Encyclopedia of Model Railroads — Allen, Octopus 1981

📖 The Encyclopedia of Model Railroads by Terry Allen (1981, Octopus Books) — A comprehensive illustrated reference covering scale standards, track planning, scenery construction, and operational techniques across HO, N, and Z gauges. This 1981 reprint of the 1979 first edition is in Very Good condition with dust jacket.

QUICK FACTS

• Editor: Terry Allen (General Editor); foreword by Kenneth Mortimer
• Publisher: Octopus Books Limited, London
• Year: 1981 (reprint of 1979 first edition)
• Format: Hardcover with unclipped dust jacket
• Pages: 224 | ISBN: 0-7064-0989-2 (ISBN-13: 978-0706409895)
• Condition: Very Good / Very Good — full report below

THE STORY

First published in 1979 by Octopus Books, The Encyclopedia of Model Railroads is one of the most comprehensive single-volume references on the hobby. General editor Terry Allen assembled contributions covering the full range of model railroad practice — from choosing a scale and gauge to scratchbuilding locomotives from raw materials. The book traces the history of the hobby from its origins in the early days of prototype railroads, offering both practical guidance and collector context.

THIS EDITION

This is the 1981 reprint of the 1979 first edition, produced by Mandarin Publishers Limited in Hong Kong for Octopus Books Limited, London. At 224 pages with over 250 color photographs and instructional diagrams, it was designed as a complete reference manual for both beginners and experienced modelers. The full-color photography was produced specifically for this encyclopedia, featuring track plans and layouts from builders around the world.

ILLUSTRATIONS & DESIGN

The book features over 250 color photographs and diagrams across 224 pages, including detailed model railroad dioramas, step-by-step construction sequences (painting, weathering, bridge building), track plan diagrams, and scenic layout photography. The dust jacket showcases a striking golden-bronze model steam locomotive against a black background, with bright yellow title typography. Interior spreads combine full-page photographs of completed layouts with technical cutaway diagrams explaining construction methods — from bridge engineering to scenic landscaping techniques.

WHY IT MATTERS

• Covers HO, N, and Z gauges with practical scale standards and track planning guidance
• Published by Octopus Books, a major London publisher of illustrated reference works in the 1970s–80s
• The 250+ color photographs were produced specifically for this encyclopedia — not reused from other sources
• Remains a sought-after reference for model railroad collectors and hobbyists

FREQUENTLY ASKED

What edition is this? This is the 1981 reprint of the 1979 first edition (ISBN 0-7064-0989-2), produced by Mandarin Publishers Limited in Hong Kong for Octopus Books Limited, London.

What condition is it in? Very Good / Very Good — full report below.

Is the dust jacket included? Yes, the unclipped dust jacket is included. It shows some edge wear at the spine head and minor chipping at one corner.

FOR COLLECTORS

The 1981 Octopus reprint is the most commonly found edition and remains the standard reference for model railroad hobbyists. This copy’s clean interior with bright, unfaded color plates makes it a solid reading copy or reference shelf addition.

Condition Report

Overall Grade: Book: Very Good (VG) / Dust Jacket: Very Good (VG)

Cover & Spine: Black paper-wrapped boards with gilt title lettering on the spine. Some surface wear at the spine edges and board corners.

Dust Jacket: Unclipped dust jacket with some edge wear at the spine head and chipping at the tip of the front board upper flap fold corner. Used bookstore (?) price label affixed inside front flap.

Text Block & Pages: Pages are clean and crisp. Color plates remain clear and bright.

Binding: Square and tight binding; hinges fully intact. No loose, torn or folded pages. No writing.

See accompanying images for full condition details.

Will ship promptly, carefully packaged.

HFB-SEO-v1: 2026-08-03

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