Trains and railways: general interest Books

Book SynopsisThis visually stunning collection of iconic and historic subway, light rail, and streetcar maps from fifty of the world's most exciting cities is a map- and transit-lover's dream.Transport maps are some of the most frequently consulted and memorized navigation tools on earth. Millions use them daily to guide their journeys. Some have gained such familiarity they're revered as design classics, hunted by collectors. Taken for granted, without these everyday objects passengers would quite literally be lost without them. Best-selling author, Mark Ovenden who curated this collection dating from their earliest appearance 160 years ago, dissects the design decisions which led to today's intelligent wayfinding tools. Divided by continent, it features archival and modern maps from a dizzying array of locationsfrom Algiers and Cape Town; Boston and Chicago; Mexico City and Montreal; Bangkok and Beijing; Delhi and Doha; Amsterdam and Prague; to Auckland and Sydney.<

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Book Synopsis'A delightful book ... the perfect companion as you wait for the 8.10 from Hove' Observer After the Beeching cuts of the 1960s, many railways were gradually shut down. Rural communities were isolated and steam trains slowly gave way to diesel and electric traction. But some people were not prepared to let the romance of train travel die. Thanks to their efforts, many lines passed into community ownership and are now booming with new armies of dedicated volunteers. Andrew Martin meets these volunteer enthusiasts, finding out just what it is about preserved railways that makes people so devoted. From the inspiration for Thomas the Tank Engine to John Betjeman's battle against encroaching modernity, Steam Trains Today will take you on a heart-warming journey across Britain from Aviemore to Epping.Trade ReviewPraise for Andrew Martin: 'Compelling ... full of history and railway nuggets -- Michael Binyon * Sunday Times *Informative and witty * Cumbria Life *You do not have to be a trainspotter to enjoy this book. It is social history, a kind of epitaph to a way of travel that seems to be lost, at least in Europe -- Christian Wolmar * Spectator *A delightful book ... This book is the perfect companion as you wait for the 8.10 from Hove -- Nigel Jones * Observer *Martin is entertaining company, alive to the history of his route ... leaves you with renewed confidence that trains can still be the most civilised way to travel * Financial Times *

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Book Synopsis"The Orient Express, in the collective imagination, embodies the golden age of travel. The fabrics, the silverware, the woodwork; their evocative fragrance... all contribute to this particular atmosphere, created by the best craftsmen of the time. The experience on board is absolutely unique..." - Sir Kenneth Branagh, from the foreword The first train to connect Paris to Constantinople - the gateway to the Orient and epitome of all its associated desires and fantasies - the Orient Express was an immediate success. Quickly nicknamed 'the king of trains, the train of kings', it had already become a legend in its own time. This unique train and its celebrated passengers (both real and fictional) have become one of the great cultural icons of our times and have helped to create a limitless source of stories and fantasies to feed our imaginations. It's a story told here through fabulous new photographs of the restoration workshops where the historic train carriages are being brought back to life, through archive photos of famous and exotic destinations, and portraits of the most famous passengers who were lucky enough to climb aboard.Trade Review"The Orient Express, in the collective imagination, embodies the golden age of travel. The fabrics, the silverware, the woodwork; their evocative fragrance... all contribute to this particular atmosphere, created by the best craftsmen of the time. The experience on board is absolutely unique..." - Sir Kenneth Branagh

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Book Synopsis"The magnificent photos invite you to enjoy the luxurious ambience, the views and the very special flair and to let the constant rattling of the train wheels carry you to distant lands." — Lovely Books "Hopefully history's extravagant chariots serve as inspiration for the trains of the future. Newly published book Luxury Trains is full of elegant examples of how to travel in real style." — Hoom Magazine "Transports you back ot the golden age of travel, with pictures of 25 of the most elegant trains in the world." — Good Housekeeping UK Luxury trains have always fascinated and excited our imaginations. A great source of style, romance and exoticism, they have long held starring roles in literature and in Hollywood movies. This wonderful book evokes long-lost days of travel, where trains marked international railway history, from the Orient Express to the Train Bleu. Today, train companies around the world are creating new palaces on rails and these pages offer a journey into that extravagant and luxurious world. Whether comfortably seated in the restaurant car of the Venice Simplon - Orient-Express as you glide past the Venetian Lagoon, travelling through the Highlands of Scotland on the famed Royal Scotsman, or admiring the ancient splendours of Machu Picchu at the Hiram Bingham bar aboard the Andean Explorer, this book traverses the globe in celebration of these wonderful locomotives. A superb gift for the travel enthusiast and anyone interested in the decadent features of these trains.Trade Review"The magnificent photos invite you to enjoy the luxurious ambience, the views and the very special flair and to let the constant rattling of the train wheels carry you to distant lands." - Lovely Books"This wonderful book evokes long-lost days of travel, where trains marked international railway history, from the Orient Express to the Train Bleu." - Lovely Books"Hopefully history's extravagant chariots serve as inspiration for the trains of the future. Newly published book Luxury Trains is full of elegant examples of how to travel in real style." - Hoom Magazine"Transports you back ot the golden age of travel, with pictures of 25 of the most elegant trains in the world." - Good Housekeeping UKTable of Contents13 The History of a Folly 31 Presidential Train 43 Al Ándalus Expreso 49 Orient Express 59 Venice Simplon – Orient Express 71 Rheingold 77 Golden Eagle Danube Express 87 Royal Scotsman 99 British Royal Train 109 British Pullman 125 Grand Hibernian 137 Train Bleu 147 Côte d’Azur Pullman-Express 159 Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express 167 Pride of Africa 175 Eastern & Oriental Express 185 Seven Stars in Kyushu 189 Twilight Express Mizukaze 197 Royal Express 205 Shiki-Shima Train Suite 215 20th Century Limited 221 American Orient Express 227 ‘Virginia City’ 231 Hiram Bingham 241 Andean Explorer 250 Select Bibliography 251 Picture Credits 253 Acknowledgements

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Book SynopsisA facsimile edition of Bradshaw’s fascinating guide to Europe’s rail network. Bradshaw’s descriptive railway handbook of Europe was originally published in 1913 and was the inspiration behind Michael Portillo’s BBC television series ‘Great Continental Railway Journeys’. It is divided into three sections: timetables for services covering the continent; short guides to the best places to see and to stay in each city; and a wealth of advertisements and ephemeral materials concerning hotels, restaurants and services that might be required by the early twentieth century rail traveller. This beautifully illustrated facsimile edition offers a fascinating glimpse of Europe and of a transport network that was shortly devastated by the greatest war the world had ever seen.

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Book SynopsisA luxury facsimile edition of Bradshaw’s Handbook of 1863, the book that inspired the BBC television series ‘Great British Railway Journeys’. The original Bradshaw's guides had been well known to Victorian travellers and were produced when the British railway network was at its peak and as tourism by rail became essential. It was the first national tourist guide specifically organised around railway journeys, and this luxuryleatherbound facsimile edition is a true collector’s item, offering a glimpse through the carriage window at a Britain long past.

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Book SynopsisThe 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.Trade ReviewFor previous edition: 'For anyone contemplating all or part of this journey, this is THE guide' - Traveller Magazine (UK). 'An essential companion for the rail tourist to Canada.' - The Railway Magazine. 'Invaluable' The Daily Telegraph (UK). 'An essential companion' The Railway Magazine (UK).

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Book SynopsisHowling down the tunnels comes a new collection showcasing the greatest stories of strange happenings on the tracks, many of which are republished here for the first time since their original departure.

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Book SynopsisJapan is steeped in legend and myth, perhaps the greatest of which is the popular misconception that the country is simply too expensive to visit. The truth is that flights to Japan are cheaper than they've ever been, accommodation can be great value, while the warm hospitality which awaits every visitor costs nothing at all. The real secret to travelling around the country on a budget, however, is the Japan Rail Pass. Use this comprehensive guide in conjunction with a rail pass to get the most out of a trip to Japan. * Practical information - planning your trip; when to go; suggested itineraries; what to take; festivals and events. * City guides and maps - where to stay, where to eat, what to see in 30 towns and cities; historical and cultural background. * Kilometre-by-kilometre route guides - covering train journeys from the coast into the mountains, from temple retreat to sprawling metropolis and from sulphurous volcano to windswept desert; 33 route maps. * Japan Rail service schedules - Bullet trains and main routes in this guide. * Customs, etiquette, Japanese words and phrases - with kanji- With kanji/hiragana/katakana for all place name text - readers can point to the text when asking Japanese speakers for directions. * Extended Highlights - extra colour sections make this book even more user-friendly and attractive. What's new in this fully-updated 5th edition? * Greater coverage of Tokyo with additional mapping following post-Olympic interest in the capital and the country * More hot-spring resorts added (including Kinosaki, Kinugawa and Nyuto) * More information about areas off the beaten track including the wood-carving town of Inami, Yanagawa where you can ride in a 'gondola' along its canals, Tomioka Silk Mill (where silk production was first mechanised), Okunoshima island (notorious for its WWII poison gas factory) * New Style Trailblazer guide with twin-colour layout and restyled maps * Expanded colour section with 'Best' lists to help plan a trip * Kanji and katakana are now included for all place names * Fully updated post Covid outbreak.Trade Review'no visitor to Japan should be without their own copy' - Wisconsin Bookwatch (US); Reviews for previous editions: 'A must for any travel or train buff's collection... covers everything from Japanese words and phrases to railway timetables. This new edition includes recent extensions to several train lines plus further coverage of popular tourist destinations and less-traveled ares nearby'.--California Book Watch (USA) 'Excellent guide'--The Sunday Times (UK) 'A find.... Well researched'--The Japan Times (Japan) 'Practical, highly interesting and should enable the visitor to save money and add to the enjoyment of Japan'.--National Railway Museum Journal (UK) 'One of my favourite and most used guidebooks'--South China Morning Post (Hong Kong) 'A great primer'--The Daily Telegraph (UK) 'An invaluable companion'--Railway Magazine (UK) 'If you are coming from outside Japan, this is quite possibly the best single guidebook you can bring'.--Japan Visitor Guide (Japan) 'Brilliantly informative guide'--JTB Europe (Japan Travel Bureau) 'A gem'--The Daily Yomiuri (Japan)

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Book SynopsisExperience the world by train alongside best-selling travel writer Tom Chesshyre, as he takes a whistle-stop tour around the globe in 49 unique journeys Why do people love trains so much? Tom Chesshyre is on a mission to find the answer by experiencing the world through train travel - on both epic and everyday rail routes, aboard every type of ride, from steam locomotives to bullet trains, meeting a cast of memorable characters who share a passion for train travel. Join him on the rails and off the beaten track as he embarks on an exhilarating whistle-stop tour around the globe, on journeys on celebrated trains and railways including:- India's famed toy train - Sri Lanka's Reunification Express - The Indian Pacific across the Australian outback - The Shanghai maglev - And the picturesque rail journeys of the Scottish Highlands Plus trains through Kosovo, North Macedonia, Turkey, Iran, Finland, Russia, America and France, with short interludes in North Korea, Italy, Poland, Peru, Switzerland, England and Lithuania. All aboard!Trade ReviewFunny and illuminating from Crewe to Korea, Ticket to Ride is a hugely entertaining account of the author's travels on the rails the world over - chance encounters fly like sparks * Sara Wheeler *Tom's ticket certainly scores all the best rides: fast rides and slow ones, short trips and long ones. But most important are the names: why would any trainspotter (let alone a gricer) pass up the Reunification Express or, even better the Orient Express, for a mere airplane? * Tony Wheeler *Like mini-odysseys, Chesshyre's railway journeys are by turns gentle and awesome, and full of surprises * John Gimlette *Trains, dry wit, more trains, evocative descriptions, more trains, fascinating people and more trains - what is there not to like? * Christian Wolmar *Affectionate * Wanderlust Magazine *This is an engaging, enjoyable and warm-hearted book that will appeal as much to general readers as to lovers of trains... Recommended. * Simon Bradley, author of The Railways *Amusing and insightful book * E&T Magazine *Evocative mix of thrill rides and gentle journeys worldwide. Even if locomotives and rolling stock leave you cold, you'll enjoy the author's trademark dry humour. * World of Cruising Magazine *

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Book SynopsisThis book captures over 150 entertaining snippets, stories, and strange and unusual facts from an ample supply of railway curiosities.

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Book SynopsisWe are pleased to announce the forthcoming publication of the next two issues of The Southern Way, the journal of record for all those interested in the history and heritage of the Southern Railway, its constituent companies and the Southern Region of British Railways. Edited by Kevin Robertson, whose extensive knowledge of all things SR and whose many publications on the railways of the south of England are well known to SR enthusiasts, each volume contains a series of authoritative articles on an always interesting range of topics, copiously illustrated with a wealth of photographs. Four issues of The Southern Way are published annually, usually in January, April, August and October and the regular issues of the journal are supplemented by occasional Southern Way Specials which focus in much greater depth on specific area of SR history, operations or traction.

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Book SynopsisJoin Thomas as he travels around meeting his friends, both old and new!This colourful chunky board book introduces the brand-new younger Thomas style.With cute artwork and simple text in a chunky board that's the perfect size for small hands, this is the perfect gift for young Thomas & Friends fans.Children will also love joining in saying Thomas' name, pointing to his number 1 and making fun engine noises, too.Thomas has been teaching children lessons about life and friendship for over 75 years. He ranks alongside other beloved character such as Paddington Bear, Winnie-the-Pooh and Peter Rabbit as an essential part of our literary heritage.

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Book SynopsisNo 1472 was the third of a class of steam locomotives that was eventually to number 79 engines, and did not originally even carry a name. The Great Northern Railway A1 4-6-2 though, was the biggest express steam engine ever to have been seen in Britain at the time. It was chosen to be displayed at a major exhibition at Wembley in 1924, and for this it was given the name Flying Scotsman. It hauled the London & North Eastern Railway's first King's Cross-to-Edinburgh nonstop express in 1928. It was the first steam engine in the world to officially break the 100mph barrier. Flying Scotsman has now become the one steam engine in the world of which everyone knows the name, and which most people would even recognise. It was briefly the only main line steam engine running in the whole of Britain, and it has travelled across the Atlantic and across America. It has circumnavigated the globe, steamed across Australia, broken the record for a nonstop run with steam (again), and been sold for easily the highest price ever paid for a steam engine.In 2004, its ongoing 40 years of fame finally earned it a place in the National Railway Museum collection and, after an unprecedented fundraising campaign and a National Heritage Memorial Fund grant, the museum was able to clear the enormous debts of the engine's then owning company and acquire Flying Scotsman for the nation, and for a British public which clearly holds the engines in high esteem. If it had not acquired fame, largely as a result of its name, in the 1920s and 1930s, then maybe Alan Pegler would not have had the enthusiasm to purchase it in 1963. If it had been scrapped, what would then have become Britain's most famous steam engine? And now it's back. No-one expected it to take ten years of toil, but the National Railway Museum finally has an engine to be proud of. This book tells the story of the legend that is Flying Scotsman - the ultimate in British express steam design elegance.Quantity

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Book SynopsisThe name Andre Chapelon will be known to everyone with an interest in the development of the steam locomotive. Put simply he was a genius, head and shoulders above all others in the field of steam locomotive design. This is not to belittle the skills and capabilities of men like Churchward, Stanier, Gresley and Bulleid. Indeed the latter acknowledged the influence of Chapelon on his work.In his native France, Chapelon transformed the steam locomotives of various French railways from often mediocre machines into high performers surpassing the capabilities of similar machines used in other European countries at the time. He was responsible for both rebuilds as well as new designs. His work was disrupted by World War II, but his importance was reasserted in 1946 with his superb 4-8-4 No 242 A 1 capable of producing a continuous output of 5,500hp, a remarkable achievement.Colonel Roger''s book on Andre Chapelon, originally published in 1972, has been difficult to obtain for many years. It remains the best and most detailed biography of the man and his work. It is both a readable and accessible guide to the life and achievements of a man whom few would disagree was the foremost steam locomotive engineer the world has ever seen.Related TitlesThe Somerset & Dorset from the Footplate9781909328921 9.95The LMS Turbomotive9781909328525 27.95Gresley''s Legacy9780711034617 25.00

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Book SynopsisFocusing on the 1990s as a decade of change, all of the collieries and most of the coal fired power stations of that era have now gone. During that decade I made a point of photographing the collieries and power stations, and the trains that moved the coal, and so amassed a large collection of photographs. Being Worksop-based through my railway career, I am able to describe a potted history of Worksop Depot which opened in 1991, commencing with a brief look at the area in the late 1980s and into the 1990s. The run-up to the privatisation of the railways is followed by the new freight companies which brought changes in coal operations, before the wholesale decline in coal production. There are images taken in the Nott's, Derbyshire, Yorkshire, Leicestershire, and Staffordshire coalfields. Brief descriptions of each colliery and power station illustrated are given, with maps to show their location, along with power station track diagrams, tables, and coal plans to show where power station coal originated. The book concludes with a few instances of locations that Worksop-based drivers served.Table of ContentsAcknowledgements; Introduction; 1 Worksop in the 1980s and 1990s: The Decades of Change; 2 Declining UK Coal Production; 3 Nottinghamshire Area Collieries; 4 Derbyshire Area Collieries; 5 Yorkshire Area Collieries; 6 Leicestershire and Staffordshire Area Collieries; 7 Power Stations; 8 Three Days at Worksop; Bibliography.

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Book SynopsisGreat photographs of locomotives on the railways in and around Wales during the final years of steam traction.

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewA host of books and articles have touched on various aspects of this ongoing story over the years, but none tell the story with the completeness and superb clarity found here. May - June 2010 * Michigan Railfan *Lamb's book is . . . an important contribution to railroad technological history. The book's strength is the author's mastery of the mechanical details, which he presents in a straightforward style. -- Mark Reutter, editor * Railroad History *Lamb provides the reader with detailed descriptions of every generation of diesel locomotive along with a generous supply of excellent photographs. July 2008 -- Maury Klein * Technology and Culture vol. 49 *Table of ContentsPrefaceChapter 1 Precursor TechnologiesChapter 2 Self-propelled CoachesChapter 3 The Diesel Climbs AboardChapter 4 Streamlined TrainsChapter 5 Developments Beyond La GrangeChapter 6 Alco ReboundsChapter 7 Postwar ShakeoutChapter 8 Road Switchers Take OverChapter 9 A Monopolized MarketChapter 10 Special Purpose DesignsChapter 10 New Heights for Diesel PowerChapter 12 Recent DevelopmentsChapter 13 The Diesel Century in PerspectiveReferences Index

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Book SynopsisSunday Times History Book of the Year 2015 Currently filming for BBC programme Full Steam Ahead Britain's railways have been a vital part of national life for nearly 200 years. Transforming lives and landscapes, they have left their mark on everything from timekeeping to tourism. As a self-contained world governed by distinctive rules and traditions, the network also exerts a fascination all its own. From the classical grandeur of Newcastle station to the ceaseless traffic of Clapham Junction, from the mysteries of Brunel's atmospheric railway to the lost routines of the great marshalling yards, Simon Bradley explores the world of Britain's railways, the evolution of the trains, and the changing experiences of passengers and workers. The Victorians' private compartments, railway rugs and footwarmers have made way for air-conditioned carriages with airline-type seating, but the railways remain a giant and diverse anthology of structures from every period, and parts of the system are the oldest in the world. Using fresh research, keen observation and a wealth of cultural references, Bradley weaves from this network a remarkable story of technological achievement, of architecture and engineering, of shifting social classes and gender relations, of safety and crime, of tourism and the changing world of work. The Railways shows us that to travel through Britain by train is to journey through time as well as space.Trade ReviewThe Railways - history book of the year: Bradley's loving tribute to the golden age of the railway is a magnificent achievement ... a gorgeous Christmas pudding of a book ... Most eye-catching are the superbly crafted chapters on accidents and murders, yet where his book really shines is in its portraits of the British themselves ... His book is so colourful, so rich and engaging, that even if you don't like railways you should love it. -- Dominic Sandbrook * Sunday Times *Simon Bradley's The Railways is magisterial. It's both authoritative and absorbing. A first class journey. -- Michael PalinRich and revealing ... [Bradley's] special delight is in ferreting out the telling, often surprising detail that brings the great themes of his story alive ... a monumental work. * Daily Telegraph *Combining authority with intimacy, and technical grasp with humour and humanity, The Railways is by some distance the most ambitious and enriching book I have ever read on this subject. It is destined to become a classic of British social history. -- David Kynaston'A superbly crafted, lovingly assembled tribute to our railways ... the current, tattered state of our railways should in no way detract from Bradley's narrative. This is a first-class, entertaining analysis of a great, albeit troubled, institution that has now been given a history worthy of its national significance.' -- Robin McKie * The Observer *Bradley has written an authoritative and comprehensive history that entertains and informs in equal measure. This is a celebration of the railways that neither descends into nostalgia nor ventures into train-spotter land ... The reward for Bradley's ambition in writing a comprehensive social history of the railways is that his book will sit happily on the shelves next to railway classics such as Jack Simmons's The Railway in Town and Country, probably the nearest equivalent. This is definitely the book to give to that great uncle who you think is interested in trains. But it is also a fitting present for that railway buff who thinks he knows everything there is to know about the railways. This book will show he is mistaken. -- Christian Wolmar * Spectator *A magnificent study ... Simon Bradley is not an ideal, but the ideal railway historian ... a rivetingly detailed technical history ... Masterly ... the joy of Bradley's book is that, by telling the story of railways, he has told the story of all of us British over the last 150 years. Turning the pages, we will cheer the ingenuity of the Victorians, curse the name of Beeching and Harold Macmillan, and recall the many moments of life - sobbing as one parted from a lover, delight as the train took us into new landscapes - in which the railways have played a central role. They made us what we are - both as a nation and as individuals, and this book is the classic, beautifully written, learned exposition of that glorious fact. -- AN Wilson * Sunday Times *It is testament to Bradley's tremendous frame of reference that he is able to write with equal authority on both Branwell Brontë and Timothy Potter ...fascinating ... The entire book is written with a rare combination of easy-going style and Olympian knowledge ... Bradley is one of that happy band of writers who are interested in everything, and also - rarer still - capable of making everything interesting ... this book concertinas the present and the past, the real and the imagined, and, by doing so, turns what might have been Timothy Potter's trainspotter's guide into something much closer to a work of art. -- Craig Brown * Mail on Sunday *Yields a plethora of delightful anecdotes and arcane facts. Bradley has a fine eye for the telling details ... a rich history ... as a work on railways and social life in the last two centuries it is a treasure trove. -- Jill Murdoch * BBC Who Do You Think You Are magazine *A superb and challenging work of railway history, but it is also so much more ... It goes way beyond conventional, introverted, train-spottery literature and deals with some very unexpected themes ... Dr Bradley explodes many myths about the railways ... fascinating ... elegantly written, magisterial and utterly enthralling. -- Gavin Stamp * Country Life *Books of the Year 2015: Bradley's compendious yet rattling The Railways achieves magnificently a difficult double. Learned and deeply researched, it will not only impress railway buffs but tell even them a great deal they didn't know; yet this is also popular history, which will engage and entertain any lay reader remotely curious about train travel in Britain. -- Matthew Parris * Spectator *Simon Bradley entertainingly provides as much social history as industry detail to help today's curious passenger make sense of their past and present "parallel universe". Refreshingly, unlike some railway tomes, he doesn't take his love for the subject too seriously, even referring to a Viz comic character that took the mickey out of trainspotters ... an encyclopaedic book * Scotsman *Daily Mail Books of the Year 2015: Now is probably a better time to read about trains than to ride in them. A magnificent, all-encompassing history ... It's a book that's both jaunty and scholarly - a rare combination - and packed with fascinating details right up to the present day. -- Craig Brown * Daily Mail *Bradley's previous book was elegant enough, but here he blossoms as a writer both elegant and droll ... boldly conceived, protean and frequently beautiful. -- Andrew Martin * Times Literary Supplement *Bradley was a train-spotter from the age of 11, and his enthusiasm for his subject shines through this wonderful history. An encyclopaedic and evocative study that's not just for trainspotters. -- PD Smith * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisBiography of British train travel from the 1950s to present day.

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Book SynopsisWith more than 100 photographs, this book illustrates the parallel histories of railroads and photography - from a photograph of George Stephenson's locomotion, to powerful images from the American Civil War, to a mid-20th-century photograph of a train roaring by a drive-in movie theatre.

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Book SynopsisRoger Rounce presents a round-the-UK tour of diesel and electric locomotives from Devon and Cornwall right the way up to Scotland, and covering everything else in between. Informative and entertaining, Diesel and Electric Locomotives Around the UK presents images of diesel and electric engines that many are lucky enough to remember seeing in their heyday and which many will wish they had. The locomotive names, liveries and locations featured will bring back many fond memories and will hopefully offer something new for even the most ardent enthusiast.

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Book SynopsisThe Last Train to Zona Verde is Paul Theroux''s compelling account of his final African journey.Heading north from Cape Town, through South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Angola, Paul Theroux makes a final journey along Africa''s western edge. The end of the line is the Congo but Theroux discovers that his trip''s pleasures are tempered by a growing sense that the Africa which so long ago helped form him has vanished, along with the hopes of many of its people. Yet after 2,500 miles Theroux finds that though this will be his ultimate African adventure there are still surprises to be found by the traveller prepared to step off the beaten track.''A melancholic, farewell journey . . . Theroux does all this inimitably, and more, getting better the more detours he takes'' Evening Standard''Hard to put down, brutal honesty. Theroux proves himself a sharp observer of human foibles and a master of pithy description. The book he has crafted out of

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Book SynopsisThe only way to truly discover a city, they say, is on foot. Taking this to extremes, Mark Mason sets out to walk the entire length of the London Underground - overground - passing every station on the way.In a story packed with historical trivia, personal musings and eavesdropped conversations, Mark learns how to get the best gossip in the City, where to find a pint at 7am, and why the Bank of England won''t let you join the M11 northbound at Junction 5. He has an East End cup of tea with the Krays'' official biographer, discovers what cabbies mean by ''on the cotton'', and meets the Archers star who was the voice of ''Mind the Gap''.Over the course of several hundred miles, Mark contemplates London''s contradictions as well as its charms. He gains insights into our fascination with maps and sees how walking changes our view of the world. Above all, in this love letter to a complicated friend, he celebrates the sights, sounds and soul of the greatest city on Trade ReviewEndlessly fascinating * Spectator *An extraordinary odyssey -- Robert Elms * BBC London *This engaging book puts its best foot forward * Independent *Crammed with delightful facts ... a constantly fascinating journey * Shortlist *Rediscovers the Underground * The Times *

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Book SynopsisThe Age of Railways was an era of extraordinary change which utterly transformed every aspect of British life from trade and transportation to health and recreation.Full Steam Ahead reveals how the world we live in today is entirely shaped by the rail network, charting the glorious evolution of rail transportation and how it left its mark on every aspect of life, landscape and culture. Peter Ginn and Ruth Goodman brilliantly bring this revolution to life in their trademark style which engages and captivates. They explore the everyday lives and the intangible ephemeral history that make up the stories of the people who built, worked and were affected by the railways. From the very first steam train to the infrastructure that is still used in part today, they look at the men, women and children who lived and sometimes died constructing Britain''s railway heritage.As they trace the emergence of the Industrial Revolution across the country, the authors discover a hidden layer of social hiTrade ReviewPraise for the authors: ‘Packed with delicious kernels of knowledge … all served up by the most delightfully eccentric author I've ever encountered. Seldom have I had so much fun reading history. Seldom have I learnt so much.’ The Times ‘Always entertaining’ Observer ‘Fascinating, immersive history’ New York Times

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Book SynopsisA fascinating selection of photographs documenting the diverse contemporary rail scene around Worksop.

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Book SynopsisA classic work that must be included in the library of any railway enthusiastTrade ReviewRailway enthusiasts should consider it essential.

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Book SynopsisDiscovering Britain’s First Railways is devoted to the history, rediscovery and exploration of Britain’s first railways, examining its network of over 1,500 miles of horse-drawn tramroads and waggonways.

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Book SynopsisThis powerful collection of stories of the supernatural combines L.T.C. Rolt''s writing talent with his unparalleled knowledge of Britain''s industrial heritage to produce tales of real mystery and imagination. This haunting anthology takes the reader on a journey from Cornwall to Wales and from the hill country of Shropshire to the west coast of Ireland. ''The House of Vengeance'', set in the Black Mountains of South Wales, tells what happens when a walker becomes lost and disorientated as the mist falls, while in ''The Gartside Fell Disaster'' an old railwayman recounts the terrible night when the ''Mountaineer'' came to grief. Alongside these are twelve other tales of elemental fears and strange and inexplicable happenings. First published in 1948, this enduring collection will appeal to all those who, like Tom Rolt, are passionate about the backdrop of our industrial landscape and will delight and terrify anyone who loves a good old-fashioned ghost story.

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Book SynopsisFew locomotives are as widely known or excite so much interest as Flying Scotsman. Thus began Flying Scotsman’s fame, which only continued as the locomotive broke records, becoming the first to exceed 100mph in 1934 and taking the longest journey of any steam locomotive in 1988–89.

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Book SynopsisThe Post Office Railway, when it started running in 1927, was the first fully automated driverless railway in the world, a full forty years before the Victoria Line started service in London in 1967. The railway below London became the main means of moving mail, with Mount Pleasant being the hub of the distribution system. Linking with London's main line stations most of the country's long-distance mail travelled via the Post Office Railway. The fascinating story of how it began, how it was built, and why it closed is told here in an accessible way that tries to cover a highly technical and innovative system in a way that is easy to understand. The railway closed in 2003, but that was not the end of the story. The Postal Museum took over part of the Mount Pleasant sorting office to tell the story of 500 years of postal history and to open Mail Rail again with specially built trains as a visitor attraction and the start of a whole new adventure. If you are a railway enthusiast, postal enthusiast, urban explorer or just interested in finding out more about one of London's best-kept secrets this book is a must read for you.

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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