At recent visit to Durham Cathedral a question was posed on a poster “What book has had the most influence in your life?” Suddenly I realised this was a hard question. Clearly whatever you think of it, or you view on religion, it must be “The Bible” perhaps “The Torah” or even “The Koran”. But then perhaps, “Magna Carta” or even “The Domesday Book”? Maybe you don’t even have to like the book particularly but maybe relevant such as George Orwell’s 1984? Maybe it doesn’t have to be entertaining such as “The Works of Shakespeare” or funny like a comic may be, such as “VIZ”!

It might not even be the best book on the subject. So where does that leave me or YOU!

After much thought, for me it can only be “The Observers Book of Railway Locomotives” by H.C. Casserley. Certainly not the best railway book in the world, but maybe the most influential.

How many of our interests started with his book or the Observers series? Could be closely followed by The “Eye Spy” series and then Ian Allan’s Combined Volumes, British Bus Fleets (BBF’s), Civil Aircraft Markings, ABC Coastal Cargo Ships?