I was saddened to hear of the sudden and unexpected death of writer Adrian Curtis just before Christmas. Adrian was an acknowledged expert on the WR’s diesel-hydraulics in general and on the Class 52 ‘Westerns’ in particular.
Through his own publishing company, Track Record Press, Adrian had embarked on an ambitious project to produce a book on each of the 74 ‘Western’ locomotives.
Those that have been published so far are wonderful little volumes – I’ve got several myself! Given that Track Record Press is very much a one-man show, it’s unclear what the future now holds.
Indeed, the TRP website hasn’t been updated since autumn 2021 and, although it lists a full publication schedule for 2022, it must be doubtful as to how many of these titles (if any) will now see the light of day.
Adrian was a founder member of the Western Locomotive Research Society, so it’s possible that someone else might take this task on or, at least, complete those books already in production.
Has anyone heard anything?
Through his own publishing company, Track Record Press, Adrian had embarked on an ambitious project to produce a book on each of the 74 ‘Western’ locomotives.
Those that have been published so far are wonderful little volumes – I’ve got several myself! Given that Track Record Press is very much a one-man show, it’s unclear what the future now holds.
Indeed, the TRP website hasn’t been updated since autumn 2021 and, although it lists a full publication schedule for 2022, it must be doubtful as to how many of these titles (if any) will now see the light of day.
Adrian was a founder member of the Western Locomotive Research Society, so it’s possible that someone else might take this task on or, at least, complete those books already in production.
Has anyone heard anything?