'Dining at speed' on a train still holds an aura of comfort, privilege and luxury, yet can be experienced by almost anybody. Starting from the very earliest days, and looking at the trains, the vehicles and the menus at home and abroad, here, is the illustrated story of how and why it happened, and the prospects for the future.

In Overhaul, historians Richard Flint and Shirley Cushing Flint present the largely forgotten story of Albuquerque's locomotive repair shops, which were the driving force behind the city's economy for more than seventy years. In the course of their study they also document the thousands of skilled workers who kept the locomotives in operation, many of whom were part of the growing Hispano and Native American middle class. Their critical work kept the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe's steam trains running and established and maintained Albuquerque's unique character in the region. Including a generous selection of historic photographs, Overhaul provides a glimpse into the people, places, culture, and special history found in Albuquerque's locomotive shops during the boom of steam railroading. The Flints provide an engaging and informative account of how these shops and workers played a crucial role in the formation and development of the Duke City.

Great American Railroad Journeys sees the famous brand of social-history-cum-travelogue venture to the New World. Across multiple programmes and using Appleton's General Guide To The United States & Canada as reference, Michael Portillo now undertakes an epic trip by train from New York and Boston on the East Coast down to the Deep South of Atlanta and New Orleans, then on to Chicago, Colorado, New Mexico and ultimately finishing in San Francisco. This lavishly illustrated official tie-in covers each journey Portillo makes across North America and captures the colour, beauty, history and exhilaration experienced when journeying through this incredible continent.    Packed with new maps, as well as originals from Appleton's General Guide, this book explores the construction of rail routes across the continent in the 1800s, as a new nation was built by the immigrant masses. Truly this is a colourful and exciting enterprise, with vignettes of revealing social history displaying the rich tapestry of the peoples who established themselves in this vast new world. Great American Railroad Journeys is a must-have purchase for any fan of this unique and award-winning travel series.   

The accomplishments, and initiatives, both social and economic, of Edward Watkin are almost too many to relate. Though generally known for his large-scale railway projects, becoming chairman of nine different British railway companies as well as developing railways in Canada, the USA, Greece, India and the Belgian Congo, he was also responsible for a stream of remarkable projects in the nineteenth century which helped shape people's lives inside and outside Britain. As well as holding senior positions with the London and North Western Railway, the Worcester and Hereford Railway and the Manchester, Sheffield & Lincolnshire Railway, Watkin became president of the Grand Trunk Railway of Canada. He was also director of the New York, Lake Erie and Western Railways, as well as the Athens-Piraeus Railway. Watkin was also the driving force in the creation of the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway's 'London Extension' - the Great Central Main Line down to Marylebone in London. This, though, was only one part of his great ambition to have a high-speed rail link from Manchester to Paris and ultimately to India. This, of course, involved the construction of a Channel tunnel. Work on this began on both sides of the Channel in 1880 but had to be abandoned due to the fear of invasion from the Continent. He also purchased an area of Wembley Park, serviced by an extension of his Metropolitan Railway. He developed the park into a pleasure and events destination for urban Londoners, which later became the site of Wembley Stadium. It was also the site of another of Watkin's enterprises, the 'Great Tower in London' which was designed to be higher than the Eiffel Tower but was never completed. Little, though, is known about Watkin's personal life, which is explored here through the surviving diaries he kept. The author, who is the chair of The Watkin Society, which aims to promote Watkin's life and achievements, has delved into the mind of one of the nineteenth century's outstanding individuals.

With its lake and coastal steamer fleet and its branches forming the ideal 'Gateway to Lakeland', the Furness Railway is remembered with affection by both local people and holidaymakers. Happily most of the routes still exist; the main route still serves the scenic coastal area, and the Lakeside branch is now one of Britain's thriving preserved lines.

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.

Freight operations on Britain's rail network have changed enormously in the last two decades. In this book author and photographer Paul D. Shannon surveys the changes in the rail freight scene since the year 2000. With superb colour photographs he illustrates the different freight operating companies in this period, the wide range of traction that they have used and the variety of wagons that could be seen. Views include the terminals, both sea ports and inland. There was a wide range of goods carried in this period, from aggregates and cement for the construction industry, minerals and waste, including china clay, gypsum and potash, to metals and energy materials such as coal, nuclear and biomass. Intermodal freight carrying containers is also important, and other logistical freight operations include mail and parcels. Although the wagonload network has declined in this period, loads such as timber continue and also niche markets such as bottled water. With an array of superb photographs, Paul D. Shannon offers a fascinating overview of the recent and present-day freight scene in Britain.

Passenger Trains in the North of England features over 270 black and white pictures and takes the reader northbound from South Yorkshire and Cheshire to the Scottish Borders. Also covered in detail are a wide selection of pictures from Cumbria, West and North Yorkshire among others. We see main line expresses, branch line and local trains, plus special workings running along today's railways and lines that have faded into history. Steam, diesel and electric powered trains are pictured right across the North of England including industrial and city views plus a great selection taking in the highly picturesque locations of the northern hills and Dales. Embracing a period of 65 years the book features images from as early as 1957 right through the late steam era up to the present day. The stars of the book are obviously the trains of the past, but just as important are the top photographers who have kindly provided these high-quality pictures for your enjoyment. While the author has sneaked a few of his own efforts in, the main contributions come from the great names of the railway photography world including Gavin Morrison, Les Nixon, Peter Fitton, John Whiteley, John Cooper Smith and others.

The slogan 'The Last Best Place' certainly describes well the huge state of Montana, which stretches some 630 miles across and is located in the north-western United States. Three railroad main lines once spanned its width, but the unfortunate abandonment of the Milwaukee Road left only the Great Northern and Northern Pacific routes, now Burlington Northern, to move the tonnage. Union Pacific also reached into the state from Utah in the southwest, the earliest line built into the territory by predecessors arriving in mineral-rich Butte in 1881. Today, over 3,000 miles of track cross Montana through 'Big Sky Country', climbing magnificent mountain passes and sweeping across the great prairies that prevail in the eastern portion of the territory. Dynamic BNSF dominates the railroad scene, with remarkable Montana Rail Link providing an important link in Montana railroading. UP and several short line operators provide added colour to the trains in the 'Treasure State,' making the railroads of Montana a visual gem.

Last Train to Paradise is acclaimed novelist Les Standiford’s fast-paced and gripping true account of the extraordinary construction and spectacular demise of the Key West Railroad—one of the greatest engineering feats ever undertaken, destroyed in one fell swoop by the Labor Day hurricane of 1935. Brilliant and driven entrepreneur Henry Flagler’s dream fulfilled, the Key West Railroad stood as a magnificent achievement for more than twenty-two years, heralded as “the Eighth Wonder of the World.” Standiford brings the full force and fury of 1935’s deadly “Storm of the Century” and its sweeping destruction of “the railroad that crossed an ocean” to terrifying life. Last Train to Paradise celebrates a crowning achievement of Gilded Age ambition in a sweeping tale of the powerful forces of human ingenuity colliding with the even greater forces of nature’s wrath.

“A dramatic story . . . and Les Standiford has a good deal of fun with it all.” —Washington Post Book World
“A rousing—a deeply sobering—story.” —Barbara Ehrenreich, author of Nickel and Dimed
“A fascinating and incredibly compelling account . . . I could not put it down.” —Donald Trump
“A definitive account of the engineering feat that became known as ‘Flagler’s Folly’. . . A rousing adventure."—Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The opening of the pioneering Liverpool and Manchester Railway in 1830 marked the beginning of the railways' vital role in changing the face of Britain. Fire and Steam celebrates the vision and determination of the ambitious Victorian pioneers who developed this revolutionary transport system and the navvies who cut through the land to enable a country-wide network to emerge. From the early days of steam to electrification, via the railways' magnificent contribution in two world wars, the chequered history of British Rail, and the buoyant future of the train, Fire and Steam examines the social and economical importance of the railway and how it helped to form the Britain of today.

Speed on steel wheels has fascinated engineers for nearly two centuries, and a string of stunning records in the last thirty years has pushed railway engineering towards new frontiers. Japan set the precedent with its legendary bullet trains in 1964; since then more than a dozen countries have joined the high-speed revolution. Today, China is setting the pace as it crafts a nationwide network of super-railways, and Morocco and Saudi Arabia have joined the club of nations where trains travel at 300km/h or more. The USA lags far behind, outpaced by Asia and Western Europe, where Eurostar links London to the international high-speed network - although a new-generation railway to northern England is still missing. In this new and updated edition of The Second Age of Rail, the full story of high-speed trains is retold in a journey across countries and continents.

Thomas is ready for the adventure of a lifetime! Thomas is excited to join Nia on safari in Kenya. But when he gets scared by the wild animals, Nia must teach him how useful they can be! Will Thomas be brave and make some new friends along the way? A beautifully-illustrated picture book with an action-packed adventure for Thomas and his friends. Thomas has been teaching children lessons about life and friendship for 75 years. He ranks alongside other beloved characters such as Paddington Bear, Winnie the Pooh and Peter Rabbit as and essential part of our literary heritage. Also available: Thomas the Hero 9781405296755 The Story of Thomas 9781405297448 Happy Birthday, Thomas 9781405297240

At one time, it seemed as though every canyon and pass leading into Colorado's high country was a path laid with 3-foot gauge narrow gauge railroad. Dreams of tapping the riches of mining discoveries in mountain locations made this almost true. But mining can be a fleeting adventure, and as the state matured, so too did the railroads that crisscrossed it. Many railways succumbed to disappearing tonnage, becoming trackless trails among the mountainsides. But on many routes, the railroads of Colorado have flourished and provide necessary transportation avenues for a modern economy. In addition, tucked away in several corners of the state are remnants of Colorado's narrow gauge past, still steam-powered and now lively to the tune of tourist dollars. Popular state slogan 'Colorful Colorado' describes this incredible place well, and is assuredly most appropriate while viewing the wonders of railroading in the spectacular Rocky Mountains of the West.

Following on from the author's previous successful books on Southern coaches, this volume looks at an additional selection of classes of coaches that operated on the Southern Railway and the Southern Region of BR that have not so far been covered. The book concentrates on pre-Grouping and BR Mark 1 types, and each is examined in detail in separate chapters. The detailed text is supplemented with scale drawings, photographs, set/coach numbering and some details of the services they worked upon and areas in which they could be found. This volume is aimed primarily at modellers and the drawings reproduced at 4mm scale.

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 42 mile long line between Fort William and Mallaig is one of the greatest railway journeys in the world. As it weaves its way through the beauty of the West Highlands, skirting lochs, clinging to hillsides, crossing over rivers and glens, through cuttings and tunnels it passes many natural and man-made 'extremes' along the way.The journey starts beneath Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in Britain, at the largest town in the West Highlands, Fort William. On the outskirts of the town it passes over the Caledonian Canal on a swing bridge at the foot of Neptune's Staircase, a set of eight locks which is the longest staircase lock in Great Britain. As it heads towards the banks of Loch Eil, the western sea entrance of the Caledonian Canal comes into view at Corpach.Glenfinnan is famous for one of the world's most recognisable structures, the twenty-one arch concrete viaduct immortalised in the 'Harry Potter' films. From it, the view along Loch Shiel, beyond the monument, is arguably the finest from any railway. The station houses a fascinating museum dedicated to the history of the line.The journey continues over the line's summit and along the banks of Loch Eilt, passed Lochailort, The White Chapel at Polnish and Loch Dubh. The first glimpse of the Atlantic Ocean comes as the second concrete viaduct, at Loch nan Uamh, is crossed. Heading inland the 1 in 48 Beasdale Bank is tackled before arriving at Arisaig, the farthest west station on British Railways. Here there are views across to Loch nan Ceall.As the train approaches the penultimate station on the line at Morar, passengers are afforded stunning views of the white sands the area is famous for and the line crosses another viaduct that spans the River Morar. This is thought to be the shortest river in the British Isles and flows from Loch Morar, the deepest freshwater Loch in the United Kingdom. Journeys end is Mallaig, the main commercial fishing port on the west coast of Scotland and terminal for a network of ferry services to the Western Isles; most notably the Isle of Skye. Steam hauled excursions have been a regular sight along the route since 1984 and this photographic album captures the experience of a trip along this line and the wild and wonderful landscape through which it passes.

Derbyshire is a county of contrasts, and the development of the railways reflect this. In Limestone Country in the west the LNW held sway with its railways from Ashbourne and Cromford to Buxton involved in the extraction of limestone. Meanwhile, in the east of the county, no fewer than four different companies fought over the lucrative business of coal carrying in the huge North Midlands Coalfield. From the historic railway town of Derby, the Midland Railway had routes south to London, west to Birmingham and north to Sheffield. In the north of the county was the MR's Hope Valley route, which included two of the longest tunnels in Britain. Further north still was the Great Central's Woodhead route carving its way through the gritstone. Altogether no fewer than six railway companies were represented in the county, including the Great Northern penetrating from the east, the North Staffordshire in the south-west and the Lancashire, Derbyshire & East Coast Railway with its transversal Chesterfield-Lincoln line. A complex but fascinating story, told using previously unpublished photographs, this book charts the development of the county's railways from the earliest days.

At its peak, the South Wales railway network was one of the most complex in the world. Its primary purpose was to transport Coal from source to point of consumption or export via the various docks. To this was added the other raw materials necessary for making Iron and ultimately Steel, together with the respective products of that industry. True, there was no glory in this day to day phenomenon and as a consequence, the area has been poorly represented in the annals of the British railway network. Even that paragon of railway publicity the Great Western, found easier plums to pick elsewhere on its system. However, in addition to the GW, the area was a magnet for the London & North Western, the Midland Railway and not to be forgotten, the 15 indigenous companies. Yet, in terms of traffic, engineering enterprise, operating practices and locomotive types, the area boasted an unequalled variety which this book attempts to reflect. Many of the photographs have not been published before and capture an essence of the variety to be found. The captions contain extensive details to supplement the photographic record enabling a more comprehensive appreciation and understanding of what was involved. It is difficult to appreciate the railway was once a Common Carrier obliged to convey any consignment offered. Even though Coal was predominant other traffic, including the more unusual, are also featured; Although of secondary importance in regard to revenue, Passenger services were carefully dovetailed into the intensive freight operation and matched any other location's provision. After the 1923 Grouping, the GW became the major player in South Wales. It absorbed all 15 of the independent companies and further extended its policy of standardisation. Nevertheless, where the smaller companies demonstrated good practices, these were embraced. The L&NW and MR elements became LMSR but still remained far flung tentacles from the parent. All this is recognised here albeit in proportion. The Gallery aims to provide a flavour of what the railways of South Wales had to offer and enlighten the reader as to its major part in the national network.

In the 1970s the introduction of the merry-go-round coal trains required a far more powerful loco, leading to the 3300 hp Class 56 being built. For general freight services, the Class 60 was developed. Both these types suffered from reliability problems in their early years. Several large stone companies in Somerset became frustrated with the constant loco problems that BR were having and decided to order their own locos, choosing General Motors in the USA to supply them. This resulted in the Class 59, which started service in 1986 and proved to be so effective that other Railfreight operators followed suit and ordered what became Class 66. Eventually, more than 400 entered service. This book of mostly unpublished colour photographs, taken by George Woods between 1966 until 2019, show the locos hauling a variety of trains all over the BR system.

These units were used by British Rail from the start of electrification in Glasgow in 1961. Initially the units worked between Helensburgh Central and Airdrie and various branch lines on the North Clyde area. They were later introduced to the South Clyde area in 1962, working from Glasgow Central to various destinations. This book covers both classes from the BR era through to privatisation and beyond. With the advent of more modern multiple units such as the Class 314 from 1979, a reduction in the use of the Class 303 and Class 311 took place. One Class 303 has survived into preservation at Bo'ness, and part of a Class 311 unit is based at the Summerlee Heritage Centre at Coatbridge near Glasgow.