You are here: Home > Features > Reviews> 'Lambert's Railway Miscellany' by Anthony Lambert review 'Lambert's Railway Miscellany' by Anthony Lambert - The review 
Posted on: 16th August 2011
Updated on: 16 August, 2011
According to a certain pop mogul, Pete Waterman, 'Lambert's Railway Miscellany' is a book you 'can't do without' that is full of 'fascinating gems'. Whilst the first claim could certainly be disputed this reviewer is inclined to agree that this 'entertaining miscellany', to use the words of the publishers, is indeed full of 'fascinating gems'- from the tale of the Indian Maharajah who had a model railway built around the dining room table to deliver food and drink to the guests, to an amusing incident involving a TGV, a toilet and a mobile 'phone (I shall say no more!). These are just a selection of the tales found within the covers of Lambert's book.
The joy of this sizable 248 page volume is the ease with which the reader can just dip in and out wherever they choose. The book is divided into 10 chapters each dealing with a different aspect of the railways - from 'early days' to 'railway operations' althougth these are split up further with little anecdotes in much the same style as Julian Holland's 'Amazing and Extraordinary Railway Facts' which makes it easy to read just a short section when you have the time. It seems that Lambert has succeeded in including something that will be to (almost) any railway enthusiast's tastes and so has triumphed where others have failed! The contents of the miscellany are never overly technical or 'anoraky'' - Lambert doesn't go into great detail as to whether No:70000 had the earlier straight handrails at the time of the accident or the curved ones added in January 1956 (I am, you understand, making this up to illustrate my point). Or, for that matter, the number of rivets used in President of the Argentine Republic's carriage. Lambert's miscellany is by no means worse off for this lack of dry, dull technical detail. In fact it makes the book more accessable to everyone, even those who wouldn't call themselves a train enthusiast, which can only be a Good Thing!
However, if one thing has been omitted it is the illustrations. So, yes, there are some drawings but all too often these are only the company's crest , there are no pictures as such. For example, it would have been interesting to see what the inside of one the many sumptious private carriages looked like, or for that matter the interior of the Governor of Bombay's double deck coach with a sitting room, bedroom and dining room. It is these minor niggles which detract slightly from the book. Of course it is impossible to tell how many of the stories, or how much of them, are fictional because, rather like chinese whispers, it is likely that each time the tale is told the teller has added his or her own embellishments, having said that, this does not diminish the enjoyment of the tales.
Overall, this is a fine volume, worthy of a place in any railway enthusiasts bookshelf - it may not be a detailed reference book, it doesn't focus on one particular locomotive and yet it is still of great interest. Perfect for those without the time to read weighty historical accounts of one particular railway or locomotive.
Key Information @ a Glance:
Price (RRP): £12.99
First published: 2010
ISBN: 9780091937713
Review Score: