Haynes "Garden Railway Manual" - a mixed review....

Zerogee

Zerogee

Clencher's Bogleman
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I've just received, courtesy of an impulsive pre-order placed with Amazon some time back, a copy of Haynes' latest hardback - the Garden Railway Manual!
Given that these days Haynes seem to have gone a long way away from their old staple material of showing you how to take your rusty Escort to bits, I suppose this title is not all that surprising - after all, they've recently released "manuals" on everything from sex to the USS Enterprise [quick geek joke: "What's the difference between a Trekkie and a Trekker? A Trekkie wonders what it would be like to have sex in zero gravity... a Trekker just wonders what it would be like to have sex...."].
Meanwhile, back at the plot..... This book is NOT what I expected it to be. I had assumed it would be another general how-to guide on garden railway building and operating, probably with the emphasis on live steam but with a bit of track-powered stuff in there too. Yes, there are several good books of that sort around already, and I think I've got almost all of them, but I'm a bit of a completist and thought this would make another nice addition to my bookshelf. That is not what this book is. It's actually a rather strange collection of plans and instructions for building a variety of garden railway structures, and even some rolling stock, primarily out of wood. It seems to be exclusively 16mm, mostly for the live steam fraternity with a token nod to battery electrics. The projects themselves are largely applicable to all garden gauges and scales, of course, being mainly lineside stuff - loco sheds, stations, bridges etc - and as such it may well be of interest to several of the folks here; there is also a good section on assembling a live steam loco kit, and a cursory chapter on tracklaying, but the wooden structure projects form the bulk of the book. I can't help feeling that the title (and Amazon's description of the book's contents) is just a little misleading.
Overall view? A nice book, well-produced with lots of colour, and if you are into 16mm, live steam and/or making your own buildings, a very useful read. Not, however, of much more than passing interest if you're primarily into G scale and track power. Check it out carefully before you buy - if the subjects covered are of interest to you, then it's a worthwhile purchase. If it sounds like your cup of tea, you can find it here:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1844257150/ref=oss_product < Link To http://www.amazon.co.uk/g...257150/ref=oss_product

Jon.
 
funandtrains said:
Is the author the same chap who had a TV woodwork show in the 80s?
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I see this is by Richard Blizzard - the guy I referred to in the British Trams thread.
Certainly has had a few TV series on making wooden toys/models.
One involved a tram on LGB bogies.
 
Yes, quite probably, Steve - the blurb on the back says "Richard Blizzard is a writer and broadcaster who specialises in woodworking projects such as toys, furniture and garden schemes". It goes on to say he's been a garden railwayman for 25 years, so it is very likely the same chap, though I don't personally recall the series you mentioned.

Jon.
 
Don't get me wrong about the review - it's a very nice book, and if you have an interest in making stuff in wood it's full of ideas and inspiration. It just isn't quite what I had expected it to be when I placed the order.

Jon.
 
funandtrains said:
Sounds like it should be called a Garden Railway Wooden Structures Manual rather than a Garden Railway Manual.

The TV series I remember was Blizzard's Wizard Woodwork I think which was an interesting show but I was killed when Kenny Everit made one of his TV show's characters an accident prone woodwork TV show presenter that had more than a passing resemblance to Richard Blizzard!:rolf:
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It still makes me laugh thinking about him (Kenny). Was it Reg Truscot the character? Must admit I don't remember Mr Blizzard.

Mick
 
I'm afraid I've given up on Haynes. I asked them why they hadn't issued a book on my car - a Peugeot 807 people carrier which is a pretty popular choice (though, in retrospect, heaven knows why!). They explained that there weren't sufficient vehicles around to justify publication.

Next minute I see they've issued a book on how to choose and restore a Supermarine Spitfire. Talk about losing the plot!
 
also sadlly missing is a haynes manuel on the firefly class spacecraft...:impatient:
 
mike said:
also sadlly missing is a haynes manuel on the firefly class spacecraft...:impatient:
Click to expand...

Sorry mike the firefly couldnt fly it was only for fighting fires i think you might have ment Fireflash which although could fly on the edge of space never in fact did go there sorry about that
ae886ab1f0594d3ebe97168b9c891ee4.jpg

firefly
2a752fe42dfa4dac853053f9fcfcd71c.jpg

Fireflash

Tony
 
hang on wob, .....:bigsmile: if you wait long enought, oner will be along soon
 
Bredebahn said:
I'm afraid I've given up on Haynes. I asked them why they hadn't issued a book on my car - a Peugeot 807 people carrier which is a pretty popular choice (though, in retrospect, heaven knows why!). They explained that there weren't sufficient vehicles around to justify publication.

Next minute I see they've issued a book on how to choose and restore a Supermarine Spitfire. Talk about losing the plot!
Click to expand...
Haynes have a bit of a problem. The reason that they are giving up on car manuals and doing things like garden railways and Thomas the Tank engine manuals is, quite simply, that nowadays comparatively few people repair their own cars! Indeed most new cars need specialist tools to service and have done for some years! The garden railway book is actually a book about the author's take on 16mm type railways only. The steam loco building instructions may be found on the Roundhouse website! I have to say I much preferred the Peter Jones book overall.
 
I thought most car problems could be sorted with Mr lumphammer and not a book

Altho i wouldnt us Mr lumphammer on Top gear's Albanian translation of car...........:confused:
 
I always found the Haynes useful for minor tasks. Like when a bulb blows on the dashboard - it's useful to know what bulb to buy as a replacement before you start the job, and how to get to it (which is usually pretty simple once you have worked out the way in, which is not always obvious). I have bought one for every car that I've owned up until now; in fact I also bought an Autobook for the cars as well, as often if one didn't give you the answer, the other would provide it from a different perspective.
 
mike said:
also sadlly missing is a haynes manuel on the firefly class spacecraft...:impatient:
Click to expand...

Yep, though I have seen a chap at a convention wearing a T-shirt with a print of a Haynes Firefly Manual front cover - just a spoof though, the book sadly doesn't exist. I'd buy a copy - there is a good reason that our house is named "Serenity".... :D

"I'll be in my bunk." ;)

Jon.
 
Zerogee said:
I've just received, courtesy of an impulsive pre-order placed with Amazon some time back, a copy of Haynes' latest hardback - the Garden Railway Manual!
Given that these days Haynes seem to have gone a long way away from their old staple material of showing you how to take your rusty Escort to bits, I suppose this title is not all that surprising - after all, they've recently released "manuals" on everything from sex to the USS Enterprise [quick geek joke: "What's the difference between a Trekkie and a Trekker? A Trekkie wonders what it would be like to have sex in zero gravity... a Trekker just wonders what it would be like to have sex...."].
Meanwhile, back at the plot..... This book is NOT what I expected it to be. I had assumed it would be another general how-to guide on garden railway building and operating, probably with the emphasis on live steam but with a bit of track-powered stuff in there too. Yes, there are several good books of that sort around already, and I think I've got almost all of them, but I'm a bit of a completist and thought this would make another nice addition to my bookshelf. That is not what this book is. It's actually a rather strange collection of plans and instructions for building a variety of garden railway structures, and even some rolling stock, primarily out of wood. It seems to be exclusively 16mm, mostly for the live steam fraternity with a token nod to battery electrics. The projects themselves are largely applicable to all garden gauges and scales, of course, being mainly lineside stuff - loco sheds, stations, bridges etc - and as such it may well be of interest to several of the folks here; there is also a good section on assembling a live steam loco kit, and a cursory chapter on tracklaying, but the wooden structure projects form the bulk of the book. I can't help feeling that the title (and Amazon's description of the book's contents) is just a little misleading.
Overall view? A nice book, well-produced with lots of colour, and if you are into 16mm, live steam and/or making your own buildings, a very useful read. Not, however, of much more than passing interest if you're primarily into G scale and track power. Check it out carefully before you buy - if the subjects covered are of interest to you, then it's a worthwhile purchase. If it sounds like your cup of tea, you can find it here:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1844257150/ref=oss_product < Link To http://www.amazon.co.uk/g...257150/ref=oss_product

Jon.
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I couldn't agree more with Zerogee. I had awaited the publication of this manual with great anticipation expecting it to be the definitive work on Garden Railroads with lots of advice on planning, roadbed construction, track laying, etc. etc. I ordered a copy at the earliest opportunity but after a few minutes of skimming the pages I felt really disappointed. Just a book of woodwork projects for the smaller 16mm scale and nothing for G Scale enthusiasts. In fact I felt so let down I immediately repacked the volume and returned it to Amazon for a refund. I consider the title and listing description to be very misleading - it would help the unwary if they could have previewed a few of the inside pages as they do with other publications.
Toojags
 
Bredebahn said:
I always found the Haynes useful for minor tasks. Like when a bulb blows on the dashboard - it's useful to know what bulb to buy as a replacement before you start the job, and how to get to it (which is usually pretty simple once you have worked out the way in, which is not always obvious). I have bought one for every car that I've owned up until now; in fact I also bought an Autobook for the cars as well, as often if one didn't give you the answer, the other would provide it from a different perspective.
Click to expand...

That is one of the reasons I have bought them previously. But, recently I bought one for my 406 because after 13+yrs I needed to replace some dashboard lamps. It was hopeless, the several lamp types were not specified and on following the dismantling instructions to the letter I wrecked the multi-function display.:o:
The one I bought for my wife's RAV was also a waste of money. Either it did not give the detail I needed or it said "refer to specialist workshop".
Not a patch on what they used to be, sadly.:angry:
 
I once heard that the original Haynes books are now as collectible as the cars they were written about, and as a cynic, they were probably longer lasting than the cars they were written about, my local charity shop has a shelf full of them usually Austin Maxi's and NSU Wankels!!!!!
KeithT said:
Bredebahn said:
I always found the Haynes useful for minor tasks. Like when a bulb blows on the dashboard - it's useful to know what bulb to buy as a replacement before you start the job, and how to get to it (which is usually pretty simple once you have worked out the way in, which is not always obvious). I have bought one for every car that I've owned up until now; in fact I also bought an Autobook for the cars as well, as often if one didn't give you the answer, the other would provide it from a different perspective.
Click to expand...

That is one of the reasons I have bought them previously. But, recently I bought one for my 406 because after 13+yrs I needed to replace some dashboard lamps. It was hopeless, the lamp type was not specified and on following the dismantling instructions to the letter I wrecked the multi-function display.:o:
The one I bought for my wife's RAV was also a waste of money. Either it did not give the detail I needed or it said "refer to specialist workshop".
Not a patch on what they used to be, sadly.:angry:
Click to expand...

​
 
I bought a copy of the Garden Railway Book (correct thread marker on). I think that it as a poor buy and wish that I had kept the credit card in the wallet. The projects are very toy like and I think the only worthwhile things in the book are the Roundhouse Live Steam Kit building pages. These apparently being available elsewhere. Of course you could I suppose take the varying items and revise the construction and materials used to make worthwhile bits for your line. That may make he book more useful.
JonD
 
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