This is the shocking true story behind the botched introduction of Automatic Half-Barrier level-crossings into Britain. January 1968 saw the convening of the first Parliamentary Court of Inquiry into a railway accident in Britain since the Tay Bridge Disaster nearly a century before. Why was this? Because Britain's 'Railway Detectives', the Railway Inspectorate, who would normally investigate all aspects of railway safety, were also in charge of the introduction of automatic Continental-style, level-crossings into this country. At Hixon in Staffordshire, one of these newly installed 'robot' crossings on British Rail's flagship Euston to Glasgow mainline, was the scene of a fatal high-speed collision between a packed express train and an enormous, heavily laden low-loader. For once, the 'Railway Detectives' were the ones having to explain their actions, in the full glare of media attention, to an expectant and increasingly worried nation. (There was another awful, fatal collision at an automatic crossing at Beckingham, Lincolnshire, in April of 1968). Using previously undisclosed information, the author has been able to cast fresh light on to not only the Hixon Disaster, but also the extraordinary story of the largely successful attempts, by British Railways and the Railway Inspectorate of the time, to hide the truth of just how close we came to having dozens of 'Hixons' right across the rail network.

The world's most scenic rail ride. A journey on Canada's transcontinental railroad ranks as one of the greatest rail experiences in the world. Stretching from the Atlantic to the Pacific, the lines span 3974 miles, taking in not only several of North America's finest cities but also some of the most dramatic scenery on earth, including the spectacular Rocky Mountains. * Fully revised 6th edition - entirely re-researched. * Mile-by-mile route guide - what to see along the route, with 32 rail route maps. * Rail travel for all budgets - information from the cheapest rail tickets with shoestring accommodation in the cities along the route to the most luxurious guided tours. * City guides and maps - the best sights, recommended hotels and restaurants in 10 major stops along the lines: Halifax, Quebec City, Montreal, Toronto, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Jasper, Calgary, Churchill and Vancouver. * Railway history - the rail link that created modern Canada.

In the prelude to the privatisation of BR the Provincial Sector (later Regional Railways) became responsible for local / secondary train services and initiated the refurbishment of 31 Class 37 locomotives, fitted with train heating equipment - hence designated Class 37/4 - to support the shortfall of DMU trainsets. Their initial task was to work services on Scottish lines radiating from Inverness to points north and Glasgow to service the West Highland Line with a small batch based in South Wales to service Cambrian Line services and services from Cardiff traversing the Marches Line to serve Liverpool. These services were soon replaced by Sprinter trainsets thus releasing the fleet to other duties including freight operators hence, at privatisation in April 1994, the fleet became owned by freight companies who subsequently hired locomotives to both other freight companies and passenger operators. Throughout their working life the fleet members have proved invaluable and capable of powering a variety of services whose history confirms both the locomotives' adaptability and prowess in handling the duties allocated to them. Fred Kerr's book seeks to show this adaptability by detailing the reason for their initial creation and the tasks successfully undertaken once released from their initial roles as support for the shortage of DMU trainsets. The advent of privatisation saw an increased demand for their go-anywhere do anything' ability which is also displayed by the range of photographs that illustrate the wide range of duties performed by class members. Once withdrawn from service some class members were purchased for preservation and - such was their adaptability - that preserved examples were hired by train operators to cover duties that no other class of diesel locomotive was capable of achieving.

A safe mode of transport today, the railways were far from vehicles of sleepy commute when they first came into service; indeed, accidents were commonplace and sometimes were a result of something far more sinister. In this fresh approach to railway history, Rosa Matheson explores the grim and grisly railway past. These horrible happenings include memorable disasters and accidents, the lack of burial grounds for London's dead, leading to the 'Necropolis Railway', the gruesome necessity of digging up the dead to accommodate the railways and how the discovery of dynamite gave rise to the 'Dynamite Wars' on the London Underground in the 1880s and 1890s. Join Rosa as she treads carefully through the fascinating gruesome history of Britain's railways.

'I remember how excited I was when I saw my first diesel. I was waiting for the usual West Country Class to come through Hampden Park when a Class 33 arrived instead. It was the talk of all the trainspotters at the junior school.' Author Mick Hymans' excitement soon turned to resentment as diesels replaced his beloved steam engines. They became rarer and rarer until in 1968 they disappeared altogether. Today the diesel engine enjoys a vast following in its own right. Preserved railways now run 'diesel days', steam-free days, which prove to be some of the most popular events in their calendars. Covering the whole railway system from the north of Scotland and Wales right down to Cornwall, British Rail Diesels presents a wide collection of photographs illustrating a lost world on the nation's railways.

The West Coast Main Line and the line from Kilmarnock south to Gretna were both built to ensure that passenger services from Scotland would connect to towns and cities in England and, more importantly, that it would open up markets for both manufactured goods and mineral traffic, principally coal, which at that time was required in vast quantities for both industrial and domestic use. The line south from Glasgow to Stranraer was to provide a connection with the ferries for both goods and passengers to and from Ireland. Lines to multiple destinations on the Clyde Coast connected with ferries to various islands for an ever-increasing volume of commuter traffic. The various changes to motive power, liveries and services over the last 30 years are reflected in the illustrations, which also record the demise of the once huge volume of coal traffic. South of Edinburgh, there is a look at the Borders Railway, which, when it was opened in 2015, was the longest line to be reopened within the UK. With over 170 colour photographs, this book takes the reader on a journey throughout the south and west of Scotland.

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.

This album of 160 colour photographs was taken in the Southern Region of B.R., which was formerly the lines constituting the Southern Railway. Bill Reed took the pictures between 1958 and 1967 during a number of visits to stations, sheds and areas offering attractive vantage points of locomotives. From Greater London in the north, at sheds and stations including Bricklayers Arms, Feltham and Victoria, to Brighton, Southampton and Bournemouth on the south coast. Dover and Folkestone in the south east were visited as well as Exeter, Yeovil and Wadebridge on the south west. The Isle of Wight is also included as the area was incorporated into the S.R. upon Grouping and later the Southern Region of B.R. This book contains a selection of photographs taken on numerous branch lines around the region and these are particularly evocative of the final years of steam under B.R. operation. From a modern perspective they also give an indication why there was such an eagerness on the part of B.R. for their closure. Many of the lines utilized locomotives that had been in service for a number of years and were perhaps coming to the end of their life span.

The Southern Railway, today headquartered at Chennai, Tamil Nadu, is the earliest of the seventeen zones of the Indian railway that is vital in connecting the different regions of this vast country. Originally, it dates from British rule in India when the Great Southern India Railway Co. was established with its headquarters in Britain, running an impressive 1,121 miles of track. Unique in its revenue being derived from passengers and not freight, today more than five million passengers travel on what used to be the South Indian Railway network every year. This famous account was originally published by South Indian Railway Co. Ltd in 1900. Culturally important, it is the classic guide to visiting the south of India and travelling on this illustrious railway. Providing a detailed description of the railway itself, it also divulges useful information for travellers, outlines the tourist routes and itineraries and contains fascinating insights in to the country itself, from general history and religions to sport and architecture.

Windswept vistas. Scorched canyons. Glorious scenes of snow and ice. This book shows the North American landscape in all its breathtaking glory, cleaved by the continent's powerful locomotives and captured in a series of stunning original photographs by leading railway artist Mike Danneman. Evoking the romance, drama and beauty of the railways, this wonderful collection of images presents the full breadth of jaw-dropping backdrops offered by this vast expanse of land. The contrast between raw motive power and bucolic peace creates scenes that will delight anybody who wants to enjoy the full majesty of North America from their own home.

John Dixon (1835-1891) was one of the generation of British contractors who built railways, bridges and other civil engineering works around the world. Today most are generally forgotten, a fate entirely undeserved by the man who erected Cleopatra's Needle on the Thames Embankment and who built the first railway in China. John Dixon was competent and self-confident, with the boundless enthusiasm and energy typical of Victorian contractors. Had his tender for the construction of the Forth Railway Bridge been accepted, and it was the lowest tender received, history would have treated him differently. This book describes the life and works of John, his bridges, railways, jetties, seaside piers and other projects. His wider business interests, his professional colleagues and his family life are also covered. It includes an explanation of why his tender for the Forth Bridge was unsuccessful, but only mentions Cleopatra's Needle briefly as this is worthy of another book. Indeed, John's brothers, Sir Raylton Dixon (1838-1901) and Waynman Dixon (1845-1930) were also distinguished engineers and it is hoped to publish similar books on their careers. John, Raylton and Waynman Dixon were members of the same Dixon family, from Raby, Cockfield and Newcastle upon Tyne, as was Jeremiah Dixon of Mason-Dixon Line fame.

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 way it was - an Historical perspective; traffic connected to an agriculture based economy, including a look at broccoli traffic etc. Supporting photos mainly steam from the 1950s (more b&w but some colour). - Milk traffic. A brief history with a more detailed (mainly pictorial) look at individual dairies from 1960s through to the end in 1981. Locations including Torrington, Lapford, Hemyock, Seaton Jn, Chard Jn, Totnes and Lostwithiel. A little steam, more diesel hydraulic and ending with diesel electric classes (mix of b&w and colour, weighted towards the former.) - China Clay. Probably the largest section of the book, perhaps 20%+. A bit of history with a few steam photos, but also a more detailed pictorial look at those loading points active from the 1970s to the present such as Burngullow and the Parkandillack branch, Par Harbour, Goonbarrow Jn, Fowey docks, Wenford, Moorswater and Plymouth. Views inclg related buildings, wagons etc (mainly colour). - Ball clay; Meeth and Heathfield branches - mainly 1970s to the end in early 2000's. - Grain and Fertiliser traffic; a short section, mainly on the Truro, Plymouth & Lapford service in the 1990s. - Coal.A general look, but majoring on Exmouth Jn Coal concentration depot (1967-92). Also 1990s flows for Plymstock cement works and Falmouth Docks. - Oil. Traffic flows to Exeter, Heathfield, Plymouth and Hayle Wharves etc (1970s to the end in 2012). - MOD. A shortish section, dealing with traffic to local bases, including nuclear from Devonport Dockyard. (1970s on). - Scrap Metal - from Plymouth, Exeter and St Blazey. (1970s on). - Cement. A brief look back to the 1960s-70s; Exeter Central, Plymouth and Chacewater in the 1980s; also the more recent Moorswater flow. - Timber. Traffic from Lapford (1980s), Exeter (1990s), Teignbridge & Exeter (present). - Aggregate. ( Mainly Mendip Rail to Exeter from 1990s on). - 'Speedlink', 'Enterprise' etc. Wagonload from 1970s to the end (2000s). Including a look at various locations, including Barnstaple, Whimple (cider), Pinhoe (bricks), Exeter, Plymouth, Cornwall (calcified seaweed) etc. - A short look at a couple of special 'one off' traffics. (1990s) - A section on 'civils' traffic, p.w. work trains. (Length might depend on space available after the above!), and - Railway ballast trains, mainly from Meldon Quarry (a little steam, photos from 1960s to the end). - Weed killers, RHTT and test trains.( Photos under the different sections could include some wagon views. All photos from 1990s on probably in colour; prior to that would be a mix.)

The first edition of this popular volume has been out of print for several years and has become much sought after. Produced in black and white, the first edition was the first volume in the series taking a detailed regional look at the Beeching Report, its proposals for closures and modifications of the UK railway network. The report has become legendary and the interest and debate it generated is no less today than it has ever been since first published. Indeed with railways now rejuvinated and passenger numbers growing ever larger, the reflection on what Beeching got right and what perhaps in hindsight got very badly wrong makes for fascinating reading. This new expanded 2nd edition has been completely reworked and is now published with colour illustrations both new and replacing the original black & white images where possible. The text has been expanded and updated as appropriate and there are 32 extra pages bringing the total extent to 192pp.

R.J. (Ron) Buckley's photographs illustrate the locomotive scene in Scotland, witnessed across his long career on the railways. This evocative collection of images commemorates the age of steam and reveals the changes wrought across that era, from the 1930s ex- Highland 'Castle' and 'Clan' 4-6-0s and the graceful looking ex-Great North of Scotland 4-4-0s, to the ex-North British 'Glen' and 'Scott' 4-4-0s, the Caledonian 4-4-0s, numerous 0-6-0 classes and the few Glasgow and South Western locomotives still working. By the early 1950s all the ex-Glasgow and South Western locomotives had gone and there were few ex-Highland or Great North of Scotland locomotives in service, but many ex-North British and Caledonian locomotives could still be seen. It is a must-have volume for Scottish railway enthusiasts.

Narrow Gauge in the Tropics is the first comprehensive history of railways and tramways in the Dutch East Indies (modern Indonesia) from breaking ground in 1864 to the invasion of the Japanese during World War II. During the mid-19th century under colonial rule, the Dutch East Indies experienced enormous increases in production of sugar, coffee, and other commodities, resulting in a great dilemma: How were these goods to be moved to port when wagons hauled by animals was the only available form of transportation? The solution was to build a railway network through some of the most challenging terrain on the planet. Lavishly illustrated, Narrow Gauge in the Tropics explores technical aspects of the construction of the railways over difficult terrain, the origin of the technicians who made the seemingly impossible happen, and the social impact of the railways on the indigenous population.

The aim of this series is to appeal to readers of all ages, perhaps for different reasons...In this volume: We travel back to the year 1962 For the younger reader there are wonderful pictures of trains, real trains. There will, for example, be tank engines, steam engines, electric trains and multiple units and many more varieties besides! Some will be recognised from train sets, model railways and books, while others will be seen for the first time. For the older reader the books are designed to build into a collection placing the railway in the context of key events thus providing an historical perspective of travel in times past. For those old enough to remember the years depicted, the series will, we hope, provide reminders for many of school days, time perhaps spent train-spotting, shed bashing and generally gricing! The books also make ideal theme gifts for the year of birth, marriage, retirement, starting work and other such events in life.