Our archive and library collections

The Archives hold the 'raw materials' of railway history: nationally and internationally significant collections, including letters from the birth of the railways, technical reports, vast engineering drawings collections and much more.

Technical and test records

Loco design, performance, testing and history.

Timetables

We have an extensive collection of timetables from 1839 up to the present day.

Books

We have approximately 20,000 books in the Book Collection, spanning pre-railway history up to the present day.

Magazines

Our journal (or 'serial') collection comprises approximately 800 titles, about 300 of which we are still collecting.

Accident reports

Of interest to family historians.

Other

Safety booklets, holiday guides, and 100s of maps and plans.

Photographs

Over 1.75 million images from the 1850s to today.

Tickets, postcards, textiles and labels

Everything from railway tickets to fabrics used to furnish carriages.

Background: Suitcase with railway luggage labels