"I discovered that the literature of railways is extensive and meticulous - the humblest branch line has its own bibliography, often in several volumes.There are authoritative works on signalling, points and bogie designs.If you were to write a History of Brass Screws in the Third Class Coaches of the Cirencester and Swindon Joint Railway between 1904 and 1905 you could probably retire on the proceeds.

Michael Palin i Confessions of a Train Spotter, Great Railway Journeys of the World, 1981.

Rekommenderar f.ö. BBC-programmet med samma namn som detta kapitel i boken handlar om. Michael Palin gör en tågresa från London till Kyle of Lochalsh och minns sin ungdoms train spotting.