The new puzzle book from the National Railway Museum in York! Have you got what it takes to travel around Britain solving these 100 train-based brainteasers, word games, number crunchers and puzzles? Escape from your home and put your puzzle-solving skills to the test with these captivating conundrums that will take you on a whirlwind ride through the nation's most extraordinary past and present railway journeys. From the first journeys of legendary locomotives such as The Flying Scotsman and the Penydarren, to record-breaking routes and trips that changed our world, this is the perfect gift for puzzle book fanatics, train and travel enthusiasts, and history buffs! Inspired by the museum's archives this book is jam-packed with a variety of puzzles, from anagrams, crosswords and wordsearches to logic and mathematical challenges. Alongside puzzles to suit all levels, each section also includes an introduction that covers the most fascinating trivia, facts and figures behind the history of our railways, written by Chris Valkoinen from the National Railway Museum's Search Engine. There's a treasure trove of puzzles to be solved - are you ready to climb aboard?

The Southern Railway between 1923 and 1939 was the only British company to carry out a sustained programme of electrification which became known as the Southern Electric. Unlike many recent projects, each incremental step was completed on time and within budget. This successful project was more impressive as it was achieved during a period of economic stagnation (including the great depression') and despite government disapproval of the method of electrification. The driving force behind this endeavor was the railway's general manager, Sir Herbert Walker, but at his side was his electrical engineer, Alfred Raworth, the man one journalist described as an electrification genius'. Alfred Raworth's career began working with his father the eminent consulting engineer and entrepreneur, John Smith Raworth. Following the collapse of his father's business Alfred joined the railway industry and devised an ambitious and innovative electrification design. This was discarded when the railways of southern England were grouped' into the Southern Railway after which he took responsibility for the implementation of the electrification schemes. With Walker's retirement in 1937, those who continued to support steam traction took the policy lead. A marginalised Raworth retired but was later to witness the fruition of many of his discarded ideas.

In the mid-1980s, one of British Rail's major customers of heavy block trains, Foster Yeoman, suggested the unusual arrangement of running its services with locomotives owned by them, rather than BR. Disappointment in the Class 56s on its routes led Foster Yeoman to look elsewhere for locomotives. They eventually agreed a deal with the US firm General Motors to provide them with the locos designated as Class 59s. The Class 59s surpassed everyone's expectations and other customers unhappy with the Class 56s decided to purchase the Class 59s as well. The locos are now over 30 years old and are still performing the work they were designed for. With over 230 images, this book shows the Class 59s through the years across the United Kingdom.

In the early 1980s, Ravenscraig steel works was the biggest source of rail freight north of the border, handling iron ore, coal, lime and scrap, as well as semi-finished and finished products. Opencast coal was thriving and would even lead to some lines re-opening later in the decade. Wagonload freight was still providing a service on some rural lines, not least the Far North line where many intermediate stations still handled general freight, such as seed potatoes and fertiliser. Today, Ravenscraig is a distant memory and coal is no longer carried by rail anywhere in Scotland. Wagonload freight has also disappeared, despite some attempts to revive the concept in the early 2000s. However, in a few areas, rail freight has done well. The cement works at Oxwellmains is a big user of rail and Grangemouth refinery still produces three trainload flows. Intermodal traffic has grown substantially, with several regular Anglo-Scottish flows on the West and East Coast main lines as well as internal movements to Aberdeen and Inverness. Illustrated with over 160 photographs, many of which are previously unpublished, this volume looks at the changing face of rail freight in Scotland. It details the changes in traction, rolling stock and railway infrastructure over four decades.

Illustrated with 180 photographs, this book looks at the much-loved West Highland line, which runs from Glasgow to Fort William, along with the Mallaig Extension from Fort William to Mallaig and the Oban line divergence at Crianlarich. The variety of transport covered includes scheduled services, railtours, seasonal steam and the recently introduced Highland Explorer Class 153s, which have been specially rebuilt at Kilmarnock to cater for cyclists and passengers with bulky luggage.

Fully updated essential guide to exploring Britain by train, Railway Day Trips is ideal for anyone planning or looking for inspiration for a rail journey. From bestselling railway author Julian Holland. This pocket companion is perfect for both casual and seasoned rail travellers. Plan adventures, follow the changing landscape through the train window and discover fascinating destinations. Each journey incorporates a location map, route diagram and descriptive text on its history and geography, plus some of the highlights awaiting you at each destination. High-quality photographs illustrate every route throughout the book. Based on his extensive knowledge of British rail travel, the author reveals appealing quirks of the various routes and provides practical tips on how to make the most of your journey. 160 day trips from all over the country are featured, departing from major towns and cities and culminating at a variety of interesting destinations. This 2nd edition includes 10 new routes: * Cambridge to Ipswich * Hereford to Newport * Cardiff to Ebbw Vale * Carmarthen to Fishguard * Manchester to Southport * Sheffield to Lincoln * Middlesbrough to Newcastle * Glasgow to Perth * Edinburgh to Tweedbank * Inverness to Wick

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.

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.

This wonderful publication provides a unique visual and historical record of the West Cork Railway as rail enthusiast and historian Chris Larkin warmly remembers the lifetime of the rail system in a travelogue which allows readers to hop onto a West Cork train and savour the journey of a bygone era. Highly illustrated with 188 images, while on board, you might even meet a celebrity! Fully illustrated throughout, material from Irish Railway Records is complemented by unique and rare images from private collections and the London Illustrated News. Photographs, vintage posters, postcards, colour slides, tickets, advertisements and images of railway paraphernalia fill the pages. West Cork Railways takes the reader time travelling from the famine right through to the rocking 1960s. Sit on a seat and be whisked from your West Cork home to villages and towns carrying along the dreams, needs and aspirations of bygone travellers. Observe railway life and the harmonious existence of dogs, cats, hens, ducks and geese at the level crossings. Railway enthusiasts will savour detailed accounts of railway stations, length of lines together with steam locomotives and wagons, while those interested in social history will enjoy accounts of halt-keeper's houses and lists of people including those that worked on the Cork - Beara line. The railway brought much prosperity to the region; however, decades have passed since its 1961 demise and the rapid physical decay of the line. West Cork life continued, albeit in a different way. While today connectivity is measured in speed, this railway is fondly remembered for linking its people. Heartbreakingly, if it had held its ground for a further 12 years until EEC entry (1973), the railway right of way for future generations would have been preserved.

The Black Country is an area immediately to the west of Birmingham heavily associated with the Industrial Revolution. The townships are fiercely partisan and in typical fashion have fought hard for their railway connections. The main presence was provided by the GWR and the LNWR with routes between the major centres. Other minor concerns were represented by local industries. Given the industrial nature of the area, it has been neglected by photographers and over the last fifty years Steve Burdett has uncovered and recorded a system that was decimated in the Beeching Report. As a result, a variety of locations including Stourbridge, Wolverhampton, Walsall and Bescot are included in this photographic tour around the region. In recent years, an enlightened transport policy has seen an improvement in infrastructure and services including the Midland Metro with more to follow. A variety of motive power is to be seen within this fascinating collection.

Norfolk has enjoyed loco-hauled passenger trains for many years, with Great Yarmouth being a popular destination for summer holiday services from London, the Midlands, and the North. While these summer Saturday' services gained a significant following from enthusiasts and lineside photographers alike, they have not been the only workings to bring unusual traction to the area. The fleet of diesel units based at Norwich Crown Point depot has often been stretched, with augmentation required to cover services on the Norfolk and Suffolk branches, and for special events. A wide range of locomotives have been used over the years on local services to Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft. These culminated in the hugely popular Greater Anglia short set', featuring daily workings from DRS Class 37s. They finally ended in September 2019, with the arrival of a large fleet of new Stadler units, and disability regulations requiring the withdrawal of the outdated Mk2 coaches. With 180 colour images, this title celebrates these workings from inception in summer 1994 to their finale 25 years later.

Throughout its length from London to Glasgow via Crewe and Carlisle, with a loop through the West Midlands and spurs to Holyhead,Liverpool and Manchester, the West Coast Main Line has consistently provided interest for those many with more than a passing interest in trains and travel. This book outlines the history of the route,its physical characteristics and sets the scene for the various passenger and goods traffic flows that sustained it; it then details the arrangements for motive power and train working through the era of change that was 1957 to 1963. The level of interest - as evidenced daily by the presence at the lineside of hordes of young spotters and other observers - was particularly high at that time as processions of trains hauled by fine express passenger locomotives and those more suited to other traffic passed by. The book also goes 'behind the scenes' to provide insights into the daily and seasonal challenges of managing that section of a wider railway network, as directed by the varying terms of relevant legislation, and a government increasingly concerned to shape the railways for the changing needs of the public, industry and the economy. The book will be of particular interest to those who simply recall those days by the lineside, those with an interest in detailed arrangements to provide and maintain suitable motive power, those with an interest in how the railway served the needs of the nation and modellers who seek information. The book is illustrated with colour and monochrome images and supported by maps.

This book on the Brecon & Merthyr, deals with the section from Bargoed to Pontsticill Junction, covering the line built by the B&M to join onto the section running north from Bargoed built by the Rhymney Railway, much dominated at the time by nearby Dowlais Ironworks. Included is the short section from Pant to Dowlais Central. It contains photographs of every location along the line, including many that have not before been published. The volume includes a fascinating account of the Pantywaun Marshalling Yard, operative until Dowlais Ironworks ceased production, when the B&M ran freight services to and from Pantywaun, before the many collieries and levels in the area were closed almost overnight and the location finally obliterated under the development of Cwmbargoed Opencast.

The heart of the British railway system was London. Traffic was drawn and dispersed to places in Scotland, Wales, Ireland and all over England, not forgetting the intense suburban services for commuters to the capital. As a result, the area was fascinating for the rail enthusiast owing to the various locomotives at work there. The Last Years of London Steam celebrates the years 1948-1967 when steam still ruled in the capital using over 200 high-quality colour and black-and-white images. Many of the 'Big Four' companies' designs are featured: Great Western Railway; London Midland & Scottish Railway; London & North Eastern Railway; Southern Railway. In addition, there are survivors from before Grouping which were still employed, as well as the Standard Classes of British Railways. London Transport also used steam locomotives to the early 1970s and examples are included in this collection. Many locations around London are featured, including the great termini - King's Cross, Euston, Marylebone, Paddington, Liverpool Street, Waterloo and Victoria - whilst looking at local stations, junctions and general points from the lineside. Also, the locomotives have been caught at the major sheds in the capital - Nine Elms, Old Oak Common, Neasden, Willesden, Bricklayers Arms, Stratford, etc. As the capital was such a diverse railway environment, The Last Years of London Steam offers an engrossing record of those lost glorious days.

The post of Station Master, like others on the modern railway, has disappeared, and details of the many and varied responsibilities and everyday jobs that went with it will disappear too if they are not recorded. David Holmes became an SM in the 1960s, so is eminently qualified to describe the development and duties of this once very prestigious grade.

This new book, by a widely acknowledged expert in the field of Southern rolling stock, provides the very first completely comprehensive record of individual Southern wagons in colour. The vehicles themselves are seen of course in BR days, but it is rare to find a record such a this, with informative captions from such an authoritative author. Considering the Southern Railway ceased to exist as an independent company over 60 years ago, this is a remarkable archive and will be extremely valuable not only to railway historians and enthusiasts, but also to modellers who will find the level of detail invaluable.

The Kyle of Lochalsh Line was opened in 1870 to connect the ferry terminus at Stromeferry on Scotland's west coast with Dingwall and Inverness on the east coast. It had been intended to reach Kyle of Lochalsh but the company ran out of money, and the Highland Railway would open an extension to the Kyle in 1897 to improve transport links for the fishing industry. At the time, the extension was mile for mile the most expensive railway ever built in Britain. The line passes through some of the most dramatic and beautiful scenery in Britain and although it was marked for closure by Doctor Beeching, its importance to the isolated communities it serves led to a reprieve and in 1980 it was featured by Michael Palin in Great Railway Journeys of the World. In this book, Ewan Crawford uses a mixture of contemporary and period images to bring the history of the line and its landscape to life.

The second of two volumes covering the railways of the South East, this book focuses on Kent. It details a wide range of different trains including heavy aggregate, inter-regional passenger, test trains, the Orient Express, newspaper and mail trains, railtour excursions, engineers' trains, weed killers and intermodal, steel, coal and nuclear flask traffic. An extensive range of locomotive classes in different liveries, many now consigned to history, are shown at work on main lines and branch lines in the 'Garden of England'. Over 180 colour photographs, the vast majority of which have never been published before, serve to illustrate the variety found in a corner of the country often regarded as a mainly multiple unit commuter carrying environment. The pictures are complemented by informative captions detailing each particular train and its working along with some of the infrastructure found along the routes covered. 180 colour photographs

The Class 60 was the last truly British-built diesel locomotive design. From 1990, the locomotive was gradually delivered, with 100 in total going to the Railfreight sectors of Metal, Coal, Construction and Petroleum. Their introduction did not go smoothly, however, and they took almost three years to enter service due to various teething troubles. Once these were ironed out, the class became reasonably reliable, and examples of other classes that were getting very tired at the time were progressively withdrawn. Privatisation saw all the class being sold on to English, Welsh & Scottish Railways and, in 2004, the first Class 60 was withdrawn. Towards the end of the 2000s, almost all of the locos were put into store with a seemingly very bleak future. However, in the early 2010s, a small fleet of the locos received a thorough rebuilding so they could haul DB Schenker's heaviest trains, and eventually 21 locos were refurbished for them, another ten for Colas Rail and a further four for Devon & Cornwall Railways. This has meant that although the majority of the class is still presently rusting away and unlikely to run again, at least a number of examples will still be visible on the national network for a few more years to come. Illustrated with over 190 photographs, this volume looks at the Class 60s from their early days through to the end of the 2010s.