West Sussex County Council: Railway Page (Ronald Shephard Collection)

Links to Sections

Ronald Shephard was a resident of Linchmere. He ran a firm which patented a bottle stopper (familiar to older generations who drank Tizer) The top of the stopper was embossed with a Shepherd's crook.

He was a member of the Permanent Way Institution and acted as an advisor during the Second World War on the defence of narrow gauge railways.

By acting as a reviewer, Ronald Shephard received and amassed a vast collection of railway books, which he bequeathed to West Sussex County Council. He was consulted frequently by two other famous railway authors namely O.S. Nock and C. Hamilton Ellis.

He was President of the Linchmere Model Railway Club and had an extensive O Gauge Model Railway in his garden.

The collection consists of:

• 700 books
• 154 volumes of national and local press cuttings
• 27 volumes of postcards
• 1500 photographs and negatives of standard and narrow gauge railways

Of particular note is the series of Railway Magazine 1897-1973, The Locomotive Magazine 1897-1955 and photographs of many lines which have long since disappeared.

Access to the collection is by appointment only.
Contact:
Bill Gage Assistant County Archivist
Email - bill.gage@westsussex.gov.uk