Andy Chard

Railway author, photographer & Platform 5's Book Editor.

[Andy Chard @AndyChard1]

After spending the last few months writing it, The Beaten Track Volume 6 is now complete. It includes plenty of "belters", some of which are from new photographers. It's now over to the @Platform5Rail design team to bring the layout to life and will be published late summer.

[Andy Chard @AndyChard1]

A personal milestone - today is 40 years since my first full day of recorded loco moves. These were Senior Citizen Railcard trips where I was the £1 child travelling with my grandparents on two nice days out by train. Not bad for £2 in total!

[Andy Chard @AndyChard1]

This petition is about an issue that has a big impact on heritage railways. We currently have the illogical position whereby coal has to be imported from abroad, costing a lot more and causing more emissions from its transport than domestic coal would:
https://t.co/ItRZuqPzGY

[Andy Chard @AndyChard1]

This is my latest book - and what a massive project it was to put together! It lists every British DMU vehicle, from the first railcars over a century ago, right up to the present day, with full status details. More info and you can buy it here: https://t.co/v3hVXafmtz

[Andy Chard @AndyChard1]

@LordSpoonGoon47 I have recently made the case for a new print run of Winners & Losers 1980s to Platform 5 and it is actually looking positive. Watch this space...

[Andy Chard @AndyChard1]

Trevor Ermel's new book showcasing his photos of the last years of main line steam is out now with @Platform5Rail. I edited it and Trevor's shots are great, with plenty of human interest and his tales of chasing steam are a good read. Info on the book: https://t.co/AvWWaiOSQ8

[Andy Chard @AndyChard1]

40106 in action today on the @eastlancsrly (top and tail with 50015).

[Andy Chard @AndyChard1]

Here's my record of the final @PathfinderTours train, with D1015 between Ashton and Manchester Victoria today. I've lost count of the number of Pathfinder railtours I've travelled on since the 1980s, so a massive thank you to them for all the traction, rare track and memories!

[Platform 5 Publishing @Platform5Rail]

Our 2026 British Railways Pocket Books will be published in early November!

Be the first to know when they are available to order (and hear about any discounts) by signing up to our newsletter today!

Click here! https://t.co/Hx1RWYDSwT

[Andy Chard @AndyChard1]

The view of Saltburn and Teesside's industrial landscape from the window of yesterday's railtour to Boulby. This line has some fantastic scenery.

[Andy Chard @AndyChard1]

It's glorious in Saltburn today!

[Andy Chard @AndyChard1]

Thank you @railwaysillus for this excellent review. The Beaten Track books are a joy to compile and write.
More info on the book here: https://t.co/GojF3WPesX

[Platform 5 Publishing @Platform5Rail]

Volume 5 of the acclaimed Beaten Track series by @AndyChard1 is now on sale. Here's an except that shows how Platform 5's home town looked back in 1981 and the level of detail in the book's captions. You can buy the book and find out more here:
https://t.co/tgm5jfriHU

[Andy Chard @AndyChard1]

I'm visiting Britain's newest heritage railway today. The Class 143 is operating passenger trains on the @TarkaValleyRail from Torrington Station until 1530. This is the view in the Devon sun!

[Andy Chard @AndyChard1]

This is the sole daily train to stop at this platform. It's the 1906 Ellesmere Port - Liverpool at Earlestown' south western platform this evening.

[Andy Chard @AndyChard1]

Visiting one of Britain's most northerly and isolated heritage railways today, the @Deeside_Railway in Aberdeenshire. Class 03 D2134 and Bon Accord are the traction.

[Andy Chard @AndyChard1]

Great to see another recently reopened line being well used today. This is 158732 at the new @ScotRail Leven station.

[Andy Chard @AndyChard1]

I met up with railway photography legend Trevor Ermel today in his native Newcastle and we did a spot of line bashing on the well used new @northernassist line to Ashington.

[Andy Chard @AndyChard1]

Interesting to find some wooden semaphores at the northern end of Droitwich Spa station today, nicely embellished by more mechanical signals and the box in the background.

[Andy Chard @AndyChard1]

A deserted Stockport station and the bridge replacement works in progress this afternoon.