Crécy Publishing Limited

Very few special interest books can lay claim to getting anywhere near a 30th edition, so Wrecks & Relics must be doing something right to merit this remarkable longevity. First published in the 1960s, every edition of Wrecks & Relics has been eagerly sought after by aviation enthusiasts, historians, restorers and curators alike. Through its first five decades, the book''s author was Ken Ellis. He has now passed the baton to David Willis, who has assisted Ken in the production of recent editions. The transition has thus been seamless and Wrecks & Relics is in good hands and will continue to be the go-to source charting and highlighting changes and trends in the preservation of the aviation heritage of the British Isles. With in-depth coverage of more than 700 locations across the UK and Ireland, it lists more than 4,000 aircraft including their potted histories, previous identities and arrival dates. Wrecks & Relics remains the only publication required to discover the incredible aeronautical treasures found across these islands. It provides a trusted, comprehensive rundown of museums and collections and their exhibits - static or flying - together with workshops, military ''gate guardians'', stored and instructional airframes etc. It also reveals redundant and even derelict airframes being used for the most unlikely of purposes, including ''glamping'' and at paint-ball sites. Each edition of Wrecks & Relics is profusely illustrated with both colour and black and white photographs and is fully indexed making easy the task of where to go over the weekend, or where to find an extant example of a favourite aircraft type. Whether it travels in the car or sits on the bookshelf, this new and fully revised edition of this classic publication will continue to be the most useful and accurate companion to the aviation heritage of the British Isles, which will be referred to again and again.

The Southern Railway is closely associated with its electrification programmes, but in July 1947 the board authorised the construction of three mainline diesel-electric locomotives. These entered service between 1950 and 1954. Their work on the Southern Region was mostly on the South Western mainlines to Exeter or Bournemouth. Both Nos 10202 and 10203 spent a week on the South Eastern section working the ''Golden Arrow'' and ''Night Ferry'' services at different times. In the summer of 1955, all three locomotives were transferred to the London Midland Region and remained there until they were withdrawn in December 1962. They worked predominantly on West Coast Main Line on passenger duties that ranged from local services between Euston and Bletchley to the prestigious ''Royal Scot''.This new ''Southern Way Special'' draws heavily on original archive material from the Southern Railway and BR and covers the background story to their authorisation, design and construction and their entry into service. Individual chapters detail the whole of their service life firstly on the Southern and then on the London Midland, the first book to do so. The final chapter looks at their utilisation, works visits, annual mileage and fuel consumption, making use of data collected by BR at the time but which has remained unpublished until now.Each chapter, wherever possible, uses previously unpublished photographs. These are accompanied by detailed captions drawing out particular points of interest, such as technical or equipment or other detail differences. Two Appendices are included: one covering the main dimensions of the three, the other is an individual locomotive history providing the reader with a concise and detailed history of each of the trio of locomotives.

The combat superiority of the jet fighter as demonstrated towards the end of World War II presented the U.S. Navy with a significant problem. Carrier-based aircraft have additional and burdensome design requirements compared to those that do not have to fly on and off carriers. Through experience and innovative design by their aircraft suppliers, the Navy were flying propeller driven fighters that were in no way operationally inferior to their land-based adversaries. Now they had to do it again with a higher degree of difficulty - the innate limitations of jet propulsion could not have been more incompatible with safe and routine carrier-based operation.This is a new and expanded edition of a book which examines the US Navy''s internal struggle to adapt the jet engine to its style of warfare, as well as the development and evolution of carrier-borne fighters, their airframes and engines, from the closing days of World War II through to the 1990s. The book profiles the turbulent design and development stage of the Navy''s carrier-based jet fighter programme. From the successful designs - such as the Fury, Banshee, Crusader, and Phantom II, to the also-rans, like the Fireball, Demon, Pirate, and Cutlass - the Navy''s needs are measured against contractor and political demands and the limits of the evolving engine and aerodynamic technologies of the day. The successful transition to high-performance, carrier-based jet fighters wasn''t just accomplished by the airplane and engine manufacturers. Timely and thoughtful innovations in aircraft carrier design, operational procedures, training and equipment were also necessary.The previous edition had taken the story up to 1962. Substantial additions to this edition include new chapters on the F6D/F-111B, F-14A/B/C/D and F-18A/B/C/D. Significant events post 1993 are also covered including the retirement of the F-14 and "legacy" F-18, the introduction of the F-18E/F, F-35C and unmanned aerial refuelling programmes.This book includes many photos and illustrations including engine cut-aways, aircraft comparison diagrams and details of the safety improvements made to aircraft carriers to enable higher speed and high-gross-weight jet operations.

Southern Way 73 includes the regular mix of articles covering topics that will be of interest to those fascinated with the history of railways in Southern England from their earliest days to the modern age. For this issue, features include a profile of the Ashford to Hastings line, which celebrates its 175th anniversary this year, the operation of the BR Standard Class 5 4-6-0s on the Southern, a tribute to the long-lived Class 455 EMUs, which have now all been withdrawn, a history of the unusual branch line to Devil''s Dyke to the west of Brighton and a survey covering the railway stations of south and east Kent.

The final volume in the series, written by one of the acknowledged experts on British Railway wagons. This volume in the series examines the various steel wagon designs acquired and, in some cases, perpetuated by BR. Bolster wagons, both four-wheeled and bogie types, are covered together with the four-wheeled plate, pipe and tube wagons. There were many conversions from the latter types and these are fully covered. Trestle plate wagons, both four wheeled and bogie, are examined together with other special types, principally the Weltrol.The volume closes with a look at the use of older acquired types in the post-1968 period, with a brief look at survivors in the 1980s.As with all the other titles in the series, it is illustrated throughout with around 200 black and white photographs. The whole series is essential reading for those interested in this aspect of British Railways history and an invaluable reference source for those engaged in modelling the post 1940s era.

When it was originally published,. Hugh Longworth''s definitive record of every steam locomotive operated by British Railways from nationalisation until the end of steam traction on the network in 1968, was very much welcomed, as it provided, for the first time in one place, a detailed and accurate source of reference on this important subject. With the book out of print for some time, a new and revised edition was overdue. However, the extent of the revisions, which included the book''s many photographs being given more space on the page, and the use of enlarged and enhanced locomotive drawings, greatly increased the size of the work. Rather than attempt to cut or dilute the content, it was decided that instead of publishing one unwieldy and expensive book, a more realistic approach was to present the work in two volumes of roughly similar size. The first of these dealing with the Great Western and LNER locomotives which became part of the BR stock in 1948, was published in 2025. This second volume covers Southern and LMS locos inherited in 1948 and the Standard classes introduced by BR. The entry for each class provides essential information including the size of the cylinders and driving wheels, boiler pressure, wight, the type of locomotive in a class, its place of construction and the date, withdrawl and scrapping dates are given as the details of any renumbering that may have occurred during the BR era. Heavily illustrated throughout, this book and its companion volume will be of great value to all interested in the steam era on British Railways. All classes that were on BR''s books in the years post 1948 are covered in the two volumes, and whilst the overwhelming majority of the locos featured are standing gauge, the few narrow gauge locomotives operated by BR are also included.

The new edition of this best-selling annual publication, Civil Aircraft Markings, the 77th, achieves something rather remarkable. The book has been published annually since 1950. We can think of no other aviation title that has reached this milestone. What made the book special all those years ago when it was first conceived and published, it still retains. It remains the most accurate and concise source for up-to-date information on the rapidly changing world of civil aviation.The book provides the most complete listing available of all the aircraft currently on the UK Civil Aircraft Register; around 20,000 entries are detailed in this section ranging from historic biplanes to the latest airliners and also includes balloons, gliders, microlights and helicopters. Additionally, Civil Aircraft Markings contains the latest civil aircraft registers of Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. Civil aircraft commonly visiting the UK from around the world are also listed. It also provides the common airline flight codes and radio frequencies for major UK airfields.The new 2026 edition of Civil Aircraft Markings, as with all of those which came before it, has been fully updated and has a completely new photographic section. Compiled by one of the UK''s most widely respected aviation authors, its publication is eagerly awaited every spring by a legion of civil aviation enthusiasts and aviation professionals for whom it is an essential reference source.

The best selling first edition of the Midland Airline Tail Colours was published in Germany in 1998, with two subsequent editions coming out in 2000 and 2005. This long-awaited new edition brings the story up-to-date.This pocket guide illustrates the markings of approximately 600 of the world''s leading airlines - all in full colour. It is intended as a basic aid to the recognition of those individual airlines and has proved popular as an accessible guide in this format. The author has also included additional information which will have huge appeal to the general aviation enthusiast.The best selling first edition of Airline Tail Colours was published in 1998, with two subsequent editions coming out in 2000 and 2005. The next edition was published by Crécy in 2019. This long-awaited new edition brings the story up-to-date.This pocket guide illustrates the markings of approximately 600 of the world''s leading airlines - all in full colour. It is intended as a basic aid to the recognition of those individual airlines and has proved popular as an accessible guide in this format. The author has also included additional information which will have huge appeal to the general aviation enthusiast.Information includes:* the airline''s three-letter code (used for flight numbers)* the airline''s radio call-sign prefix* the airline''s international registration prefix* the airline''s ITU country code (its main operating base)* the aircraft types used by that airline (in IATA codes)Helpful decode tables ensure that the book is user friendly and easily understood making this the perfect addition to any aviation enthusiast''s collection.

The railways of the Lake District and North Lancashire are characterised by massive contrasts. From north to south, the area is intersected by the West Coast Main Line. Its series of tough grades, including the legendary Shap, presented a challenge for steam locomotives and crews for decades, and also for photographers seeking out new locations to record them at work. Along the way, the major centres of Carlisle, Lancaster and Preston were hives of activity, dealing with all manner of traffic from elsewhere in the country. It was also possible to see a rich variety of motive power at stations and loco sheds. The spectacular Cumbrian Coast line conveyed trains via remote and dramatic scenery bordering the Irish Sea while linking industrial towns built around coal and steel. Branch lines to places like Silloth, Coniston, Windermere and Lakeside tapped into a growing tourist market until most were usurped by the private car as ownership grew. Stations at Blackpool proved a magnet for holidaymakers and day-trippers whilst Morecambe was served by an intriguing early electric service. The corridor connecting Preston to Blackburn, Burnley and beyond relied on a variety of passenger and goods traffic, especially coal. It was also notable for being the last major outpost of BR steam in 1968.All these aspects feature in this new colour album, covering the period from the 1950s to the late 1970s, largely based around previously unpublished images, many of which are held by Online Transport Archive. Mainline and branch views cover freight and passenger workings in the steam, diesel and early electric eras. These are complemented by some remarkable views of industrial operations with a fascinating mix of locomotives in a range of locations. Another wonderfully nostalgic book to complement previous titles in the Railways Remembered series.

With the 200th anniversary of the opening of the Stockton & Darlington Railway being celebrated in 2025, an event rightly marking the dawn of the railway age which so transformed both Britain and the whole world, our modest contribution is to reissue this long out of print history of the North Eastern Railway written by one of the doyens of railway literature in the last century, Cecil J. Allen. The North Eastern Railway had one of the most fascinating and complex histories of all of the British railway companies. As evidence of this, at its formation in 1854, the NER absorbed no fewer than 53 public and 21 private companies. Its roots date back to the earliest days of the development of the wagonways, imperative to carry coals from the Durham and Northumberland mines to the sea. Huge personalities like George Stephenson, Edward and Joseph Pease and George Hudson are involved in its story as is the struggle to build the through trunk route linking the north and south which was to become the East Coast Main Line. Later, as the nineteenth century progressed, the NER''s preoccupation was to protect its lucrative territories from the incursion of others, which it did with considerable success. Every aspect of the NER''s history is considered in this concise but comprehensive volume from the engineering works required to carry its lines through the rugged terrain which it served, to the development of its locomotives and services and later its early efforts to electrify part of its network. This is an enthralling story, thoroughly researched and well written which will be appeal to all those interested in the history of Britain''s railways.

The Royal Navy emerged from the Second World War with the second largest fleet of aircraft carriers in the world and a year later had achieved the world''s first landing and take-off by a jet-powered aircraft from an aircraft carrier. The traditional roles of reconnaissance, aerial defence of the fleet and attack were joined by anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities. Technological advances in jet propulsion and helicopters offered new tactical possibilities, as well as new practical problems to be overcome to enable their operation from carriers. From the early 1950s the Fleet Air Arm operated a wide range of aircraft, from fighter-bombers, such as the Hawker Sea Hawk, to fully fledged nuclear-armed Blackburn Buccaneers and all-weather fighters like the de Havilland Sea Vixen and McDonnell Douglas F-4K Phantom. Westland''s family of anti-submarine helicopters, the Wasp, Wessex, Sea King and Lynx operated from a wide range of ships, ranging from small frigates to carrier decks. Defence cutbacks that saw the retirement of the fleet carriers and the transfer of the Phantoms and Buccaneers in 1978, but the British Aerospace Sea Harrier operating from smaller anti-submarine carriers maintained the Navy''s fixed-wing combat capability, this being memorably demonstrated in the South Atlantic in 1982. Today, the Royal Navy operates two modern carriers and shares the aviation commitment with the Royal Air Force, flying the most modern fighter in the world, the vertical take-off and landing capable Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning. Wings Over the Fleet describes the evolution and development of the Royal Navy''s frontline aircraft from the late 1940s to the present day. All the major types are covered, from all-weather fighters, interceptors, strike aircraft, anti-submarine helicopters and airborne early warning aircraft. The planning and requirements behind the aircraft such as the Sea Hawk, Sea Vixen, Buccaneer, Gannet, Wasp, Sea King and Sea Harrier are examined, as are many design studies and proposals that remained on the drawing board. Guided missiles during the post-war period and the evolution of the Royal Navy''s aircraft carriers and the new technologies required to operate jet aircraft from ships are also analysed.

Since it was first published in 2007, The Southern Way has become the definitive journal on the history and heritage of the Southern Railway and the Southern Region of British Railways. The first two of the four issues scheduled for 2025, numbers 68 and 69, will be released in January and May. Two more issues and a Southern Way Special are due in the second half of the year. Each volume contains a mixture of articles and photo features on various aspects of the SR including rolling stock, infrastructure, operations and personalities. The Southern Way remains essential reading for all who interested in the SR and those modelling it.As this catalogue went to press not all the content had been finalised but among articles confirmed for inclusion are a survey of Southern stations in East Dorset, Wiltshire, West Hampshire and the Isle of Wight and a feature on the Guildford-Cranleigh-Christ''s Hospital branch.

In 1912 the unthinkable happened - the supposedly unsinkable Titanic sank after hitting an iceberg, or so it was thought. In this bestselling book author Robin Gardiner claims that it was not in fact the Titanic but the sister ship, the Olympic, which finished its days sinking in the icy waters of the North Atlantic on that fateful night. His contention is that what happened was an insurance scam perpetrated by the White Star line which may have involved the possible collusion by the British government in the cover-up. On 20 September 1911, the Olympic was involved in a collision with the Royal Navy Warship HMS Hawke in Southampton Water. Olympic was found to be to blame in the collision. Because of this finding, White Star''s insurers allegedly refused to pay out on the claim. As this would amount to a serious financial loss for the company, it is alleged that, to make sure at least one vessel would be earning money, the badly damaged Olympic was patched up and then converted to become the Titanic. The real Titanic when complete would then quietly enter service as the Olympic. To dispose of the Olympic, which had allegedly been damaged beyond economic repair in a way that would allow White Star to collect the full insured value of a brand new ship, the plan was to open the seacocks at sea to slowly flood the ship. Numerous ships were stationed nearby to take off the passengers, the shortage of lifeboats would not matter as the ship would sink slowly and the boats could make several trips to the rescuers. The controversy which this theory has generated, and some of the evidence used to support it is compelling, has made this book into a bestseller in the years since it was first published. Regardless of whether you choose to believe in this version of the events that took place on that terrible night in 1912, which still resonate so strongly well over a century afterwards, Titanic: The Ship That Never Sank? is a fascinating, well written and absorbing read.

The SEPECAT Jaguar was designed to meet the requirements of the Armée de l''Air and the Royal Air Force for a light tactical fighter and a supersonic two-seat training aircraft. First flown in September 1968, the Jaguar went on to serve in both air forces for forty years. Jaguars were exported and licence-built in India, where they remain in frontline service today. Jaguars have also been acquired by the air forces of Ecuador, Oman and Nigeria.Best remembered today as a Cold War attack aircraft, the Jaguar offered a potent mix of high speed at low altitude, excellent navigational and weapons accuracy and a diverse payload of air-to-ground ordnance including tactical nuclear weapons and laser-guided bombs and missiles. While the Jaguars of the RAF based in West Germany helped to deter the Warsaw Pact during the 1970s and 1980s, the Armée de l''Air used their Jaguars in combat in Mauritania and Chad in West Africa. Both air forces participated in the international coalition following Iraq''s invasion of Kuwait in 1990, the Jaguar acquitting itself well during Operation Desert Storm. During the 1990s and 2000s, Jaguars served as peacekeepers in the skies over Iraq, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo and Sri Lanka. The Jaguar has also seen combat in other faraway places as diverse as the Andes and Kashmir in the Himalayas.Drawing on archival research, Jaguar: A Development and Operational History describes the history behind the requirements that gave birth to the Jaguar, its design and technical development, and service use in peacetime and war; including the Jaguars that have served in Ecuador, Oman, India and Nigeria. The stories behind the export deals that never came to fruition are covered, as are the numerous design studies during the 1970s for improved Jaguars to meet Air Staff Target 396 and the Big Wing Jaguar. Detailed appendices are included for all the Jaguars ordered by the Armée de l''Air and the RAF.Illustrated throughout with photographs, drawings and specially commissioned artwork, Jaguar: A Development and Operational History is a comprehensive reference book on the technical and operational history of the Jaguar.

abc Rail Guide has established itself as the single most comprehensive, detailed, accurate and reliable guide to the railway networks of the British Isles. The new 2025 edition of this bestselling annual publication has, as always, been thoroughly revised for its regular March publication date.The book provides the full fleet lists of the Train Operating Companies, open access and freight operators as well as a round-up of new trains, charter operators, rolling stock providers, spot hire and maintenance providers. Stock used by Network Rail and the channel tunnel operators is also listed. In addition to the national networks, abc Rail Guide 2025 also provides full coverage of London Underground, the DLR and all tram, metro and light rail systems. Main line preservation groups, depots and maintenance works, heritage lines, preserved locos, main line steam, charter promoters and scrapyards are also all included.abc Rail Guide 2025 is simply the most comprehensive and accurate single volume reference source on the contemporary railway scene. Portable, up to date, concise, easy to use, with Train Operating Company route maps and a new selection of quality colour photographs throughout, this is the essential guide for all railway enthusiasts seeking to keep up to speed with the dynamic and rapidly changing railway landscape throughout Britain and Ireland.

This new book deals with a subject that will be close to the hearts of many aviation enthusiasts in that it is commemorating the gate guardians that for decades were a feature at the entrance to many RAF, Fleet Air Arm and Army bases. Who knows how many were inspired to take an interest in military aviation, to join the Air Cadets or even pursue a career in aviation by these potent symbols of Britain''s military aviation heritag? ack in the 1970s and 1980s it was rare for a military aviation base in the UK not to be graced by a gate guardian and these airframes have always fascinated enthusiasts. Prominently located and usually kept in good condition, these retired aircraft allowed passers-by to see up close examples of historic and significant aircraft types, such as the Hurricanes and Spitfires which won the Battle of Britain. As time moved on, other retired aircraft took their places on these plinths, early military jets and helicopters among them.The book traces gate guardians on a location-by-location basis. It presents full histories of significant examples and details all aircraft that have been displayed at military establishments across Great Britain and its Crown Territories. As well as the fascinating aircraft, the book provides background on many long-forgotten military bases.Another feature of the books is the ''harvesting'' of Spitfire and Hurricanes as ''extras'' in the epic film Battle of Britain; the scheme that replaced original aircraft used as gate guardians with full-scale replicas, allowing the return of precious original airframes back to the skies. In addition, for the first time the histories and fates of the hundreds of aircraft used for instruction and display by Air Cadet squadrons since the early days of World War Two are detailed.On Guard is a wonderfully nostalgic journey back in time, copiously illustrated throughout and including colour images taken over a period of six decades.