The Railroad Photography of Phil Hastings explores the life and influential work of Dr. Philip R. "Phil" Hastings (1923–1987). Along with his contemporaries, Hastings changed the way we look at the North American railroad. Influenced by the photojournalistic movement that developed during their childhoods, these visionaries expanded their work from traditional locomotive roster and action shots into a holistic view of the railroad environment. Collated by Tony Reevy, The Railroad Photography of Phil Hastings features 140 full-page, black-and-white photographs from throughout Hasting's career and features an introduction that explores Hastings's life and work, including his relationships with noted author and editor David P. Morgan and photographer Jim Shaughnessy. The Railroad Photography of Phil Hastings represents a major contribution to historical record of the life and work of this remarkable photographer, whose images shaped how we perceive and experience railroads throughout North America.

The Bodmin & Wenford Railway is one of the most scenic of Britain's preserved lines, and the combination of steam and Cornish countryside proves irresistible for thousands of visitors each year. This 25th volume in the Recollections series coincides with the 25th anniversary of first trains running on the preserved line and embarks on a fascinating 'trip down the line' photographic tour of the railway, taking us from the main line at Bodmin Parkway to Bodmin General and along the branch to Boscarne Junction and onwards to Wenford, which the B&W has long-term plans to re-open. We also lookback in time with classic black & white images. There are evocative period photographs from the days of the Great Western and Southern Railways, and BR. Essential behind-the-scenes activities in engine sheds and workshops are not forgotten. The views will be of absorbing interest to many, making this book the ideal companion for all who know the line, rail enthusiasts, visitors and locals alike.

One of several Light Railways once under the control of the legendary Colonel Stephens, the KESR was closed in stages between 1954 and 1961. Part was subsequently preserved, and the contrast between the stretches left to nature and those brought back to life by the preservationists is a clear tribute to more than 25 years of progress.

Peter J Green first photographed Class 50 diesels in action in 1975, while they were still being transferred from the London Midland to the Western Region of British Rail. But it was in the early 1980s, when they were named and painted in Large Logo livery, that his interest in the class really took off. For Peter, they stood out from most other locomotives that were painted in the rather drab Rail Blue livery. The sound of the locomotives, particularly when running at speed, was also very impressive, producing shouts of '50!' from waiting photographers, even before the train was in sight. The class became a particular target for his railway photography and many of his trips were made with them in mind. They regularly worked trains around his home town of Worcester, so if he did not want to go too far, it was easy to find a satisfactory subject at which to point his camera. Before their withdrawal in the late 1980s and early 1990s, they were used on many railtours, which always provided good photographic opportunities. Today, with many of the class working on heritage railways, and a number of privately owned locomotives registered for main line use, there is still plenty to keep his cameras occupied. A selection of Peter's best photos of the Class 50 diesels, taken over a period of forty-five years, appear in these pages.

In this fourth and final volume in this popular series, Paul covers the remaining sectors of the Rail Freight business from 1968 to the present day. The types of traffic covered include: * Container traffic * Charterail * Channel Tunnel Intermodal * Chemicals * Nuclear traffic * Milk * Parcels, mail and newspapers Using predominantly his own illustrations Paul examines in detail the changing scene. 1968 saw the end of steam on British Rail and this in itself had a massive impact on the operation of Britain's railways. Gone were the labour intensive steam locomotive depots and many of the rural goods depots. In their place were new diesel and electric traction depots with a wide variety of locomotive types - cleaner to operate and more efficient to run. However many were experimental in nature and breakdowns were not un-common. Gradually even the larger Goods depots were being replaced with larger concentrated freight yards. New methods of handling the goods came in with the advent of containers designed to be used by rail, road and sea. Waggons were larger and carried higher and higher capacities, specialist loading and unloading facilities meant new traffic flows were needed as demand for movement by rail having gone through a massive decline began to recover and the industry is seeing considerable growth potential going forward.

Simon Bradley traces the history of the station, introducing us to the men behind the architecture and looks at its new international status. This fine new edition includes a fascinating chapter on the new hotel and some timely revisions bringing it fully up to date. 'A marvellous piece of social, aesthetic and technological history... it is impossible to praise Bradley's book too highly' A. N. Wilson, Daily Telegraph 'Brilliantly and with deft hand, Simon Bradley makes sense of it all ... fabulous' Sunday Telegraph 'A masterpiece of historical context ... immensely readable' Sunday Times 'This fine book examines the history of both the church that gave the station its name and the railway terminus ... unexpectedly compelling' Daily Mail

Whitland to Pembroke Dock is the latest book in the West Wales Railways series which continues the previous South Wales Main Line series covering the line from the Severn Tunnel through to ends of the main line in West Wales. This volume covers the section from Whitland to Pembroke Dock, a largely agricultural and holiday line, centring on Tenby and Pembroke. The line was worked by Whitland depot which was a steam sub-shed of Neyland, with its own allocation, mainly of tank engines. These worked the Cardigan and Pembroke Dock branches until the former was closed under the Beeching closures of the mid-1960s, when the engine shed was closed under dieselisation in 1964\. The volume of freight traffic was radically affected by the withdrawal of goods sundries and parcels traffic, but especially by the withdrawal of wagon load freight traffic in 1976, which had brought much Animal Feed and Farming traffic to the line. Like much of South Wales, the traffic is now purely passenger with DMUs though Summer Saturdays still sees a through train now with IETs to and from Paddington, carrying on the service from HSTs. The previous Pembroke Coast Express in steam and early diesel days was the prime train on the branch running to and from Paddington and is still reproduced in the modern preserved steam special workings.

Following the success of the author's two volume set on 'The Rhymney Railway', the natural follow on was to explore the history of the Taff Vale railway. Such has been the depth of the author's research this project has resulted in a need for three copiously illustrated volumes.

Designed specifically for the UK market, this is a translated edition of a European railway atlas originally published in Germany by Schweers & Wall in 2013. It covers all the countries in Europe up to the Russian, Belorussian and Ukranian borders. The mapping is at 1:2 000 000 scale to enable clear representation of each line in each country (names of lines are shown) together with all significant stations. There is additional detailed mapping of the rail systems in the major urban centres of Europe. Single and double track is differentiated, as well as electrically operated lines. Tourist or preserved railways and narrow gauge lines are also shown. Other features shown on the mapping include marshalling yards, intermodal stations (container terminals), combined rail-road transport, stations with timber loading, logistics statations, locations of gauge conversion, motive power depots, mines, ferries, tramways, cableways, metro systems and airports. A useful and detailed introduction outlines how the pan-European rail network works, and there are detailed maps on special features such as high-speed stretches, scenic rail routes, railways in books and films and summaries of national rail system operations. There is also an extensive index. All those planning to travel by rail in Europe or just interested in the railway networks of the various countries in Europe will find this book a practical and informative guide.

The area of King's Cross has witnessed a dramatic transformation, with a new city rising above, alongside and within some of the country's most compelling railway heritage. The former Railway Lands remain extraordinarily rich in historical features, yet those who now reside, work, study, dine or play in this new world will find their origins hard to decipher. The Great Northern Railway, with its stations, goods depots, locomotive sheds, coal yards and stables at King's Cross, served the needs of the ever-growing metropolis, experiencing growth in the nineteenth century, competition for trade, weakness between the wars, and the high age of steam. After the demise of steam, the decaying industrial landscape was colonised by a variety of new enterprises, invaded by clubbers, contested by developers and the community, and captured by artists and photographers. In The King's Cross Story Peter Darley explores and illuminates the fascinating history of the Railway Lands over the last 200 years, tracing the evolution of its historical features through time and space.

Do you love trains? Do you love adventure? If so, join Tom Chesshyre on his meandering rail journey across Europe from London to Venice. Escaping the rat race for a few happy weeks, Chesshyre indulges in the freedom of the tracks. From France (dogged by rail worker strikes), through Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and Poland he goes, travelling as far east as Odessa by the Black Sea in Ukraine. With no set plans, simply a desire to let the trains lead the way, his trip takes him onwards via Hungary, the Balkans and Austria. Along the way he enjoys many an encounter, befriending fellow travellers as well as a conductor or two. This is a love letter to Europe, written from the trackside.

From the very start, when George Stephenson's famous Rocket knocked over and killed a government minister at the opening of the Liverpool to Manchester line in 1830, the world's railways have given rise to intriguing stories. In this fascinating book, updated with a new selection of tales, railway buff Tom Quinn explores the bizarre side of train travel, featuring weird weather conditions, audacious robberies, hair-raising accidents, vanishing passengers, an infestation of maggots and a mysterious missing mummy. From the dawn of rail travel, when speeds of 15mph were considered dangerous to health and people mistook engines for fire-breathing demons, through the Victorian heyday of royal trains and seaside specials to today's more prosaic leaves on the line, this whistlestop tour through railways' long and storied history is the perfect gift for armchair travelers, history fans and trainspotters.

Bristol is one of the best cities in the world for exploring on foot and the Severn Beach Line - once hailed as one of Britain's most scenic railways - is the gateway to some of its finest sights. The walks in this guide range from short strolls exploring Georgian crescents and city parks to all-day excursions through ancient woodlands, eighteenth-century estates and spectacular river gorges. Among the places visited are St Anne's Woods, Arno's Vale, the Floating Harbour, Royate Hill, the Frome Valley, St Paul's, Kingsdown, Montpelier, Redland and Cotham, St Werburgh's, Purdown, Stoke Park, Frenchay, Oldbury Court, Westbury on Trym, Clifton and Hotwells, Leigh Woods, Coombe Dingle, Blaise Castle, Kingsweston, Bishop's Knoll, Pill and Paradise Bottom, Patchway and the Three Brooks, and Ashton Court, while the final walk heads from Severn Beach over the Severn Bridge to the Wales Coast Path. With a brief history of the Severn Beach Line and a description of a journey along it, this book is an indispensable companion not only for anyone lucky enough to live near the line, but also for anyone who can catch a train to Bristol and explore it from there.

Daniel Defoe's Incredible Train Journey describes the odyssey undertaken by two eccentric pensioners as they travel on every mile of railway track in the UK. Surreal and poignant by turns, Stuart Campbell describes the people they meet and the unwanted adventures that befall them. He is aided and abetted by the ghost of Daniel Defoe, writer, soldier, businessman and spy who completed his own journey in the 1720s.

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 coastal and mountain scenery around the railway lines of North and Mid Wales is among the best in Great Britain. Here we look at the British Railways lines and the trains that ran on them in the years between 1980 and 2000, as recorded by my cameras during my many visits to the area. A few photographs from earlier years are also included to help to complete the picture. During this period of time, quite a lot of mechanical signalling and many old station buildings still remained, all adding to the railway atmosphere. Featured here are the North Wales Coast line and its branches, the former Cambrian line from Welshpool to Aberystwyth and Pwllheli, and the Welsh section of the Shrewsbury to Chester line. While the emphasis is very much on the main lines, the Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway, closed by British Railways in 1956 and reopened as a heritage railway, and the Llangollen Railway on a section of the former Ruabon to Barmouth line also feature, as does the Vale of Rheidol Railway, sold by British Rail into private ownership in 1989\. A few photographs of the steam specials that regularly ran on the main lines are also included.

This third volume in the series on the Great Western Castle class locomotives focuses on the eight that have been preserved and goes into depth on the reconstruction of three of them, the two Tyseley ones, 5043 and 7029 described by Bob Meanley and Didcot's 4079 recounted by David Maidment from the records of the Great Western Society, including the full story of 4079's prolonged stay in Western Australia, its return to the UK and subsequent restoration. The history of all eight is covered and copiously illustrated, including over 100 colour photographs, with many during the restoration work by Bob Meanley and in operation by David Maidment. The book includes records of their operation and performance since restoration when some of the most remarkable performances of these locomotives were achieved.