Even though the Barchester web pages don't deal specifically with any of the prototypes that may be modelled I have plenty of links here which will take readers to sites that do deal with the specific. You may be just curious or perhaps want to compare the model you have just bought with the real thing. Maybe you are modelling a prototype and would like to see a photograph to assist you in your efforts. Whatever the reason there is plenty of prototype information here and a lot more will be added as time and research permit.
Prototype Index.
30 Years Of Photographs : The Tony Dunkley Collection.
Anniversaries : This is a selected list of forthcoming transport anniversaries in the British Isles
Class 9F Steam Locomotive Site : This site is dedicated to 92214, an ex-British Railways Class 9F steam locomotive, restored to working order at the Midland Railway - Butterley, and presently running at the East Lancashire Railway.
Aussie Photographs : The Graham Cotterall. Photographs of modern Australian prototypes. Beautiful pictures
Australian Prototypes : Links to prototypes all over Australia.
Bell Codes : Standard, British usage.
BR Bell Codes & Locomotive Head Codes :
Britains Railways 1954 - 1978 : Great collection of photographs.
British Rail Chronology : When did things happen on British Railways after Nationalisation.?
BR Class 14's : Type 1's from Swindon.
British Railway Locomotives : Photographs from Andy Williams of the last 28 years.
British Rail Wagon Photographs
British Railway - Sulzer Type 2 : The classes 24 and 25.
California's Railroads To The USA - 1861 To 1986 :
Callington Branch : Operated by BR (Southern Branch) and it's predecessors.
Diesel & Electric Photographs : Railway photography by Paul Robertson.
Disaster On The Rails : The story of the wreck of the US 'Big Boy' 4005 on April 27th 1953. A harrowing tale of a tragic accident.
Disused Stations : Closed railway stations in the UK. Old photographs, ordnance survey maps and other oddments. Great for research.
Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways : This is the website of the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways - two unique narrow gauge railways (both operated by the Ffestiniog Railway Company) with a fascinating past and an even more exciting future.
Flying Scotsman : The story of this world famous locomotive.
Forgotten Relics : Great photographs for the modeller to take advantage of.
Great Western Railway Archive :
Great Western Railway : Liveries.
Gunzel Gallery, The : Great photographic gallery from down under.
Keithe & Dufftown Railway : The "Whiskey" line. The Keith and Dufftown Railway is an eleven mile line linking the World's Malt Whisky Capital, Dufftown, to the market town of Keith. The line, which was reopened by volunteers during 2000 and 2001, passes through some of Scotland's most picturesque scenery, with forest and farmland, lochs and glens, castles and distilleries.
Lever Frames : Describing the different types employed by British railways.
Loading Gauges : British and Continental.
Locomotives - Steam & Diesel :
London Midland & Scottish Society
London & North Eastern Railway Encyclopedia
London Brighton & South Coast Railway - About
London & North Western Railway Society
Metro Transit Light Rail : The "Hiawatha" line in Minnesota USA.
National Railway Museum : Well worth anyones time visiting, good for the children too.
Norham Station : Great site with lovely photographs that are helpful to all modellers.
Northern Lines Railway : Railway of Minnesota, USA.
North Cornwall - The : The old North Cornwall Railway line, photographs and story.
North Norfolk Railway : The North Norfolk Railway offers a 10.5 mile round trip by steam train (vintage diesel trains on some journeys) through a delightful area of North Norfolk designated as being of outstanding natural beauty.
Northumbrian Branch Line Railways :
North Wales Railways - 1975 to 1983 : Here you'll find photographs and text showing trains on the North Wales main line railways, mainly taken between 1976 and 1983, together with timetables, signal box locations and other information for all lines from 1960 to 1991.
North York Moors Railway : The North Yorkshire Moors is the country's most popular heritage railway.
Petrol And Diesel Engines : Early history.
Plumb Loco : Photographic collections from around the world.
Preserved Shunters : This web site includes details and photographs of former BR, MoD, and industrial shunters. Preserved Diesels : There are 280 preserved mainline diesel locomotives in the UK based on variously privately owned railways, as well as a few running on the main rail system. This web site is intended to provide a photographic record of each of these engines as well as details of the lines on which they are based and details of any diesel events. Rail Blue : Classic British Rail traction of the 1970's and 1980's. Rail Cams : Live cams from all around the world. Rail Industry Links : Links to many areas of the train industry. Railway Centre, The : For the latest UK and worldwide railway news. Railway Rolling Stock : UK rolling stock photographs and plenty of 'em for you to enjoy. Railway Signs And Signals Of Great Britain : This is a brilliant site full of information on all the signs to be found round the railways of Great Britain. An absolute boon for modellers. Railway Stations Of Great Britain : A great site for research or just interest in what is and what was. Railways In Worcestershire : This site records the railways of Worcestershire and is the work of members of the Malvern Industrial Archaeology Circle (MIAC), formed by members of the Worcester Locomotive Society. The MIAC has been active for over 30 years recording railways in Britain and overseas. An increasing number of commercial and industrial concerns are kindly making information and photographs available for use on this site in addition to material held by the MIAC. Railways Of Warwickshire : This site is created for the railway enthusiast, local historian and railway modeller by fellow enthusiasts. It is not intended to be the definitive history of the county's railway nor hopefully will it be just the work of the current contributors Railroad Picture Archives : Over 700,000 photographs to browse, with 72,000 locomotives. Severn Valley Railway : Great site with photographs from all along the route.
Signalling : From the pages of the Railway Technical site.
Signals - British : Principles, drawings and descriptions.
Signals - British : Photograph gallery of signal boxes and equipment.
Signals - BR - Mechanical & Fog : Very nice article on mechanical signals. Great information for the layout.
Signal Lever Colours - British : The following table is based on information found in the Railway Group Guidance Notes GK/GN0525 dated October 2003 and published by the Rail Safety and Standards Board
Signspotters : The Australian road and rail sign and signal photo gallery.
Southern Group : Enthusiasts, Historians and Modellers of the Southern Railway, including its predecessors and successors, corresponding over the Internet.
Station Colours : Very helpful for all those modelling the prototype.
Steam Locomotive Archive : By Richard Leonard. A very big site for all lovers of US steam from the 1950's foreward. If you like the steam scene then you will love this site.
Steam Train Galleries : For the UK enthusiast.
Talyllyn Railway : Historic narrow gauge steam railway set in the beautiful Welsh countryside.
The Signal Box : This site with the one shown above should tell you everything you ever wanted to know about signalling.
The History Of The Class 108 : I have made this a separate entry because of the introduction of the Class 108 from Bachmann.
The Railcar Association : The Railcar Association is formed of owners of preserved multiple units. This site is dedicated to the history, technology and preservation of first generation DMUs.
Toton Rail : Some great photographs on this site. Well worth a visit.
Train Formations Of The UK : There are some blank pages on this site, especially for the big four but still worth looking at if you are after this type of information.
Ultimate Steam Page : Steam locomotion in the 21st century.
U.S Photo Archive : Photographs by Ron Lehmer.
Victorian Goldfields Railway : Plenty of information about it's current activities.
Victorian Railways : Australia. Plenty of pictures, rolling stock and motive power here.
Vulcan Foundry Locomotive List : A site with the locomotives built by this foundry, with photographs, plans and other information.
War Department : War department steam locomotives from 1939 - 1945.
Welsh Highland Railway Project : This is where you can find out all about the project led by the Ffestiniog Railway to rebuild and operate the Welsh Highland Railway, a neighbouring line running through the mountains of Wales which closed in the 1930s.
Welsh Railwatys Research Circle : The circle has been bringing together researchers and modellers who are interested not only in the mainline and branch railways of Wales and the Border Counties, but also the tramways, tramroads and the many rail connected industrial locations across the Principality.
Good photographs of a lot of the differing designs of various companies. Great reference for modellers.
Pre Grouping - (Up to 1923)
Glasgow & South Western
Great Central
Great Eastern
Great Northern
Great North Of Scotland
London Brighton & South Coast
Midland
The Big Four (1923 - 1948)
Great Western
London Midland & Scottish
London & North eastern
Southern
British Railways - (From 1948)
Eastern
London Midland Region
North eastern Region
Scottish Region
Southern Region
Western Region
Locomotives - 1981 to Now : Electrics, DMU's, EMU's, Steam, Underground and locations.
Diesel Images : Hundreds of photographs of nearly all classes of diesel locomotives in action.
Diesels - The 47's : Plenty of photographs and also a section on the models of this prototype.
Diesels - The 50's : Welcome to the largest online collection of Class 50 photographs! This site contains a total of over 3,100 photo's featuring all fifty 50's, contributed by more than 120 photographers. The collection spans the life of the 50's from their early days on the LMR, through their long tenure on the WR, the finality of the scrapyard or, for the lucky ones - preservation. Photo's are included of every nameplate and livery carried by the class.
Diesels - The 55's : Whatever you want to know about the Deltics.
Diesels - The 58's : The web source for all things class 58.
The Terrier Trust : What is a Terrier? It is the pet name ascribed to an original class of 50 small 0-6-0 tank locomotives built by the London Brighton & South Coast Railway (LB&SCR) between 1872 and 1880.