THE MODEL-RAILWAY MEN
Ray Pope
Mark's model-railway was the most im-
portant thing in the world to him. It was
not just a toy but a carefully worked out
system designed to operate as like the real
thing as possible. And for Mark, of course,
the real thing meant the Southern and
L.M.S. railways in the great age of steam.
But what Mark did not realise, until he saw
the pullover, was that he and his father
were not the only 'steam' enthusiasts in
the house.
The pullover was so small as it lay on a
bench at the end of a station platform on his
railway. Old, torn and grubby as it was,
and much too tiny even for a doll to wear,
Mark realised at once that it was a real
pullover. So he waited motionless, hardly
daring to breathe, for its owner to come and
claim it. That was how he met the first of
the model-railway men, Telford.
"Smoke and steam and the smell of oil"
were what Telford and his sons and grand-
sons loved and soon Mark was learning
things from them about his railway that he
had never known before. But the railway
people were a big responsibility, too. They
had to be kept hidden from his parents.
They had to be helped to get their food and
water and replacements for their worn-out
clothes. And it was not always easv to help
them for they were fiercely independent
and sometimes rashly brave. There were
times too when Mark resented their
'bossing' and tried—sometimes with disas-
trous results—to get his own way in spite of
them. But even at the worst, like the night
when they had to send out an S.O.S. to save
Gresley's life, knowing them brought Mark
that special kind of friendship only fellow
enthusiasts share.
Illustrated by Gareth Floyd.
"For all proper----that is, steam age----railway enthusiasts this is a must....a tonic whiff of the grease-gun for all nostalgic fans." The Spectator.
"Plenty of expertise (and diagrams) for the technically minded; a drama in miniature for the rest." Naomi Lewis, Smith's Trade News.
"Railway enthusiasts will learn much with Mark, everybody will enjoy the warm humanity of the midget railway-men." The Birmingham Post.
Reviews of The Model Railway Men series include:-
The Model Railway Men (Book 1)
"A charming story about a family of tiny steam train enthusiasts....Mr. Pope brings to it a sense of characterisation and situation, plus a railway expertise that combine to make a very enjoyable book"
School Librarian (The Journal of The School Library Association).
Telford and the American Visitor (Book 2)
"The Model-Railway people are growing in depth of character as they encounter more trials, and Mark is learning the cost of secrecy...the story is exciting and funny". School Librarian
The Model Railway Men Take Over (Book 3)
"This book combines the 'romance of steam' with the miniature which most children enjoy."
Times Literary Supplement
Telfords Holiday (Book 4)
"Mark and his railway men move from the attic where the delightful secret of their existance has been kept secret to the more dangerous out of doors world...A welcome change of scene for these lively characters." Growing Point
Telford and the Festiniog Railway (Book 5)
"This series is consistently good...beautifully characterised, exciting and touching, and the background of railways and their history is lovingly created." Sunday Telegraph
Telford Saves the Line (Book 6)
"The book will undoubtebly be of interest to all railway enthusiasts, particularly those with a steam nostagia." Times Literary Supplement
Telford Goes Dutch (Book 7)
"Mark and his father visit Holland and...the model-railway men go too...and discover that they are not after all the last of their miniature race." Margery Fisher, Sunday Times
Telford Tells the Truth (Book 8)
"Telford could go on for ever - and thousands of faithful readers hope that he will...Splended stuff." Yorkshire Post
Show Less
Ray Pope
Mark's model-railway was the most im-
portant thing in the world to him. It was
not just a toy but a carefully worked out
system designed to operate as like the real
thing as possible. And for Mark, of course,
the real thing meant the Southern and
L.M.S. railways in the great age of steam.
But what Mark did not realise, until he saw
the pullover, was that he and his father
were not the only 'steam' enthusiasts in
the house.
The pullover was so small as it lay on a
bench at the end of a station platform on his
railway. Old, torn and grubby as it was,
and much too tiny even for a doll to wear,
Mark realised at once that it was a real
pullover. So he waited motionless, hardly
daring to breathe, for its owner to come and
claim it. That was how he met the first of
the model-railway men, Telford.
"Smoke and steam and the smell of oil"
were what Telford and his sons and grand-
sons loved and soon Mark was learning
things from them about his railway that he
had never known before. But the railway
people were a big responsibility, too. They
had to be kept hidden from his parents.
They had to be helped to get their food and
water and replacements for their worn-out
clothes. And it was not always easv to help
them for they were fiercely independent
and sometimes rashly brave. There were
times too when Mark resented their
'bossing' and tried—sometimes with disas-
trous results—to get his own way in spite of
them. But even at the worst, like the night
when they had to send out an S.O.S. to save
Gresley's life, knowing them brought Mark
that special kind of friendship only fellow
enthusiasts share.
Illustrated by Gareth Floyd.
"For all proper----that is, steam age----railway enthusiasts this is a must....a tonic whiff of the grease-gun for all nostalgic fans." The Spectator.
"Plenty of expertise (and diagrams) for the technically minded; a drama in miniature for the rest." Naomi Lewis, Smith's Trade News.
"Railway enthusiasts will learn much with Mark, everybody will enjoy the warm humanity of the midget railway-men." The Birmingham Post.
Reviews of The Model Railway Men series include:-
The Model Railway Men (Book 1)
"A charming story about a family of tiny steam train enthusiasts....Mr. Pope brings to it a sense of characterisation and situation, plus a railway expertise that combine to make a very enjoyable book"
School Librarian (The Journal of The School Library Association).
Telford and the American Visitor (Book 2)
"The Model-Railway people are growing in depth of character as they encounter more trials, and Mark is learning the cost of secrecy...the story is exciting and funny". School Librarian
The Model Railway Men Take Over (Book 3)
"This book combines the 'romance of steam' with the miniature which most children enjoy."
Times Literary Supplement
Telfords Holiday (Book 4)
"Mark and his railway men move from the attic where the delightful secret of their existance has been kept secret to the more dangerous out of doors world...A welcome change of scene for these lively characters." Growing Point
Telford and the Festiniog Railway (Book 5)
"This series is consistently good...beautifully characterised, exciting and touching, and the background of railways and their history is lovingly created." Sunday Telegraph
Telford Saves the Line (Book 6)
"The book will undoubtebly be of interest to all railway enthusiasts, particularly those with a steam nostagia." Times Literary Supplement
Telford Goes Dutch (Book 7)
"Mark and his father visit Holland and...the model-railway men go too...and discover that they are not after all the last of their miniature race." Margery Fisher, Sunday Times
Telford Tells the Truth (Book 8)
"Telford could go on for ever - and thousands of faithful readers hope that he will...Splended stuff." Yorkshire Post
Show Less
