I received the HST Silver Jubilee book recently and as a professional working closely with the HST I was frankly disappointed.
Although there are numerous photographs there is very little else, other than reams and reams about the coaching stock and far too little about the power cars themselves.
The amount of coverage given to the power units is woefully little, the Mirrlees gets a tiny mention, there is a totally inaccurate statement about "many" people wanting to see the mass introduction of the VP185 engine and the Valenta, the very heart of every HST gets hardly a mention. I too noticed the lack of info on the cooler groups, traction motors etc. Surely it isn't just the hardened fanatic who is interested in the very items that make the HST such a sucess.
My concern upon reading this book thoroughly is that the author has only scant information on the HST but speaks with authority in the book, which may fool people with only a casual interest in the HST into beleiving that the author is well informed....I wouldn't recommend the book, it certainly isn't worth the... cover price!