The complete steam news magazine

Deborah sets a publishing record as advertisers remain loyal

Back in March 1999, MP, renowned for its hardback series of railway lined histories, published its 230th volume - Chard to Yeovil. As we closed to press, No. 495, Cardiff to Pontypridd was due to appear, and in the summer, it will publish its 500th volume.

It is also a major milestone for Deborah Esher of Middleton Press, who may well have set a record in publishing. Deborah has designed every cover and laid out every volume produced by the company since it was established in 1981 by her father, Vic Mitchell, the first volume being Branch Lines to Midhurst. Along with her mother Barbara, all three were part-time until 1986 when Deborah left the nursing profession. Barbara completed the team with her secretarial skills.

Deborah started in the days of a scalpel and a tube of cow gum - the dark ages! Deborah eventually persuaded her dad to obtain a lightbox to work on and life became a little easier. She became an early user of a full digital graphics system in 1997.

Branch Lines to Horsham was her second product and then followed the South Coast and Southern Main Lines series. She eventually suggested the Great Railway Eras series to add a fresh dimension to the range.

Apart from Deborah's name on page 2 of every issue, her achievements as a partner in the firm are up to now little known.

Meanwhile, Trackside’s replica totem and target business started in earnest in 1993 and since that time over 750 different totem and target names have been produced, many being in multiples for heritage railway stations on many lines including the Bluebell, North Yorkshire Moors, Peak Rail, Swanage, Mid Hants, Kirkby Stephen East, Lavender Line, Great Central (Nottingham), Keighley & Worth Valley and Wensleydale. In addition to totems and targets, other railway related signage such as running in boards, platform signs, seat backs and general information notices are available – all made to order to customers specifications.

The bulk of the market is the trainspotter of decades ago who wants to bring back memories of his favourite spotting location. All signage is produced using a vitrteous enamel finish for a long and weather resistant life, or paint and lacquer finish on a stove enamelled base. The metal used is high quality steel cut and shaped exactly as original. Totems are produced in either fully flanged or half flanged versions and to avoid the possibility of them being passed off as originals, they are discreetly coded on the back.

Lettering and signage for diesel and steam locomotives and internal and external signs for carriages are available in good quality vinyl.

Heritage Railway founding editor Robin Jones said: “Since those early days when my wife Jenny worked on the launch of our advertising department, we have always regarded all of our advertisers are part of the team which strives to produce the widest news coverage of the preservation movement by far.”