TRACKatlas of Mainland Britain: A Comprehensive Geographic Atlas Showing the Rail Network of Great Britain

I think this atlas is excellent. It gives layouts for the whole of Mainland Britain in a really easy to view format. I have several other atlases and track diagram books but this one gives the detail in the best geographical layout I have seen. There may be the odd error, but I don't care! The amount of work that has gone into this is phenomenal and I can forgive the odd blip. If someone gets 99.99 % in an assignment, do you want to dwell on it excellence or the minutiae bit that slipped through the net? If people are that bothered they can email the author and amend their own copies! This is a moving feast anyway as new links are added, and others change status. I think the authors deserve credit for the concept and the way it has been executed - I take my hat off to them. It is well presented and any map and/or rail enthusiast will enjoy studying it and referencing it. I think nearly everyone who buys this will be really happy with it - it would be churlish to give it anything less than 5 stars in my view.

The Track Atlas of Mainland Britain is based on industry sources and puts today's national rail network into its geographic context. 139 detailed diagrams provide a National Rail Network Map showing the extent of the operating network and its infrastructure. The maps shows track level detail in a schematic format set over geographic centre lines. Passenger and freight routes are shown together with their track formations including connections, crossovers and primary sidings. All stations appear with most signal boxes, junctions and tunnels including their names and railway mileages; most level crossings are included together with information describing their type. Complex areas are shown as larger scale insets. Also included are 44 heritage lines including several narrow gauge lines. The pages are set out like a road atlas in that depending where the route leaves the page you are directed to another page. Different types of rail (non-electrified, overhead electrified, 3rd and 4th rails etc) are shown in different colours, and the number of lines is shown too. This atlas provides an invaluable resource to industrial users and enthusiasts interested in the location and relationship between the railways routes of Britain. It is an ideal companion to any train journey if you wish to keep track of your rails or, for example, if you see a diverging line from the one you're travelling on and wonder where it goes. I ordered what was described as a `paperback' book on the Amazon UK page but it turns out that it's actually hardback (a bonus in my eyes). The book arrived quickly but with some vary minor damage to the front cover, but this is not a showstopper and I see no reason to return it. There are some things it does not show; track names (Up Main, Down Fast etc) and platform numbers except for larger stations. If you are looking for something like this book with more information such as the track names and platform numbers on all stations as well as carriage capacity of each platform, plus other information then way not consider the area Qual Track Maps such as Southern and TfL: Bk. 5 (Railway Track Diagrams) All in all, an invaluable book for any person interested in the rail network.

I found this atlas just what I needed. I have used a different atlas in the past but found this one more detailed and at a larger scale. It not only shows the number of tracks in any part of the network but also names the level crossings. Whilst the measurements in chains is traditional it can be confusing at first but once you've mastered the fact that there are 80 chains in a mile the conversions become straightforward. In any case there is a conversion chart at the end of the atlas. A thoroughly absorbing atlas that will give many hours of pleasure to railway enthusiasts and atlas lovers alike. Highly recommended.

Very informative and detailed of all lines and stations

Great level of detail for the entire rail network. A a professional driver on the UK network this certainly has come in handy for road learning.

brilliant interesting atlas

I have just received received this book as a Christmas present and I’m quite bowled over by it! Having only recently become acquainted with Train Simulator and Simsig, this book is a fantastic resource for learning a route for this software. In real life too this book can show you if you’re curious where all the lines going off your route lead to. Multi platforms and tracks as well as single lines, etc, are shown - the amount of detail is simply amazing! Although the book is quite expensive, it is well worth the money taking into account the detail and hours involved in producing and updating it. A book for the rail expert and interested amateur alike.

I bought this book for my 13 year old son who loves road maps, atlases and railways and I've got to say he loves it. Admittedly it's for a bit of a niche market but the detail is amazing and the information provided is extensive. I'm often taking him to various locations to video and photograph trains but it can be a bit tricky finding decent places, but this book has all crossings marked out and what type they are. I was slightly apprehensive due to the price and buying the book purely from pictures on the website but it really is top quality. Perfect for anyone who loves maps and railways and probably a good read for any insomniac's out there!

Does what it says on the cover, a very detailed guide of the Railway Network in Britain with current and disused tracks. The maps are very good, but compared to the german railway atlas by Deutsche Bahn the maps are a bit bland with less geographic details such as elevations, woods and town structures. Still recommended and probably the best UK rail atlas on the market

Really a shame that books such as this covering American railroads aren't published. The UK is chock-full of railroad lines. This does a decent job of providing details about the layout of tracks, especially at larger stations. One small objection: Many of the maps/diagrams end up being somewhat obscured by being in the "spine" area of their various pages. It makes these particular track diagrams somewhat difficult to see.