them and enjoy them as he did. He never quite knew what he already owned, so some titles appear more than once — each copy listed separately, its condition described honestly and its price set fairly. When something catches your eye, add it to your order and send it across; Kathryn will confirm it's still available and arrange payment by PayPal and postage from there.