Historical rail maps

I mentioned on the 18xx list that I would like to find some historical railway maps of the UK, and the good people there promptly recommended some. Here's a summary for future reference.

What would be even more useful would be a historical atlas approach, showing which lines were built first and how the network grew.

David Hecht: There's a book of (very detailed) maps from Ian Allan called "Pre-grouping Maps and Gazetteer", though it is currently out of print. However, there are 23 copies listed from UK booksellers on Abebooks, starting at GBP 4.00 plus shipping.. Recommended! :-) [I've just ordered a copy of this.]

Stuart Dagger: Some years ago the West Country firm of David & Charles reprinted some editions of Bradshaw's and they have maps in the back. I have a copy of the reprint of one of the 1922 ones, which must have been one of the last before the companies we all know from 1829 and 1825 were pushed into the larger groupings of the LMS etc.

It might also be worth checking out the Ordnance Survey publications, as they also do reprints of 19th century maps.

After sending the first reply I remembered another source. Try www.OldHouseBooks.co.uk. They have a London Railways map for 1897 and a Bradshaw's 1907 map for Great Britain and Ireland.

Nick Wedd: The maps at http://www.maproom.org/00/35/index.php show UK railways as they were in 1914, though not in detail, and not which companies owned them. It is a geological atlas, but the author was keen on railways: "Our lines of railway have largely aided the progress of Geology not only by opening up a ready means of communication with all parts of the country, but by furnishing many instructive sections of the strata."

The map at http://www.systemed.plus.com/New_Adlestrop_Railway_Atlas.pdf is also interesting. [This one I knew of. It's useful, but incomplete].

Roger Barnes: The Museum of London bookshop is good for old maps of London or Motor
Books in Covent Garden for railway books.