This title deals with the fascination and excitement of world railway history, from Stephenson's Rocket to the modern age. With splendid illustrations and a sparkling narrative, it charters the fundamental stages and main events of railway history, from the birth of steam locomotion to modern high-speed trains. Divided into six sections, each chapter documents a significant period in the development of the railways and tells the stories of the key men, inventions, challenge and technological breakthroughs. 250 colour photographs

For almost 50 years, High Speed Trains (HSTs) have been the mainstay for express services for many operators in the UK. While they were used extensively by British Rail - even being dubbed the saviour of British Rail' - these trains have been used by other operators as well, including East Coast, Midland Mainline, and Virgin CrossCountry. However, following their mass withdrawal in 2018-19, when the Hitachi bi-mode units came on the scene, many of the HSTs were put into storage, or, sadly, scrapped altogether. Fortunately, not everyone followed suit. Some operators have been reconsidering their potential in recent times. Colas Rail acquired some to use as test trains operated for Network Rail, and Locomotive Services Ltd have two dedicated charter sets that are used throughout the UK. Illustrated with over 230 images, this book follows on from HSTs: The Western Region. It shows HSTs over the past 20-30 years, in numerous UK locations, highlighting why they have served so long and why they should be saved.

For 65 years Bowater's paper mills in Kent were served by an extensive 2ft 6in gauge railway system. This connected the original mill at Sittingbourne with the large mill at Kemsley and a private dock at Ridham. Thousands of tons of coal, china clay, recycled paper, wood pulp, logs and finished paper were hauled by a total of sixteen narrow gauge and three standard gauge locos, in a twenty four hour operation to keep the mills running. However, with the dawn of modernisation in 1969 a portion of the route and stock soon became the Sittingbourne and Kemsley Light Railway. Within this bright new volume renowned enthusiast and model maker, Dave Hammersley presents a nostalgic glimpse of the railway in Bowater's days, when the line was well-maintained and working round the clock. Steam locomotives appear around every corner, surrounded by dramatic industrial landscapes. Each of the engines is pictured alongside a concise description, finally concluding with a brief look at the first year of preservation. An entertaining read and a snapshot of an important moment in railway history, this book is a must have for railway enthusiasts nationwide!

Robert Ellis James-Robertson (but always known as Ellis) lived at Worcester from the mid-1950s and travelled extensively around the country building up a large railway archive. In the early 1960s a few of Ellis's photographs were published in books and magazines and the credit 'R. E. James-Robertson' may be familiar to some. This book of mainly unpublished colour and black and white photographs has been created entirely from Ellis's collection within about a 35 miles radius of Worcester, it will appeal to railway enthusiasts, modellers, and those with an interest in local history. The time period covered is from the mid-1950s through to the mid-1960s, steam is the predominant traction throughout together with occasional shots of early diesel power. Coverage includes much of Herefordshire, Gloucestershire, Warwickshire, and Worcestershire, plus the Birmingham area. Ellis and his wife Norah celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary in 2013, and Ellis passed on in April 2015 aged 92. Their daughters, Louisa and Fiona, contacted filmmaker and author Michael Clemens whose late father was a friend of Ellis's. Ellis's collection lives on today at films shows around the country given by the author and now in this first of a number of books using his photographic archive.

"Riveting...A great read, full of colorful characters and outrageous confrontations back when the west was still wild." --George R.R. Martin A propulsive and panoramic history of one of the most dramatic stories never told--the greatest railroad war of all time, fought by the daring leaders of the Santa Fe and the Rio Grande to seize, control, and create the American West. It is difficult to imagine now, but for all its gorgeous scenery, the American West might have been barren tundra as far as most Americans knew well into the 19th century. While the West was advertised as a paradise on earth to citizens in the East and Midwest, many believed the journey too hazardous to be worthwhile--until 1869, when the first transcontinental railroad changed the face of transportation. Railroad companies soon became the rulers of western expansion, choosing routes, creating brand-new railroad towns, and building up remote settlements like Santa Fe, Albuquerque, San Diego, and El Paso into proper cities. But thinning federal grants left the routes incomplete, an opportunity that two brash new railroad men, armed with private investments and determination to build an empire across the Southwest clear to the Pacific, soon seized, leading to the greatest railroad war in American history. In From the River to the Sea, bestselling author John Sedgwick recounts, in vivid and thrilling detail, the decade-long fight between General William J. Palmer, the Civil War hero leading the "little family" of his Rio Grande, and William Barstow Strong, the hard-nosed manager of the corporate-minded Santa Fe. What begins as an accidental rivalry when the two lines cross in Colorado soon evolves into an all-out battle as each man tries to outdo the other--claiming exclusive routes through mountains, narrow passes, and the richest silver mines in the world; enlisting private armies to protect their land and lawyers to find loopholes; dispatching spies to gain information; and even using the power of the press and incurring the wrath of the God-like Robber Baron Jay Gould--to emerge victorious. By the end of the century, one man will fade into anonymity and disgrace. The other will achieve unparalleled success--and in the process, transform a sleepy backwater of thirty thousand called "Los Angeles" into a booming metropolis that will forever change the United States. Filled with colorful characters and high drama, told at the speed of a locomotive, From the River to the Sea is an unforgettable piece of American history "that seems to demand a big-screen treatment" (The New Yorker).

All aboard! Discover all the foul facts behind the story of trains and railways across the world with history's most horrible headlines: locomotive edition. The master of making history fun, Terry Deary, turns his attention to the tracks. From the puffing pioneers of the British railways, Victorians who worked down in the mines to the money grabbing railroad surveyors in the United States steam rolling the industrial revolution forwards, the abysmal accidents to the badly built bridges, smoky tales, tunnel disasters and more, it's all in Horrible Histories: Right on Track: fully illustrated throughout and packed with hair-raising stories - with all the horribly hilarious bits included with a fresh take on the classic Horrible Histories style, perfect for fans old and new the perfect series for anyone looking for a fun and informative read Horrible Histories has been entertaining children and families for generations with books, TV, stage show, magazines, games and 2019's brilliantly funny Horrible Histories: the Movie - Rotten Romans. Get your history right here and collect the whole horrible lot. Read all about it!

Join Thomas and his friends for a festive adventure! In this beautifully-illustrated picture book, Thomas and Percy must work against the clock to clear the snow and deliver the presents for Christmas. Can they make it in time? Thomas and Percy were really excited for Christmas Day. They were busy getting their jobs done when they found out that the presents hadn't been delivered to the villagers! Find out if our beloved engines can save Christmas in this wonderful picture book adventure. Thomas has been teaching children lessons about lift and friendship for 75 years. He ranks alongside other beloved characters such as Paddington Bear, Winnie the Pooh and Peter Rabbit as an essential part of our literary heritage.

Paddington is one of London's-indeed the world's-great railway stations. Designed basically by Brunel, although others contributed, it has served its intended purpose of providing a starting point and a culmination of countless journeys between the capital, the West Country, the Midlands, Merseyside, Wales and beyond, to Ireland and America, for over 180 years. In a highly illustrated book we look at the trains, steam diesel and electric, which have served it, the people who have passed through, and have worked there. We also consider its surroundings, which were once the fields belonging to Westbourne Manor House, where its locomotive depot would be built. A little further out was Old Oak Common, now deep in inner suburbia, the GWRs largest depot, still the home of the High Speed Trains and used as a depot for the Cross Rail construction. The approach to Paddington involved negotiating a fascinating complex of lines, serving both goods and passenger traffic, signal boxes and semaphore signals galore. To this day it is the only main line London station served by surface Underground trains.

For the third and final portrayal of the southern railway in the years of World War 2, this exciting volume aims to present something rather different to the reader. With a further selection of unseen images of the railway in its damaged and destroyed state, this title gives an informative and real-life picture of the Southern during the World War 2 era. In addition to these previously unseen images, this wartime special takes an in-depth look at the human effort involved through records of the bravery of the staff during these hard times. The citations included in this volume make for a humbling experience and a truly inspirational read outlining the courage, bravery, and outstanding efforts of those working on and linked with the Southern Railways during the devastating times of World War 2.

In series with the main 'Southern Way' volumes, this 96 page book looks at things that went wrong on the railway - sometimes unavoidable, sometimes misfortune and sometimes just sheer bad luck. Nothing too macabre either, instead derailments, clear ups, and incident-causing delays, plus of course Bulleid's that got a bit hot under the casing! This primarily pictorial volume covers the period of both Southern Region and Southern Railway days plus a few earlier occurrences. The photographer sometimes unwittingly affording a glimpse of a background scene rarely seen elsewhere.

George Stephenson is among the most famous engineers of all time. His rise from 'rags to riches' is a stirring story of its kind, but many of the works attributed to him should in fact be credited to young subordinates, not least his son, Robert. But much of the work of innovative engineers for his period lay not in the work itself but in persuading people that such work was desirable and necessary. It was in this field that George Stephenson excelled, providing openings in which his young proteges could change the world. They did not let him down, and we should give him full credit for being 'The Father of the Railways'. Adrian Jarvis specialises in the engineering and finance of dock and harbour construction, on which he has published extensively, but he also has a strong interest in early railways and in the general history of technology. Another book for Shire by this author is: The Victorian Engineer

'Masterful.' - The Economist The Congo-Ocean railroad stands as one of the deadliest construction projects in history. It was completed in 1934, when Equatorial Africa was a French colony. African workers were conscripted at gunpoint, separated from their families and subjected to hellish conditions as they hacked their way through dense tropical foliage; excavated by hand thousands of tonnes of earth in order to lay down track; blasted their way through rock to construct tunnels; or risked their lives building bridges over otherwise impassable rivers. In the process, they suffered disease, malnutrition and rampant physical abuse, likely resulting in at least 20,000 deaths. Drawing on exhaustive research in French and Congolese archives, a chilling documentary record and eye-opening photographic evidence, J. P. Daughton tells the epic story of the Congo-Ocean railroad, and in doing so reveals the human costs and contradictions of modern empire.

This stunning book is a glorious celebration of all things train and track! Packed with stunning photography, The Train Book catalogues the development of trains from early steam to diesel engines and electric locomotives, explores in detail iconic trains such as the Palace on Wheels and the Orient Express, and chronicles the social, political, and cultural backdrop against which railways were built the world over. Profiling the best-loved railways and rail journeys of all time - from the Union-Pacific Railroad to the Trans-Siberian Railway - and the pioneers of train and track - from "Father of the Railways" George Stephenson to engineering legend Isambard Kingdom Brunel and Métro-maestro Fulgence Bienvenüe, The Train Book has something for every train enthusiast to love! The Train Book further features: - A truly international view of trains through time, from English steam to Japanese electric. - Tells the stories of key innovators, designers, and engineers responsible for advancing rail travel. - Double-page images capture the beauty of the railways and the challenges faced by the people who built them. A must-have gift book for anyone with an interest in trains, locomotives, and the history of the railway, this one-stop train guide is sure to delight.

Thomas is going on holiday! Join the little blue engine as he travels around the country visiting favourite holiday destinations in this delightful new picture book. Join Thomas as he puffs up Snowdon, zooms past Blackpool Tower, takes in the sights in London, and marvels at the seaside in Brighton! Thomas is on the trip of a lifetime and is meeting lots of new friends along the way. Enjoy the simple story and beautiful illustrations in this brand new picture book. Thomas has been teaching children lessons about life and friendship for over 75 years. He ranks alongside other beloved characters such as Paddington Bear, Winnie-the-Pooh and Peter Rabbit as an essential part of our literary heritage.

From the early years of steam power to today's awe-inspiring high-speed passenger trains, this book spans nearly two centuries of locomotive history. It covers the first designs of the 1830s, early North American freight trains, the golden age of railways from 1900-1950, the crossover from steam power to diesel and electric, and how the locomotive was transformed into the superior passenger and freight-pulling power of today. Bringing us to the present, the latest developments are highlighted, including the modern wonders that are Europe's Eurostar and the Japanese bullet train. This definitive history of locomotive technology from the 1830s to 2000 charts the development of locomotive design throughout the world, including Britain, the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, India, China, Japan and the Pacific Rim, and includes detailed specification boxes for over 100 key locomotive designs. With insightful text and 700 photographs, the book is a guide that will appeal to all railway enthusiasts. *

There are currently 272 London Underground, 113 Overground and 45 Docklands Light Railway stations. Luke Agbaimoni has been slowly attempting to capture visual moments at each one. When we see a symmetrical image, it soothes us. It feels as if a puzzle has been completed in front of our eyes. In his first book, The Tube Mapper Project: Capturing Moments on the London Underground, Luke Agbaimoni captured themes such as light, reflections, tunnels and escalators, and documented how the London Underground is part of our identity, a network of shared experiences and visual memories. This follow-up project sees Luke delve into his obsession with symmetry, seeking out stunning and powerful examples across the network in his quest to find beauty in the seemingly mundane. London Underground Symmetry & Imperfections considers such questions as what symmetry means and how to find it in your daily commute, and also revels in the design of the newly opened Elizabeth line.