There is no doubt that a greater understanding of the UK wagon fleet enhances the appreciation of the rail-enthusiasts’ hobby, whether for railway modelling purposes or simply enjoying watching the real thing, or both. The wagon numbering system alone is outdated and can be a minefield. Wagons built since 2008, including some conversions and rebuilds, now conform to the Europe-wide system of wagon numbering. In this book, however, the focus is on exploring almost 200 examples from among the thousands of UK wagons remaining in use that carry private-owner or nationalised UK air-braked numbering systems.

Since the TOPS coding system was introduced in the 1970s much has changed in the rail-freight sector. The alphabetical classification used for wagon types has not. In this publication the 100 or so classifications are each featured and explained. Ranging from flat wagons for carrying shipping containers to wagons designed specifically for carrying steel or stone, for example, the variety of wagons built in the twentieth century that are still in use today are detailed.

Drawing on one of the largest collections of wagon images on the Internet, John Jackson explores these survivors with the featured wagons arranged numerically for ease of reference. The cross-section included is designed to enhance the enthusiast’s understanding and, it is hoped, enjoyment of watching freight trains in the UK.

John Jackson, a lifelong transport enthusiast, opted for early retirement at the turn of the Millennium – and swapped the rat race for the rail tracks. Since then, he has travelled extensively on the British rail network with his camera as a constant companion. He continues to compile a photographic collection reflecting the UK rail industry that already extends to tens of thousands of images. He also has an interest in the history of his local county of Bedfordshire and John and his wife Jenny, together with their trusty cameras, have spent hundreds of hours meandering around their home county visiting each one of the parishes in the county, recording the churches.