Ageing Railway Enthuiasts.

[Feog]

Many of us who remember the real steam age must now becoming around the age of seventy or so, and there must a number of us still kicking around.
With out wanting to appear to be morbid, as any one, like myself, considered what they are going to do with all their old spotting books, records of numerous shed visits, etc.. ABC's, photographs, etc. So much has been lost, thrown away over the years. There is going to be hell of a lot coming up in the next
few years! Are we going let them get thrown out when we finally go?

 

[455driver]

Hmm very thought provoking!
My books only go back to 1980 but it's nice to look back through at what was running around back then.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Being born in 1945, I gradually accumulated a vast amount of such items over years, which an understanding wife has always made allowances for. In our existing very large home, my railway archives are stored carefully in the ante-room leading off one of the bedrooms that I converted to my computer room and study. In addition to these, I have a very large collection of original hard-backed railway books (and railway maps going back to Victorian times), many of which I have used for the last three years for purposes of compilation whilst running the Closed Stations Journey Quiz.

 

[Amberley54]

I'm a member of the PSV Circle and the families of late members regularly donate their loved ones collection/archives for the organisation to retain in its own archives and /or dispose of.

The Omnibus Society is also a regular recipient of bequests, I understand.

Surely there are similar facilities for rail-related personal archives?

 

[Bevan Price]

It is a good idea to make a will, and specify that items, including photographs will be offered to a specific organisation or society. If the society does not want them all, at least they can make a bit of money by selling any surplus items.

Photographs are likely to be of greatest interest, followed by rare books (including old timetables), and maybe, dated lists of observations on depots or at stations. There is unlikely to be a lot of interest in ABCs just containing lots of underlined numbers, nor in most transport magazines unless they are very old (1930s or earlier.)

 

[Hornet]

I've already told my other half to donate my Rail Project documentation and photo's to a suitable society.

 

[Oswyntail]

My eldest daughter, who has no interest in railways so far as I know, has laid claim to my run of spotting books going back to the early 60s, as they typify me for her.

 

[Busaholic]

Sadly, there's no goldmine for family members. Even the most extensive collection kept in immaculate condition is unlikely to fetch very much, either in a job lot or sold individually. The rich collector searching that rare-to-find item is almost non-existent, and even if they did exist, Sod's Law dictates you won't have what they want. In the case of magazines and spotter books, offer them to anyone who'll take them away. Old maps and books are different and some (but by no means all) may be worth a bit, but perhaps not enough to buy an open train ticket to London!

 

[Tom B]

It is a good idea to make a will, and specify that items, including photographs will be offered to a specific organisation or society. If the society does not want them all, at least they can make a bit of money by selling any surplus items

Or presumably it at least brings it to the attention of somebody who can see if it's of interest - a child who inherits their parents things, if they know little or nothing about the subject matter, may not appreciate it - whereas if it's donated to a specialist society, even if they don't have use for it, they'll probably know a group who does.

 

[Amberley54]

Or presumably it at least brings it to the attention of somebody who can see if it's of interest - a child who inherits their parents things, if they know little or nothing about the subject matter, may not appreciate it - whereas if it's donated to a specialist society, even if they don't have use for it, they'll probably know a group who does.

Indeed, here are two contrasting outcomes on a personal basis: as well as inheriting my grandfather's portfolio of sketches that he made whilst a soldier in north africa, Greece and Crete and then as a POW, which I promptly passed-on to his regiment's museum, where several have been displayed for the benefit of many, I also received his large stamp and postcard collection which was of no interest to me, but raised a five figure sum at auction and has helped my own children to get onto the property ladder.