The collection mainly consists of original documents, together with Grasemann's notes and transcripts either used in his book or intended for use in a book on Isle of Wight transport. Relating to the latter subject are transcripts of letters extracted from the Ryde Pier Company's letterbook, 1848 to 1852; original letters and office copies of correspondence between local officers of the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway and of the Southampton, Isle of Wight and South of England Royal Mail Steam Packet Company with their respective general managers, 1870 to 1872. Relating to cross-channel services are lists of the vessels employed, 1790 to 1939; of Newhaven to Dieppe steamers, 1856 to 1933; of the steamers of the London, Chatham and Dover Railway Company, 1845 to 1896; a table of passengers carried on South Railway routes to the Continent, 1850 to 1938. In addition there is an illustrated book of the lights and buoys on the south and east coasts of England from Harwich to Land's End, prepared ca.1832 for Captain David Stephenson (ca.1779-1846), an Elder Brother of Trinity House, and containing detailed sailing directions.

Administrative / biographical background
Cuthbert Grasemann (d.1962) was a railwayman who rose to be Public Relations Officer of the Southern Railway, and later of the Southern Region of British Railways. He had a particular interest in the cross-channel ships and was co-author, with G.W.P. McLachlan, of English Channel Packet Boats (1939).