Testimonials
Well done, coming back in such a reasonable and effective way to any critics that have penned their opinions without disclosing the facts that they hold or have discovered … thanks again for your hard work and the manner which you have taken to try and rectify the “duff gen” that you were given, well done.
I have just been looking at your website, in particular I noticed the honest assessment of where you went wrong. If I can assist you with any photographs please ask.
I do not expect you to remember me from amongst your many customers but I purchased all of your WHTS issues and folders. Also, I bought all of your photographic books. I would like to say that I derived great pleasure from the receipt of each volume of both items. The scrapping info was not available elsewhere and the photo books were both stunning and evocative of times past. If a few errors crept in then I for one do not hold you responsible – you clearly published the best information available at the time. So, many, many thanks for your massive efforts in getting so much of the info correct.
Many thanks for all the work you put into your excellent series of books, of which I have a number, and for continuing the updating in an online form.
Good to see that you are determined to correct any errors to make your excellent work definitive and I’ll look forward to updating my volumes as and when. Keep up the good work … it is very good of you to do the work and to make it free of charge.
I have read something of the controversy concerning your books and although, as a historian myself, I recognise the need to be accurate and check sources carefully, nobody should devalue the effort you made to produce your pioneering series. It is quite normal for revisionism to occur as new and better research moves the subject forward and that is all that has happened in your case. I am please you have bitten the bullet and are reworking the material so thoroughly and the result will be to everyone’s benefit.
I have never been able to get hold of a set of your original WHTS volumes – much to my sadness – so the work you are doing with your website is just fantastic. I am also thoroughly enjoying reading the spotting notes etc. which conjures up many memories. Kindest regards and thank you for all your hard work and endeavour.
Have to say that the work you are doing on this subject is phenomenal – well done.
‘Read your article on ‘Rule Britannia and The One That Got Away’ bunking Aston. Hilarious – I can just imagine swarms of frenetic spotters overrunning the depot hell‑bent on copping some Brits!
Bill Bridgens
I have read with dismay the on‑going ‘witch hunt’ and criticism of Mr. Peter Hands regarding his WHTS series of booklets. I purchased a full set of these in the early 1980’s when Mr. Hands published them, in good faith, which included information that was only available to him AT THAT TIME.
After absorbing some of the absurd nonsense which has been written about him (one misguided fool actually made the accusation that he had committed a ‘crime’!) which came mainly from individuals who always think they know better, this had me wondering what ‘crime’ Mr. Hands had actually committed here. Is he a Great Train robber, a Brinks Mat bullion thief or perhaps he has committed a crime against humanity?
Of course he has not – he was a pioneer in recording steam locomotive disposals which NO ONE ELSE did at the time. Is it not always the case that when an individual produces a prototype of something of great interest, in this case one which is of particular interest to railway enthusiasts, there are inevitably others who think they can do better. Where were these individuals prior to the WHTS series of booklets being published?
Comments suggesting that a ‘crime’ has been committed are absolutely laughable – and should be dismissed with the total contempt that they deserve. I doubt the sanity of some people.
I would suggest that these misguided critics of Mr. Peter Hands take a look at his Web Site in which he is now producing updated lists of the storage and disposals of steam locomotives.
Much of the information now included was not available to him in the 1970’s when he did his initial research. Fast‑forward to 2015 and he is being very proactive in his quest for accuracy and any individual who owns a full set, or parts thereof, of the WHTS series, would be well advised to look at his excellent online work and update their copies accordingly – I have done so and will continue to do so.
Mr. Hands should be graciously thanked for all his initial hard work in producing the WHTS booklets and when disposals inaccuracies first came to the fore in 2009 (in most cases through no fault of his own) be thanked again for the tremendous efforts he is now making to ensure updated accuracy. Mr. Hands is a very honourable man and has conducted himself with great dignity, despite the ludicrous criticism he has had to endure from the so‑called critics of his WHTS series.
It is unfortunate that those same individuals have not displayed similar dignity. They could learn a great deal from him.
Once his updated project is completed the WHTS series will be SECOND TO NONE and will be a very valuable addition to the library of any serious‑minded railway enthusiast.
They will certainly have pride of place in mine.
Dennis J. Flood
CASHMORE’S, GREAT BRIDGE
‘May I congratulate you on an undertaking and largely completing a truly enormous task. Future historians will have cause to be grateful for this.’
Malcolm Richards