Platform 5 Question

[Spotter22]

Hi everyone,

I have fond memories of the old Ian Allen pocket books for ticking-off engine numbers as a boy, and fancy getting one or two of the Platform 5 pocket series.

Not being able to thumb through one in person to check, could somebody tell me if the Hitachi IET class 800s appear in the Locomotive book or the DMU one?

Very many thanks. Adam

 

[pdeaves]

Neither. 800s will be in the EMU book.

 

[hexagon789]

Hi everyone,

I have fond memories of the old Ian Allen pocket books for ticking-off engine numbers as a boy, and fancy getting one or two of the Platform 5 pocket series.

Not being able to thumb through one in person to check, could somebody tell me if the Hitachi IET class 800s appear in the Locomotive book or the DMU one?

Very many thanks. Adam

Neither. 800s will be in the EMU book.

As stated the 800s appear in the EMU book.

Personally, I'd get the Combined Volume - yes, it's hardback and thus heavier than the pocketbooks, but you get everything in one volume and it works out cheaper than buying all the pocket books separately.

 

[Spotter22]

Thanks. I wouldn't have guessed that so appreciate the tip. BTW don't suppose either of you know where the soon to be retired Castle Class 43 locos are going? A passenger told me they sometimes go abroad...... I shall miss them but am warming to the new Hitachi ones

 

[hexagon789]

Thanks. I wouldn't have guessed that so appreciate the tip. BTW don't suppose either of you know where the soon to be retired Castle Class 43 locos are going? A passenger told me they sometimes go abroad...... I shall miss them but am warming to the new Hitachi ones

Mexico as I understand it.

 

[Spotter22]

Really! Wow. Odd to think of them operating in such a different environment. Hopefully they will have a long retirement in the dry air out there

 

[hexagon789]

Really! Wow. Odd to think of them operating in such a different environment. Hopefully they will have a long retirement in the dry air out there

The ones already out there I believe are used only every second or fourth day, rotating with ex-Amtrak stock and are currently run at no more than 100km/h (62mph), so it's a far less onerous duty.

I presume the extra sets will allow frequency to be increased.

 

[Spotter22]

Thank you for the info. Fascinating. I expect they've got a new livery as well so now I know they are in Mexico I shall scout around online for a photo.

 

[Snow1964]

Platform 5 have 4 books for 2026 (available on pre order, released in couple of weeks).

Locomotives (including awaiting disposal)
Electric units (including bimodes)
Diesel units (including battery units and on track machines)
Coaching stock (including HSTs and Network Rail service stock)

Sadly unlike the Ian Allen books of 1970s and 1980s, there isn't a combined numbers book (without the details) that many used at the time for ticking off numbers when spotting.

 

[Class73Electro]

Have they finally stopped the big combined one? I got one at the Greatest Gathering for 2025 - had the Class 99 on the cover.

 

[hexagon789]

Have they finally stopped the big combined one? I got one at the Greatest Gathering for 2025 - had the Class 99 on the cover.

No, but it's usually released a little while after the individual pocketbooks in my experience of previous years.

I believe the pocketbooks come out in late-November, while the combined is late-January.

 

[Class73Electro]

No, but it's usually released a little while after the individual pocketbooks in my experience of previous years.

I believe the pocketbooks come out in late-November, while the combined is late-January.

Ahh OK - thanks

 

[Spotter22]

Thanks everyone. I'm starting to think the combined book is the way to go for now.
What size is it compared to the pocket ones? I did look on the Platform 5 website but couldn't see any dimensions.

 

[Class73Electro]

Thanks everyone. I'm starting to think the combined book is the way to go for now.
What size is it compared to the pocket ones? I did look on the Platform 5 website but couldn't see any dimensions.

Same size as the pocket ones, but about 2cm or so deep. And a hardcover too

 

[Spotter22]

Thank you. What a great idea to keep them the same dimensions.

 

[Gloster]

Sadly unlike the Ian Allen books of 1970s and 1980s, there isn't a combined numbers book (without the details) that many used at the time for ticking off numbers when spotting.

Wasn’t that the Locoshed Book that just had the numbers and the allocations of each loco. I still have a 1974 edition that cost me 30p. (big money in those days) that is covered in pencilled alterations as they were still introducing and tweaking TOPS.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

No, but it's usually released a little while after the individual pocketbooks in my experience of previous years.

I believe the pocketbooks come out in late-November, while the combined is late-January.

I think it's a bit later than that; I get it every year and I'm pretty sure it's late February / early March.

January is the date the data is up to date to ( so it's not a straight reprint of the four pocket books; it's a little more up to date ).

 

[hexagon789]

I think it's a bit later than that; I get it every year and I'm pretty sure it's late February / early March.

January is the date the data is up to date to ( so it's not a straight reprint of the four pocket books; it's a little more up to date ).

Tbh, other than the fact that the first page reads something like "data up to the 1st January (insert year)", I couldn't remember exactly when the Combined was released.

However, I usually get mine from a particular bookseller at the AMRSS Model Railway Exhibition in February each year.

My assumption on a late-January release stemmed from that.

But I don't think it could be March because of that, it would need to be certainly no later than week 3 of February but I'd assume earlier or it wouldn't be available at the exhibition for sale - I obtained my 2025 Combined on the 22nd of February this year for instance.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

As stated the 800s appear in the EMU book.

Personally, I'd get the Combined Volume - yes, it's hardback and thus heavier than the pocketbooks, but you get everything in one volume and it works out cheaper than buying all the pocket books separately.

I second this. Combined is a great resource.

 

[DelW]

Thank you for the info. Fascinating. I expect they've got a new livery as well so now I know they are in Mexico I shall scout around online for a photo.

There's a thread in the International Transport forum here. The video in this post might be a good start:

HSTs in Mexico - news and progress updates

The FA line, from Coatzacoalcos Veracruz to Palenque Chiapas just reopened. The HST (FIT 2+5) is running on the line. Same as the Z line, one train per day in each direction. The American train is running on the Z line, between Coatzacoalcos and Salina Cruz.

www.railforums.co.uk

Some HST power cars have been repurposed as locomotives (coupled in back to back pairs) for use in this country. See for example this thread:

RailAdventure Power Cars

The first two RailAdventure liveried power cars (43480/484) have appeared at Eastleigh: [UK] RailAdventure announces new UK partnership – purchases 8 Class 43 power cars – Railcolor News Today, Munich-based RailAdventure GmbH is announcing their entry into the United Kingdom marketplace with a...

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[1D54]

Platform 5 pocket books for 2026 are priced at £8.25 each.

 

[chrisjo]

Platform 5 pocket books for 2026 are priced at £8.25 each.

They are also offering all four as a bundle for £33, thus saving you.....err, nothing.

 

[chrisjo]

I obtained my 2025 Combined on the 22nd of February this year for instance

The publication date was February 20th (per Amazon listing).

 

[1D54]

Got the first of the three I'm bothered about just now. Pity the 466 withdrawn units still appear and some went a good while back according to information posted on here but still great to get it anyway.

 

[Justin Smith]

No, but it's usually released a little while after the individual pocketbooks in my experience of previous years.

I believe the pocketbooks come out in late-November, while the combined is late-January.

I have always thought that makes poor business sense, people might want on for XMas !

 

[Peter Mugridge]

I have always thought that makes poor business sense, people might want on for Xmas !

Not for me; too much going on at Xmas without having to worry about doing the "annual update at the same time - I'd rather have it late winter / early spring, as they are done now, with the information up to date to the early part of the year.

Incidentally the airliner version of the Combined Volume is usually out slightly later still with information updated to the end of February each year, so it's not out of course for the railway one to be timed as it is.

 

[Zenneth101]

If getting the combined series, i also recommend ordering from P5 because you can then use a code to get £5 off (LCS26 next year).

If getting the normal pocket books use code PB26.

 

[Class73Electro]

Not for me; too much going on at Xmas without having to worry about doing the "annual update at the same time - I'd rather have it late winter / early spring, as they are done now, with the information up to date to the early part of the year.

Incidentally the airliner version of the Combined Volume is usually out slightly later still with information updated to the end of February each year, so it's not out of course for the railway one to be timed as it is.

Ooh - whats the name of the airliner one? Thanks!

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Ooh - whats the name of the airliner one? Thanks!

It's this one ( NB Link is specific to the year and I would recommend waiting for the 2026 one now it's already December ):

Airliner Fleets

www.air-britain.co.uk

Around late March, try looking on https://air-britain.com/web/books-new/ to see if there's a link for the 2026 one. If not, just keep looking regularly after around then.

The book is arranged in order of countries by registration prefix and airlines are listed alphabetical within country; within each airline fleet it's alphabetical and numerical by type, so the whole book is very logically arranged. What you get for each individual aircraft is the registration, type, constructor's number / additionally line number of there's a dual sequence such as with Boeing and notes on location if stored or other carrier if operated on behalf of - these latter are usually dual listed under both carriers for quick reference.

 

[Class73Electro]

It's this one ( NB Link is specific to the year and I would recommend waiting for the 2026 one now it's already December ):

Airliner Fleets

www.air-britain.co.uk

Around late March, try looking on https://air-britain.com/web/books-new/ to see if there's a link for the 2026 one. If not, just keep looking regularly after around then.

The book is arranged in order of countries by registration prefix and airlines are listed alphabetical within country; within each airline fleet it's alphabetical and numerical by type, so the whole book is very logically arranged. What you get for each individual aircraft is the registration, type, constructor's number / additionally line number of there's a dual sequence such as with Boeing and notes on location if stored or other carrier if operated on behalf of - these latter are usually dual listed under both carriers for quick reference.

View attachment 194112

Thanks!