Crewe needs little introduction. Even in a country built on railways, with many other railway centres, Crewe is a railway town that is unequalled: five major routes, several motive power depots, an extensive station, large marshalling yards and at one time the largest locomotive works in the world. The British Rail corporate era was the end of a golden age for the enthusiast; around Crewe the railway remained much as it had been in steam days, the station layout was unmodernised, two large motive power depots were in full use and the still vast locomotive works built and repaired locomotives in large numbers. This was a fascinating time of loco-hauled trains, traction exchange, parcels and mail services, freight and trip workings, new and ex-works locomotives and an almost continuous flow of trains. Only after much of this had disappeared did we realise what had gone. Though blue was the order of the day, it was far from dull. With an array of previously unpublished photos, this book looks back to a time when a trip to Crewe never failed to deliver!

The Talyllyn Railway Preservation Society was the first such organisation in the world, and the inaugural society-operated train on 14 May 1951 heralded the dawn of the railway preservation movement in Britain. In the ensuing years, from its decrepit state in 1950 to its present-day role as one of the 'Great Little Trains of Wales', many changes have taken place on the railway, while some aspects remain remarkably unchanged.

The line from Settle to Carlisle is one of the world's great rail journeys. It carves its way through the magnificent landscape of the Yorkshire Dales - where it becomes the highest main line in England - descending to Cumbria's lush green Eden Valley with its view of the Pennines and Lakeland fells. But the story of the line is even more enthralling. From its earliest history the line fostered controversy: it probably should never have been built, arising from a political dispute between two of the largest and most powerful railway companies in the 1860s. Its construction, through some of the most wild and inhospitable terrain in England, was a Herculean task. Tragic accidents affected those who built, worked and travelled the line. After surviving the Beeching cuts of the 1960s, the line faced almost certain closure in the 1980s, only to be saved by an unexpected last-minute reprieve. This book describes the history behind the inception and creation of the line; the challenges of constructing the 72-mile railway and its seventeen viaducts and fourteen tunnels; threat of closure in the mid-1980s and the campaign to save it, and finally, the line today and its future.

This is the ninth volume in the ten-part series of regional books examining the industrial railways of England, Scotland and Wales. Like elsewhere in Britain, changes have been far-reaching in industry, and Scotland has certainly suffered considerably in recent decades with the loss of its traditional coal mining, steel and manufacturing industries, especially many of those that were once located around its Central Belt. The diversity of the locomotives and the railways that once served industry in Scotland is a fascinating and neglected subject, and both standard and narrow gauge systems, most of which no longer survive today, are covered within the pages of this book. The author presents an array of striking images, both in colour and black and white, that strive to include some feel for the locations being studied, covering the broad spectrum of industrial railways that once existed in Scotland. These mostly previously unpublished photographs, accompanied by detailed captions, reflect the changing face of Scottish industry over the last six decades or so. As the title suggests, this book is chiefly about Scotland's industrial railways and its locomotives, many actually constructed in Scotland, but this work is also a sad reminder of how much our traditional industries have contracted, or have even been lost entirely over this period, either through globalisation of manufacturing, or the importation of commodities at a cheaper market rate than could have been obtained at home.

Concentrating on the famous 16-mile preserved stretch, this book also looks at the whole of the original route from Shrewsbury to Kidderminster and Hartlebury, and on to Droitwich and Worcester. We also enjoy a glimpse of the connecting lines to Craven Arms, Wellington and Woofferton, including the delightful Cleobury Mortimer and Ditton Priors Light Railway.

Of all the products of the Industrial Revolution, none left its mark on the landscape of Britain, or changed the lives of the British people, more than the railway. The encyclopedic Oxford Companion to British Railway History reveals, for the first time, the full story of this remarkable achievement: the inspired pioneers, the unprecedented feats of engineering, the romance, and the reality. From the primitive wagonways of the seventeenth century, through the eras of horse, steam, diesel, and electric traction, it explores the railway's unique place in our history, and the reasons for its extraordinary and enduring hold on our collective imagination. Unrivalled authority Over 600 entries by 88 distinguished contributors chart the progress of rail travel from 1603 to the late twentieth century. Comprehensive coverage Covers not only the technical and historical development of the railway, but its social, economic, political, and artistic aspects. Illustrated throughout Maps, diagrams, tables, and illustrations bring the text to life and demystify technical concepts. People, places, and politics Covers the key figures who influenced the development of the railways, the towns that were changed forever, and the policies that brought about the network's rise and fall.

Isambard Kingdom Brunel considered the Great Western Railway the 'finest work in England' and he contributed many groundbreaking features, none so unorthodox as the decision not to adopt the 'standard' track gauge of 4ft 81/2in and instead introduce the new 'broad gauge' of 7ft 1/4in. Describing the rationale behind the choice of broad gauge, and also the unique track and locomotives used, this beautifully illustrated introduction to broad gauge railways chronicles the building of the original GWR between Bristol and London, and the expansion of that original 112-mile main line into a network stretching across the West of England, Wales and the Midlands. It describes how the clash between broad and narrow led to the 'Battle of the Gauges' and also provides a list of places to visit where broad gauge artefacts still survive.

Mind the gap and jump aboard this fascinating history of the world's oldest and greatest underground railway. On seven guided journeys, travel through time and observe at first hand the influence of great Underground architects, such as Charles Holden and Sir Norman Foster, and how the stations have changed - but also how many things have stayed the same.

Paddington is part of a hub of underground stations and is home to the world's most famous bear, named after the station. Revel in the selection of images of Paddington Through Time and see how Brunel's masterpiece has stood the test of time. 'I am going to design, in a great hurry, and I believe to build, a station after my own fancy,' stated Isambard Kingdom Brunel in 1851. That station, the second to bear the name 'Paddington', was to be another Brunel masterpiece. His delight at the prospect of building a replacement and permanent station at Paddington is self-evident. The new station was to be built on the plot of land just south of the Bishop's Road Bridge, defined by Eastbourne Terrace and Praed Street on two sides, and by London Street and the canal on the northeast side. Because the new station would be located almost entirely within a cutting, there would be no grand exterior, and instead, Brunel impressed with his immense roof of iron and glass. Paddington is currently in the middle of a huge redevelopment that has seen it retain much of its nineteenth-century design, but updated to suit traffic flows of today. Millions pass through the station weekly, both to the West and Wales and to Heathrow on the Heathrow Express.

Even in 1973 much of the steam infrastructure was still to be found, but as modernisation took hold diesels were being joined by electric locomotives in increasing numbers. This was the height of the 'loco-hauled' era on the main line. In the wider world hostages were taken at the Olympic Games, and President Nixon visited China.

This is the 49th volume in the Recollectios series and the second title published by Silver Link to celebrate the Talyllyn Railway. As with all the titles in the recollections series this volume is aimed at the general market as much as the enthusiast - designed for easy reading and enjoyment rather than a 'rivet counting' approach! Since 1951, when the railway was first taken over by preservationists, great improvements have been made; volunteer members of the TRPS now provide most of the train crew and station staff required to operate the line, and assist with maintenance work and with many other activities. The track has been relaid, locomotives have been acquired and rebuilt, additional carriages have been constructed, a safe and flexible signalling system has been installed, and the many other improvements needed to cater for the much increased number of passengers have been carried out. But the TR is still very much the railway it always was, a rural byway where the pace of life is gentle, the average speed of the train is still less than nine miles per hour, and passengers can have an unhurried journey along the beautiful and unspoilt Fathew Valley. Both the original locomotives and all the original carriages remain in regular use to this day.

This new history reveals the previously untold story of why and how trains have been used to transport the dead, enabling their burial in a place of significance to the bereaved. Profusely illustrated with many images, some never previously published, Nicolas Wheatley's work details how the mainline railways carried out this important yet often hidden work from the Victorian age to the 1980s, as well as how ceremonial funeral transport continues on heritage railways today. From royalty, aristocrats and other VIPs (including Sir Winston Churchill and the Unknown Warrior) to victims of accidents and ordinary people, Final Journey explores the way in which these people travelled for the last time by train before being laid to rest.

British Railways Past and Present is a natio nwide series of books featuring photos of railway locations taken several decades ago and comparing them with the same s cene today. This volume covers Avon, Cotswolds and the Malve rns. '

"The Orient Express, in the collective imagination, embodies the golden age of travel. The fabrics, the silverware, the woodwork; their evocative fragrance... all contribute to this particular atmosphere, created by the best craftsmen of the time. The experience on board is absolutely unique..." - Sir Kenneth Branagh, from the foreword The first train to connect Paris to Constantinople - the gateway to the Orient and epitome of all its associated desires and fantasies - the Orient Express was an immediate success. Quickly nicknamed 'the king of trains, the train of kings', it had already become a legend in its own time. This unique train and its celebrated passengers (both real and fictional) have become one of the great cultural icons of our times and have helped to create a limitless source of stories and fantasies to feed our imaginations. It's a story told here through fabulous new photographs of the restoration workshops where the historic train carriages are being brought back to life, through archive photos of famous and exotic destinations, and portraits of the most famous passengers who were lucky enough to climb aboard.

The Hayling Island Branch was one of Britain's most iconic sea side lines, connecting Havant with Hayling Island via Langston Harbour. Opening in 1865 for freight and 1867 to passenger traffic, it was after a few years of local control, managed and operated as part of the London Brighton & South Coast Railway, who were responsible for its upkeep until the railway grouping in 1923, when it became a part of the Southern Railway. The railway had a colourful and bucolic existence, with trains headed by the attractive Stroudley Terrier class tank locomotives and a collection of vintage carriage stock. In 1948 the branch became part of the Southern Region of British Railways, carrying on as a local and at times heavily used branch line, until its closure in November 1963\. Today the lines track bed is a walking path from end to end, with only the former goods shed at Hayling Island to show the visitor any tangible evidence of the railways existence.

This examination of the relationship of the economy to political process in the United States from 1877 to 1916 shows how the railroad industry encouraged and relied on national politics to solve its economic problems, and created a precedent for government regulation of the economy in the twentieth century. The continuity in governmental regulation from 1877 to 1900, in the Progressive Era, and in the administrations of Roosevelt, Taft, and Wilson are pointed out. The origin of each major federal railroad act and contending forces is analyzed. Federal regulation of the railroads, probably the most important example of federal intervention in the economy from the Civil War to World War I is used as a key in reassessing the motives behind Progressivism. Originally published in 1965. The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.

Dorset has always been an important railway county, catering for holidaymakers heading to the resorts of Bournemouth, Swanage and Weymouth. As part of the mid-nineteenth-century desire for railways to reach many parts of the country, a line from Southampton reached the county town of Dorchester in 1847. This was to become part of the London & South Western Railway. The Great Western Railway arrived in the county in 1857 with a line from Yeovil to Weymouth built to Brunel’s broad-gauge standard. Another name associated with the county was the Somerset & Dorset Railway, which opened between Bath and Poole in 1870. Development of the various lines are covered – their heyday was the 1950s when they were used by holidaymakers heading for the sunny south coast. Then came the Beeching closures, but also the electrification of the main line to Weymouth. The various routes within the county are covered by a wide selection of photographs, many of which have not been published before.

Looking Back at Class 24 & 25 Locomotives takes a closer look at these plucky and versatile Type 2 locos in a full-colour photographic album. The images follow the locomotives from their introduction in the late 1950s and throughout their service years, continuing to their final demise from everyday service. Inside we look at some of the variations that have appeared over the years and at many of the liveries they have borne. A varied selection of locations and workings have been chosen from a vast library of colour photographs, which are accompanied by informative captions; they are sure to appeal to both the enthusiast and the modeller alike.

Why did London have to wait so long for a main-line railway beneath its streets? For a few years in the mid-nineteenth century, Isambard Kingdom Brunel's broad-gauge Great Western trains ran from Reading to Faringdon. Now, after many false starts, his vision is being realised as the Elizabeth Line prepares to carry passengers from Reading to the City once again, and beyond to Essex and Kent, using engineering that would have earned the admiration of the greatest Victorian engineers. London historian Stephen Halliday presents an engaging discussion of Crossrail's fascinating origins and the heroic engineering that made it all possible.

In this book John Whiteley provides a photographic survey of the last years of steam on British Railways in the North of England. The photographs cover the period from c. 1959/60 to the end of steam in the area in 1968. By the early 1960s British Rail was rapidly replacing steam with modern traction, but before the last steam locomotives were withdrawn the decade witnessed a glorious swansong for steam in the North of England. The area covered ranges from northern Derbyshire and northern Cheshire to include the last days of steam in the Peak District, Yorkshire, Lancashire and Cumbria up to the Scottish border. The use of GWR locomotives around Chester in the early 1960s is also included as well as steam in and around Manchester. This photographic survey of the last years of steam on BR in the North of England will appeal to all those with an interest in the history of the railways of this region.

Steam locomotives were developed in the early part of the 19th Century, initially by Trevithick, and then most successfully by George Stephenson, whose engine Locomotion inaugurated the famous Stockton and Darlington Railway in 1825. For the next 150 years, steam locomotives were further developed and refined, until the advent of new electrical technology superseded them. Although British Railways operated its last main-line steam locomotives in 1968, there is still immense interest in the large numbers of locomotives that have been privately preserved, and which run on heritage railways and in various parts of the world. This book describes the anatomy and physiology of the steam train, to enable all train enthusiasts to understand the workings of the various types of engines in use. It covers the design of the engine, the process of converting fuel into mechanical tractive effort to haul passenger and freight trains, and the function and design of the various components of the engine. The authors also outline the reasons behind the safe and efficient operation and maintenance of steam locomotives. Although the steam locomotive originated in the UK, there were parallel lines of development in North America and in various other European countries, many of which introduced their own individual features. These are dealt with in the book, which will appeal to railway enthusiasts throughout the world.

Following the success of John Hunt's previous volumes on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and the healthy on going demand for these volumes, the desire for more is seemingly unabated!Considerable further rare and interesting past images have come to light since the publication of the third Past & Present volume in the series and John has been persuaded to venture forth to capture the present day scene. Many new locations have been visited and once again responding to popular demand the line from Whitby to Middlesborough and branches has been included in this brand new offering.Such has been the popularity of the hardback Limited Editions of previous Past & Present volumes with 32 extra pages, signed by the author and including Subscribers names* we are once again offering this Limited Edition of this new volume subject to sufficient demand.