Cobbs historical rail atlas

[yorkie]

Reopened to enable @Justin Smith to post a further update

 

[Justin Smith]

This is a rarity, a Cobbs third edition for sale on E Bay bids from £225.
I'd buy it had I not already got one !
The advert has large pics of the historical lines around Liverpool and SE of Sheffield (link NLA as at 16 Oct 24).

 

[Revaulx]

Anyone know what the differences are between the second and third editions, other than the covers changing from green to red?

 

[Justin Smith]

Anyone know what the differences are between the second and third editions, other than the covers changing from green to red?

I think the 3rd edition "had stronger bindings", which I can confirm from my own experience would be worth having... I had the bindings on my own 1st edition copy strengthened, for the larger (and more used) volume 1 at any rate. Basically they were re-sewn with strong thread by the bookbinder I use for my Railway Magazines. The down side was the edges of the pages are no longer as neat as I did not want the pages trimmed after rebinding.
In addition I believe the list of amendments is longer ? I was able to help Col Cobb with some of them for initial list of amendments for which he was charmingly grateful, receiving individual hand written answers to my short list of potential errors.

 

[Revaulx]

I think the 3rd edition "had stronger bindings", which I can confirm from my own experience would be worth having... I had the bindings on my own 1st edition copy strengthened, for the larger (and more used) volume 1 at any rate. Basically they were re-sewn with strong thread by the bookbinder I use for my Railway Magazines. The down side was the edges of the pages are no longer as neat as I did not want the pages trimmed after rebinding.
In addition I believe the list of amendments is longer ? I was able to help Col Cobb with some of them for initial list of amendments for which he was charmingly grateful, receiving individual hand written answers to my short list of potential errors.

Thanks! The spine of the fatter volume of my 2nd edition suffered a mishap at my hand but I’ve made what has so far proved to be an effective repair with invisible Sellotape.

 

[Justin Smith]

Thanks! The spine of the fatter volume of my 2nd edition suffered a mishap at my hand but I’ve made what has so far proved to be an effective repair with invisible Sellotape.

My pages, the most used ones (and my Cobbs does get used, a lot), started pulling out. My bookbinder reinforced the gutters of all the pages that are stitched with that matt page repair tape, then restitched them all with extra strong thread.

* you can't see it and you can still write on it, in pencil obviously !

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Added 1 Apr 24

Blimey, the aforementioned Cobbs went for £580.....
Still worth it in my opinion.

 

[ainsworth74]

Reopened for an update from @Justin Smith

 

[Justin Smith]

Thanks for reopening.
WRT the question of if the Cobbs atlas is still available I found a fairly recent post on RailUK by his son (dated 8 April 24) :

I am Michael Cobb's eldest son and have re printed and re bound his atlas with addenda. I can still have copies reprinted if there is a demand. Patrickscobb@gmail.com

 

[Justin Smith]

There is a Cobbs on auction (from the PDSA) on E Bay at the moment.

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To Jowett's credit, his volume on railway centres with maps showing how they grew (and declined) is interesting and worth getting. His style is based on the RCH maps; but those were finely drawn. If Jowett was a touch neater...

I think there is a place for hand-drawn maps; I find those created by computer often lack any style. This is one I did of Derby canals in the centre of the town a few years ago, but they might not be everyone's cup of tea...

I think it's fantastic.

 

[WesternLancer]

There is a Cobbs on auction (from the PDSA) on E Bay at the moment.

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I think it's fantastic.

That could be a bargain potentially. And for a good cause too.

 

[Justin Smith]

That could be a bargain potentially. And for a good cause too.

I predict it will go for a lot more than what it is at the moment (£32), it still has five days to go.....

 

[WesternLancer]

I predict it will go for a lot more than what it is at the moment (£32), it still has five days to go.....

I’m sure you are correct. Worth triple that at least I’m sure.

 

[Justin Smith]

I’m sure you are correct. Worth triple that at least I’m sure.

I wonder if the PDSA (who is selling it via E Bay) know how much it could be worth ?
They could get a nice surprise !

 

[WesternLancer]

I wonder if the PDSA (who is selling it via E Bay) know how much it could be worth ?
They could get a nice surprise !

I hope they checked before putting it on sale but maybe not!

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I predict it will go for a lot more than what it is at the moment (£32), it still has five days to go.....

Still a bargain now at £62. Worth that for a spare second copy

 

[Justin Smith]

Still a bargain now at £62. Worth that for a spare second copy

I think you're right, I might even buy it if it really does go for that, though I still think it'll go higher, probably much higher.....

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I did bid £65 it (£70 with P&P) as a "spare", but it went straight up to £67, so someone has obviously bid more and it is automatically going up.

 

[WesternLancer]

I think you're right, I might even buy it if it really does go for that, though I still think it'll go higher, probably much higher.....

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I did bid £65 it (£70 with P&P) as a "spare", but it went straight up to £67, so someone has obviously bid more and it is automatically going up.

Well at least your bid helped the charity a bit more!

 

[Justin Smith]

It went for £142 (incl P&P) in the end. Not a bad price for the PDSA but I actually thought it might have gone higher than that !

 

[alxndr]

It went for £142 (incl P&P) in the end. Not a bad price for the PDSA but I actually thought it might have gone higher than that !

That was me. Thanks for mentioning the auction in this thread!

 

[YorksLad12]

That was me. Thanks for mentioning the auction in this thread!

It would have cost you more if I'd remembered that the auction was closing, meaning I forgot to place a bid...
Congratulations on the win though - I think you've got a genuine bargain.

 

[alxndr]

I didn't think I'd actually win as I'd only put in a maximum bid of £145 as the IRSE are currently having a sale and I've just brought a load of their textbooks. I'm also terrible at remembering to go back and actually bid on things!
Very pleased you forgot, although sorry you missed out.

 

[Justin Smith]

That was me. Thanks for mentioning the auction in this thread!

Do you mean you discovered there was one on sale as a result of this thread, in which case I can understand your appreciation.
On the other hand, if you knew before hand, and being on this thread upped the competition, you wouldn't be so happy with me !
Whichever it is I hope you find your Cobbs half as interesting as me, if you do you'll be very happy you bought it.

On the earlier mentioned subject of annotations (all in pencil*, obviously) I am in the process of putting the opening / closing fates of all the collieries in the Yorks ? North Notts/North Derbs area on my Cobbs, plus adding all the RAF WWII airfields. That's the opening and closing dates, and whether Bomber Command or Fighter Command or Coastal Command. And that is BIG job as trying to find out the runway layout at the end of the war is sometimes no easy task !

* I find 2B pencils work the best, and if one uses a decent quality rubber it can be pretty much completely erased.

 

[alxndr]

Do you mean you discovered there was one on sale as a result of this thread, in which case I can understand your appreciation.]

I discovered the sale through the thread, so it's a genuine thanks!

Estimated delivery is Wednesday, which I'm eagerly awaiting.

 

[Justin Smith]

Just finished adding (to my Cobbs, in pencil obviously...) all the dates and sections for the singling and redoubling of the Aynho Junc to Bicester line, and the Salisbury to Exeter line !
Google earth is very handy for that indeed, I could put the single to double line junctions (and vice verse) on very accurately.

 

[Justin Smith]

A third edition Cobb's has just appeared on E Bay.
I believe that's the one with the strengthened bindings ? If so that's worth a lot of extra dosh for a start, my Cobbs gets so much use I had to have the bindings re stitched !

 

[YorksLad12]

Ta

Oddly, I mentioned this to a friend yesterday while in Waterstone's - they had a copy of something similar (I think by the British Library, but it's been 22 hours and my brain stops working after four).

 

[Justin Smith]

Just finished a project to add the "Derwent Aqueduct" to my Cobbs (in pencil obviously) from this resource.
The Derwent Aqueduct is an incredible piece of early 20th Century engineering (opened in 1912) of which I have only just found out. They really were ambitious in those days compared to now. How long has HS2 taken, and in fact will take, to finish !
The aqueduct was built to help supply clean drinking water (to Derby, Nottingham and Leicester) from the Derwent dams. Two pipes (varying from 36" to 42" in diameter) around 125m long in total !

 

[Justin Smith]

A third edition Cobb's has just appeared on E Bay.
I believe that's the one with the strengthened bindings ? If so that's worth a lot of extra dosh for a start, my Cobbs gets so much use I had to have the bindings re stitched !

It went for £375, expensive, but worth it.

 

[YorksLad12]

Yep. @alxndr got an absolute bargain!

 

[Revaulx]

It went for £375, expensive, but worth it.

To me and a bargain compared to the last 3rd Edition that went for £580, according to your post #36.

I’ve still got my green set with the spine of the fatter volume mended with invisible tape. I’ll post on here when I get round to putting it on eBay.

 

[Calthrop]

Taking the liberty of latching on to this thread, re a matter concerning Jowett's Railway Atlas; which is mentioned on thread's page 1, as a "spin-off" from Cobb. Mods, please move if found appropriate.

A slight curiosity just happened-on and never before noticed by me: in consulting my copy of Jowett, over another subject. I don't hold Jowett's atlas in greatly-high esteem -- reason for buying my copy in the first place, was that unlike (it seems to me) the majority of "pre-Groupings" rail atlases, it includes Ireland -- though in one or two respects, I find it more helpful than other rail atlases which I possess. (Jowett's is evidently a labour of love: but it's clear that he wasn't? isn't? -- don't know whether the gentleman is still with us -- a trained draughtsman.)

At all events: the oddity just noticed -- on the map page which includes the south-west of the Peak District: the North Staffordshire Railway's lines are shown "plain-and-fully" in blue; save for the route Leekbrook Junction -- Waterhouses -- Hulme End, which is "hatched" in alternating blue and white. No distinction / division gauge-wise (standard-, vis-a-vis 2'6", gauges) is shown on the map. The "key to lines / colours" does indicate re the route, "LC&H (N. Staffs) N.G. 2'6" ". There are "further-to" references, on the adjoining "notes re the map" page: slightly amplifying -- the initials clarified as, "Leek, Caldon & Hartington -- (Light -- 2'6" -- N.Staffs)"; with an addendum, "Although main source map shows gauge as 2'6", it is not so indicated elsewhere".

No outright incorrect information, in any of the above: but it suggests what strikes me as surprising ignorance on Jowett's part, concerning this particular matter. It would be reckoned common, and correct, knowledge, that the "Leek" -- Waterhouses [break of gauge] -- Hulme End route, inaugurated under the Leek, Caldon Low & Hartington Light Railways Order of 1898: was worked from the first by the North Staffs. Railway; and, despite maybe nominal independence, was effectively a full part and possession of same. I had just had the impression that it was universally known among British railway enthusiasts, that "Leek" -- Waterhouses was standard gauge, and Waterhouses -- Hulme End, narrow; Jowett, however, seems unaware of this fact, and a bit bemused by the whole situation. Perhaps I'm not being kind or fair to him here -- I've had a lifelong passion for Britain's narrow gauge, including great interest and affection re the Leek & Manifold. Possibly Jowett not a narrow-gauge buff, and never with much interest in n/g matters -- "it isn't compulsory". I still find his seeming "lack of clue" here, a little surprising.