Books

by Julian Holland.

Explore 100 of Britain's lost railways from England, Wales and Scotland. It is an essential guide to exploring the lost railways of Britain by foot or bicycle.

The routes are accompanied by a brief history of the railway, points of interest to look out for, historical and modern-day photography and an attractive Bartholomew's route map.

Soft back. 224 pages. 14.8cms x 21cms approx.

R.R.P. £14.99

by M. Minter Taylor.

A World War I narrow gauge railway in Kent. This book endeavours to throw some light on a small railway operating in Kent, secrecy surrounded its construction, operation and disposal. the local and county newspapers were not allowed to publish articles or photographs of the railway, and the general public were not permitted to travel on the system.

Soft back. 48 pages. 14.8cms x 21cms approx. Black & white photos and drawings.

Second revised edition - 2014.

Recommended retail price £7.95.

by Peter Paye.

This line following a winding course between fen islands served a number of communities. After crossing the Old and New Bedford rivers near Earith, the branch railway emerged to join up with the Cambridge to March line a little north of the town of St Ives. Built essentially as a farmers line to get crops and cattle to and from local markets, passenger traffic was always of a secondary nature.

The line was an essential link in the evolution of the fenland settlements before the coming of the internal combustion engine. The full fascinating story of the Ely to St Ives Railway from opening to closure is told here.

The first edition of this book was published over 30 years ago and consisted of just 44 pages - this vastly enlarged new edition has 176 pages and 158 black & white images. Soft back. 14.8cms x 21cms.

2nd edition 2014

Recommended retail price £14.95.

by C.R. Potts.

2014 saw the 150th anniversary of rails reaching Kingswear, so it seemed the perfect time for a new edition of this popular title.

As well as much additional historical information uncovered since the first edition, the Great Western Railway Locomotive Department water files have been unearthed. A file of train accidents in World War II was found which includes details of bombing and runaway barrage balloons as well as the customary derailments. There are additional memories from the staff and many new photographs are included.

Soft back. 352 pages. Black & white images. 14.8cms x 21cms. 2nd edition 2014.

Recommended retail £19.95.

by Bob Yate.

The line from Barnt Green via Redditch and Evesham to Ashchurch has been gifted several names over the years: the Redditch Line, the Redditch Branch, the Evesham Route, the Barnt Green to Ashchurch Loop, and the Birmingham-Gloucester Loop. The latter was shortened with use to the ‘Gloucester Loop’.

The country through which the line ran was mostly rural, and the towns it served whilst important, were not large. So the number and complexity of proposed lines in this area is somewhat surprising, and these are examined as part of the chronological survey of railway developments along each part of the line. As no railway exists in isolation, the events and services on the connecting lines as far as they affect this line, are also examined.

Soft back. 224 pages. 14.8cms x 21cms. Black & white photos and diagrams.

Recommended retail price £16.95.

by Sydney A. Leleux.

Profusely illustrated with photographs and maps, discover the delights of the many industrial railway systems operating in the lime and cement works of Warwickshire in this major new work. The railway systems are described in a generally north-easterly direction, from Stratford-upon-Avon to Rugby, a distance of about 25 miles.

Avonside; Aveling & Porter; Bagulay; Hudswell, Clarke; Hunslet; John Fowler; Kerr, Stuart; Motor Rail; Manning, Wardle; Orenstein & Koppel; Ruston & Hornsby; Robert Stephenson & Hawthorns; Sentinel; Thomas Hill and Bagnall provided a rich variety of engines to work on these railways. However, it was the attractive narrow gauge Peckett saddle tanks – many bearing names (Jurassic, Triassic, etc.) – that have perhaps most captured the attention and imagination of railway enthusiasts over the years.

Soft back. 288 pages. 14.8cms x 21cms. Black & white photos and drawings,

Recommended retail price £19.95.

by Robert Penrose Prance.

This book is not really so much about the trains themselves, but rather more about the stations, signal boxes, railway staff and places by which, and through which, the lines passed.

The lines covered include some Great Western lines in Devon and Cornwall and much of the Southern’s ‘Withered Arm’. The last days of the Bridport branch in Dorset are also included, and there is a quick scamper into Wiltshire for the Salisbury-Exeter line.

Soft back. 224 pages. 14.8cms x 21cms approx. Black & white photos.

Recommended retail price £15.95.

by J.R. Thomas & D.W. Southern.

This book began some 10 years ago when J.R. Thomas was given a series of short articles about minor industrial tramways in and around Llangollen. Wanting to find out more about what seemed to be some old and obscure tramways, all in close proximity, he began to try and record the different lines and their workings. He researched local records and papers, and best of all, walked all of the remaining sites making notes as he went.

Soft back. 72 pages. 14.9cms x 21cms approx. Black & white photos and drawings.

by Brian Poole.

Brian Poole tells the story of the vibrant railway community of Caersws and Moat Lane. He has collected information and illustrations from many local people, with the aim of recording the social and economic effect of the railway in the area so that local people would have a record of what was once a very important source of employment. Brian’s proximity to the community that he writes about enables him to really bring the story to life.

The Bridge Department at Caersws was very important, maintaining civil engineering structures over a large part of Mid-Wales. Three generations of local men starting from 1895 developed skill in every facet of both inspection and maintenance of bridges, sea walls and tunnels within the Cambrian Railways and with the extra territory added by the GWR. They also constructed replacement bridges and assisted contractors.

Soft back. 224 pages. 14.8cms x 21cms approx. Black & white photos and drawings.

by Alasdair Wham.

A surprising amount of railway heritage remains in Ayrshire and hopefully this book will help you to both recognise and appreciate it.

There are chapters on Ayrshire's railway network, railways to the south of Aye, east of Ayr, around Kilmarnock and north Ayrshire.

Soft back. 200 pages. 14.7cms x 20.9cms approx. Black & white photos.

by Charlie Morgan.

For more than 100 years, steam locomotives were the most technologically advanced form of power and transport dominating the railways.

In this book there are chapters on the history, underground steam, famous & fictitious trains, world famous routes, the demise and preserved steam railways today.

Hard back. 125 pages. 15.5cms x 15.8cms approx. Colour and black & white photos.

Book - by Charlie Morgan.

For more than 100 years, steam locomotives were the most technologically advanced form of power and transport dominating the railways.

In this book there are chapters on the history, underground steam, famous & fictitious trains, world famous routes, the demise and preserved steam railways today.

Hard back. 125 pages. 15.5cms x 15.8cms approx. Colour and black & white photos.

DVD - British Narrow Gauge. The programme begins in Wales with the Snowdon Mountain Railway filmed in 1931 and 1950s. A glimpse of horsepower on the Corris Railway, then coverage of the Talyllyn, Ffestiniog and Dinorwic quarry amongst others.

Approx 90 mins. DVD Region Code 2.

by Stan Yorke.

In this easy to follow book, Stan explains the development of the steam railway and how the various parts worked. Illustrated by over 100 photographs, the book is divided into four sections: the history; the track, signalling and building; the locomotives and rolling stock; and finally a review of the restored railway scene today, including a selection of sites to visit.

Soft back. 128 pages. 14.8cms x 21cms approx. Black & white photos and drawings.