Books
Books Written by Michael Clemens
In addition to the miles of cine film taken by my late father and me there are also thousands of still pictures – both colour and black & white. Also, over the years I have been given the entire railway photographic archives of two of my father’s old pals – Alan Maund (via his widow) and Ellis James-Robertson (via his daughters). In addition, I have been lucky enough to have access to a number of other collections. This vast treasure trove of railway photographs, mainly from the 1950s and 1960s, forms the basis of the books I have created.
Virtually all of photographs in my books have never been published before.
The first books were published by Ian Allan (4 books), then came a change to Fonthill Media (9 books), and starting in 2025 they will also be published by the RCTS. The coronavirus lockdown created unavoidable delays for the publisher, and following this, there was something of a hiccough with publication of my books from the spring of 2023, but from the spring of 2025 a brighter future beckons. I’m sure things will go from strength to strength with the RCTS, see the bottom of this page for more details.
MANY OF THE IAN ALLAN & THE FONTHILL MEDIA BOOKS ARE NOW OUT OF PRINT BUT COPIES CAN OFTEN BE PURCHASED BY SEARCHING THE BOOK TITLE ON THE INTERNET.
The Railway Correspondence & Travel Society (RCTS) is Britain’s leading organisation for people interested in all aspects of railways past, present and future and is highly regarded by both professional railway people and enthusiasts, a position it has held since its formation in 1928. It is a registered charity and is run solely by volunteers. I joined as a teenager at school in the 1960s and have continued my membership ever since.
The format of the books since 2013 has been approx 120 pages of colour and black & white photos mostly from the late 1950s and through the 1960s up to the end of steam, each with an informative commentary. The emphasis is mainly on long closed lines and stations.
Book 17 – A Railway Journey Across South-West England During The Late 1950s & 1960s.
Book 16 – The Railways Of Northern England In The 1960s.
Book 15 – A Railway Journey Across South Wales During The Late 1950s & 1960s.
Book 14 – A Railway Journey Around The Cotswold & Malvern Hills In The Late 1950s & 1960s.
Book 13 – The Last Years Of Steam Around Worcester.
Book 12 – The Last Years Of Steam Around North Wales.
Book 11 – Scottish Railways In The 1960s.
Book 10 – The Last Years Of Steam Across Somerset & Dorset.
Book 9 – The Last Years Of Steam Around The East Midlands.
Book 8 – The Railways Of Devon & Cornwall.
Book 7 – The Last Years Of Steam Around Central Wales.
Book 6 – The Last Years Of Steam In Shropshire & The Severn Valley.
Book 5 – The Last Years Of Steam Around The Midlands.
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The books can be purchased by mail order from my local bookshop – Coach House Books, 36 High Street, Pershore WR10 1DP – Tel: 01386 552801 – or by the email below:
They can also be purchased from bookshops throughout the UK, from the publisher direct or by clicking on the cover pictures above, or worldwide via the internet.
These four Ian Allan books are all now out of print.
Book 1 – Cotswolds & South Midlands. Book 2 – The Withered Arm.
Book 3 – North Wales & Borders. Book 4 – Scottish Lowlands & Borders.