Trains and railways: general interest Books

Book SynopsisIn 1955, Ian Allan Publishing produced the first five books in a new series entitled, Famous Trains. Another three were added in 1956 to complete the set. The extent of these little booklets was around 30 pages and they were priced at 6 (old) pence each. They were similar in format and appearance to the abcs which were being produced and sold in vast numbers at the time when locospotting had become something of a national obsession for schoolboys in particular. Each of the books featured one of the well-known named express trains of that era; The Elizabethan, The Royal Scot, The Cornish Riviera Express, The Atlantic Coast Express, The South Wales Pullman, The Queen of Scots, The Royal Wessex and the Bournemouth Belle and The Irish Mail. They were all written by one of the most prolific railway authors of the 1950s and 60s, G. Freeman Allen, and followed the same format. A short introduction led to a description of the route traversed by the trains. This was illustrated with sketches of relevant portions of the route and photographs of the trains themselves. Major railway and topographical features, which could be seen by passengers along the journey, were also highlighted. All the covers carried a drawing by A.N.Wolstenholme of the train featured, similar in style to the covers of the ''abcs'' of the time. Long out of print, we are republishing facsimiles of all eight titles in one combined volume. This book will transport the reader on a wonderful nostalgic journey back to those years that, seen from the perspective of the twenty first century, represents the golden age of British Railways and the apogee of steam traction on the network.

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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 SynopsisLONDON'S HISTORIC, iconic Underground railway system in the period from 1968 to 1985 was a very different place to what it is in the 2020s. Much of its rolling stock dated from before World War Two, and with the exception of the new Victoria Line and the isolated Woodford to Hainault shuttle, trains were all two-person operated as the 1970s dawned.Transport photographer Jim Blake recorded most of the system on film before it would change forever, concentrating on the older rolling stock as well as other items of interest due for replacement or modernisation, during this period when, regrettably, London Transport was often starved of much-needed funds by central government. The eminently sensible transfer of overall control of London's buses and Underground system to the city-wide Greater London Council at the beginning of 1970 was snatched away by the Thatcher regime in 1984, after which things rapidly went downhill. This book covers the years of GLC control, including the months prior

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Book SynopsisThe Liverpool & Manchester Railway was Britain's first mainline, inter-city railway; opened in 1830 it was at the cutting edge of railway technology. Engineered by George Stephenson and his team - John Dixon, William Allcard, Joseph Locke - the project faced many obstacles both before and after opening, including local opposition and the choice of motive power, resulting in the Rainhill Trials of 1829. Much of the success of the line can be attributed to the excellence of its engineering but also its fleet of pioneering locomotives built by Robert Stephenson & Co. of Newcastle. This is the story of those locomotives, and the men who worked on them, at a time when the locomotive was still in its infancy. Using extensive archival research, coupled with lessons learned from operating early replica locomotives such as Rocket and Planet, Anthony Dawson explores how the locomotive rapidly developed in response to the demands of the first inter-city railway, and some of the technological dead ends along the way.

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Book SynopsisIn this book, the author defines the express stem locomotive on the basis of the mandatory criterion of large drive wheels, and studies its evolution from around 1850 to the last refinements made around 1960, with many wrong turns and great successes along the way. This highly illustrated work features over 6,000 German express steam locomotives, including the oldest, the 1A1 and the Crampton; the largest, the Prussian S3; the fastest, the Reichsbahn-05; arguably the most successful, the Bavarian S3/6; and the most powerful, the Bundesbahn's oil-fired three-cylinder 01.

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Book SynopsisWhen was smoking banned on trains? Which actor restored kippers to the menu of the Brighton Belle? What regular lineside event did Dickens describe as 'a shave in the air'? Perfect for a trivia night or a long trip, Train Teasers will both test your knowledge of this country's rail system and enlighten you on the most colourful aspects of its long history. Meet trunk murderers, trainspotters, haters of railways, railway writers, Ministers for Transport good and bad, railway cats, dogs and a railway penguin. This is NOT a book for number-crunching nerds. Many of the answers are guessable by the intelligent reader. It is a quiz, yes, but also a cavalcade of historical incident and colour relating to a system that was the making of modern Britain.Trade ReviewWonderful ... a treasure and a gem -- Jeremy CorbynAndrew Martin has cornered the train market. He is the Bard of the Buffer, the Balladeer of the Blue Train, the Laureate of Lost Property ... the best sort of travel-writer: inquisitive, knowledgeable, lively, congenial * Mail on Sunday *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 * FT *A fascinating look back at the lesser-known, the long-forgotten and the downright bizarre features of [Britain's] railways * Railways Illustrated *Perfect for any self-respecting railway enthusiast with a penchant for quizzes ... Hours of fun * Steam Railway *

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Book SynopsisA hundred years on from the legislation that grouped Britain''s private railway companies into the ''Big Four,'' this book explores the often fraught relationships between government, parliament and the railway. The 1923 grouping closely followed the creation of the Ministry of Transport in 1919 and marked the start of the political intervention that continues to this day. Signals Passed at Danger traces the stormy relationships between politicians and railway people, the origins of mistrust which led to constant political interference in the industry, and the unending upheaval caused by frequent reorganisations as various political theories were tried and found wanting. The story begins with the undue parliamentary influence wielded by railway directors in the nineteenth century and continues with the broken promises of governments after two world wars to recompense the railways for the depredations of war, to the irresponsible experiment of privatisation in the 1990s along with the subsequent attempts to deal with the consequences. The authors have both worked in the front-line of the relationships between government and railway, drawing on their experience as well as meticulous research, they paint a broad canvas, but one illustrated with local detail to show the consequences of high level political decisions. This is a companion to the award winning Holding the Line, which dealt with the politics of railway closures, and Disconnected! that told the story of reopened lines and stations. It will be essential reading for historians, economists, railways managers, civil servants, political researchers and students as well as the many thousands who have an interest in the rich history of railways in Britain.

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Book SynopsisThis little book is packed with puzzles that will make any journey steam by, including mazes, spot-the-differences, number puzzles and more. Part of a range of mini paperbacks perfect for journeys, rainy days and party bags.

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Book SynopsisFirst published in 2013 to critical acclaim, Railway Breakdown Cranes Volume 2 details the larger breakdown cranes of 36 tons capacity and above that were used by various railway companies as well as British Railways. Also included are cranes operated by the Ministry of Supply.As with the other two volumes in this series, Peter Tatlow, a now retired professional engineer, describes the types of cranes covered in great detail supplemented by his expert scale drawings.Information contained within includes the make up the cranes, their technical details, weights, sizes and other relevant information and just as importantly, many illustrations of cranes at work in a variety of situations. This is a reissue of a book which has genuinely been sought after by many and will enable those who did not get a chance to buy it first time out, to complete the three book series which has become the definitive reference source on British railway cranes.

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Book SynopsisBringing together around 5,000 square miles of land, the West Midlands region boasted a diverse system of railways. These ranged from the main lines connecting the north and south of Britain to small branches, as well as cross-country routes and local lines. The Last Years of West Midlands Steam records this area in the 1948-1967 period - using nearly 250 superb colour and black-and-white images - when the days of steam reached their peak. The book covers the smaller West Midlands county, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire. Several cities in the area appear: Birmingham, Coventry, Hereford, Lichfield, Stoke-on-Trent, Wolverhampton and Worcester. There are also a number of large towns included, such as: Burton-upon-Trent, Dudley, Kidderminster, Leamington Spa, Nuneaton, Rugby, Shrewsbury, Stafford, Stourbridge, Tamworth, Uttoxeter, etc. With lines formerly operated by the London Midland & Scottish Railway and Great Western Railway, many locomotives of these companies are present, alongside the Standard Classes of British Railways. With a rich industrial heritage in the region, a number of privately owned locomotives appear at work on several sites, such as breweries and collieries. The West Midlands was a bustling and vibrant place for steam enthusiasts to observe and record locomotives at work. In doing so, a lost era has been captured and this collection has been assembled to celebrate those bygone days.

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Book SynopsisComprising one-third of the land mass of mainland Britain, Scotland provided a diverse background for railway photographers to record the end of steam. As dieselisation radiated northward from Southern England, the country became a refuge for locomotives and many enthusiasts rushed with their cameras to record the demise of a great period in British history. Scottish Steam 1948-1967 presents this period using nearly 250 superb colour and black-and-white images. The focus is on the various locomotives serving under BR at this time. These ranged from old pre-Grouping locomotives still in service, to the many LNER and LMSR designs introduced to modernise the respective motive power stocks after 1923. After Nationalisation, many of the BR Standard Class varieties saw use in Scotland, whilst heavier freight duties were handled by ex-War Department ‘Austerity’ 2-8-0s that were brought into service under BR from the many war surplus engines. The locomotives have been pictured at locations across Scotland. From the cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow – including their environs – to places on the main lines radiating southward, such as Burnmouth and Beattock. Several sites on the Waverley route are included, in addition to the Ayrshire coast. Northward, Stirling, Alloa, Dundee, Aberdeen, Perth, etc., are featured, as is the West Highland and far north of Scotland – Thurso and Wick. The images have been taken at the lineside, stations, sheds, workshops and industrial locations. The book offers a fascinating record of the end of steam in Scotland.

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Book SynopsisIn South West England a rich railway history was developed through the construction of various routes, the steam locomotives used and services offered. Last Years of South West Steam looks at the region in the 1950s and 1960s as steam traction came to an end. This is done using 230 evocative colour and black-and-white images. Covering over 9,000 square miles, South West England includes the counties: Cornwall; Devon; Dorset; Gloucestershire; Somerset; Wiltshire. A selection of the towns and cities present are: Bath; Bristol; Bournemouth; Cheltenham; Cirencester; Dawlish; Exeter; Exmouth; Gloucester; Liskeard; Newton Abbot; Penzance; Plymouth; Salisbury; Sidmouth; Swindon; Tavistock; Truro; Wadebridge; Weymouth; Yeovil. A number of important routes pass through the area, including the Great Western Main Line from Paddington to Penzance and the South Western Main Line between Waterloo and Weymouth. Several local lines and branches also connected places in the South West. Many of the locomotive classes that worked in the region are present. These were mainly ex-Great Western Railway designs, such as Collett’s ‘Castle’, ‘Hall’, ‘Grange’ and ‘Manor’ Class 4-6-0s or the numerous 5700 and 8750 Class 0-6-0PTs, 5101 and 6100 2-6-2Ts, whilst Churchward’s 2800 Class 2-8-0s and 4300 2-6-0s were still employed. Some ex-Southern Railway classes feature, such as the ‘West Country’ Pacifics, Maunsell’s ‘N’ Class 2-6-0, Drummond T9 Class 4-4-0, Adams 415 Class 4-4-2T, Drummond M7 Class 0-4-4T, etc. BR’s Standard Classes also assisted in the region at the end of steam. The locomotives are pictured at stations, junctions, points from the lineside and sheds, both large and small. Last Years of South West Steam chronicles the railways of the area in the final years of an increasingly distant time in English history.

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Book SynopsisThomas 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.

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Book Synopsis'A lifetime of railway love distilled into a most beautiful volume' Lucy Worsley'Our railway history could not have been told more palatably or more nourishingly' David Kynaston'The most attractive, comprehensive and easily digestible history of the oldest railway system in the world' Michael Palin In 1825 the Stockton & Darlington company strode into history with the opening of the world's first public steam railway. What the S&DR had pioneered soon picked up speed, transforming lives and landscapes, connecting far-flung corners of the nation and creating its own distinctive environments and working worlds. This ambitious and lavishly illustrated volume brings the story of Britain's railways to life, spanning two centuries of achievement and change. Full of colour and incident, it is an exhilarating journey through time and space, revisiting favourite themes and introducing unfamiliar stories and places. With original and engaging entries on everything from dining saloons to collect

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Book SynopsisClapham was a pivotal point in British railway history. Much technology had been invented and applied to accident prevention by 1988; much more was to come. The Clapham Train Accident considers Clapham in its wider context, using official reports and expert interviews to describe both the causes and the terrible effects. It looks beyond the railway to the external factors acting not only on British Rail, but also the government of the time, and considers the safety improvements that came about as a result.Finally, the book brings the story up to date and looks at why the lessons learned over thirty years ago still need to be retained in an industry where the baton of safety is all-too-easily dropped during re-organisation, re-branding and after the departure of those who lived through darker days to make ours shine more brightly.The concatenation of events, the errors, the reorganisations, the financial constraints, that led to Clapham could happen to any business in any industry. On t

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Book SynopsisCharles Holden's designs for the London Underground from the mid-1920s to the outbreak of World War II represent a high point of transport architecture and Modernist design in Britain. His collaboration with Frank Pick, the Chief Executive of London Transport, brought about a marriage of form and function still celebrated today. Pick used the term ‘Medieval Modernism’ to describe their work on the underground system, comparing the task to the construction of a great cathedral. London Tube Stations 1924 – 1961 catalogues and showcases every surviving station from this innovative period. These beautiful buildings, simultaneously historic and futuristic, have been meticulously documented by architectural photographer Philip Butler.Annotated with station-by-station overviews by writer and historian Joshua Abbott, the book provides an indispensable guide to the network's Modernist gems. All the key stations have a double page spread, with a primary exterior photograph alongside supporting images. A broader historical introduction, illustrated with archival images from the London Transport Museum, gives historical context, while a closing chapter lists the demolished examples alongside further period images.These stations, as famed architectural historian Nicholas Pevsner later noted, would "pave the way for the twentieth-century style in England".Table of ContentsForeword : The Allure of the SubterraneanIntroduction : Medieval ModernismA New Beginning : The Northern Line Extension to Morden 1924-1926 Re-make, Re-model : The Central London Stations 1927-1935Little Boxes : The Piccadilly Line West 1931-1934Into New Country : The Piccadilly Line East 1932-1933Repeat Performance : The District Line East 1932-1935Five Year Plan : The New Works Programme 1935-1939Before The Jubilee : The Bakerloo Line North 1936-1939Branching Out : The Central Line East 1940-1948The Long Goodbye : The Central Line West 1940-1961Victims of Progress : Demolished Stations

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewMol's offbeat prose has a one-man performance quality to it . . . If Train Lord were a train, it would be a heritage line, an intimate preservation of a moment in time, full of personality * The Times *As much about the art, craft and alchemy of storytelling as it is about healing * Heromag *Rude, raw, visceral, painful and wildly funny * Saga Magazine *A highly intimate and emotional consideration of the relationship between pain, life, and the methods we use to escape both * Adelaide Fringe *Mol's writing is a revelation. Nuanced, at times dryly satirical or melancholy, it is always rich, poetic and intoxicating * Bakehouse Studio *Like his alt-lit forebears, Oliver Mol's writing can often feel like alchemy, constructing brief, glimmering moments of catharsis from the meandering absurdities of life * Guardian, 'Best Australian Books of 2022' *Entertaining, moving and vivid... its playfulness is irrepressible * The Conversation *

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Book SynopsisA celebration of the diversity of Scotland's railways, and the variety of locomotives and traffic that can be found on its many lines.

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Book SynopsisMarking its 300th anniversary, this highly illustrated book explores the history of the Tanfield wagonway.

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Book SynopsisColonel Stephens ran independent railways on a shoestring, assembling a rich variety of locomotives to run his lines, some built to his designs. Set out in this book, for the first time, the how and why he achieved this across his whole 'empire'.

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Book SynopsisIn their book Gresley's Silver Link' the authors analysed the evolution of the A4s Gresley's and their service up to Gresley's death in 1941. This book takes this compelling story from the early years of the war up to their demise in the 1960s.

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Book SynopsisThe Isle of Sheppey sits just off the north coast of Kent, where the Medway and Thames estuaries flow into the North Sea. Over centuries this was a place that was home to farmland, castles, a dock yard, an air station, industrial instalations, calm beaches and a population of islanders who have taken a pride in their home. To serve the needs of all of this a small railway network was built up and even an urban tram network. Included in this was a fixed link that was the first to ever link the island to the mainland. From 1860 the network grew as the importance of the island grew. Continental boat passengers, dockyard workmen and day trippers, they were all caried on the trains and trams that shuttled about to, from and across the flat terrain of this often overlooked island. Being an island can create its own unique set of challenges and the railways on the island were certainly challenged by missfortune and circumstances, but the little network kept going until economics got the bette

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Book SynopsisIt will make you laugh and it will make you cry: Felix The Railway Cat is the SUNDAY TIMES bestselling, extraordinary tale of a close-knit community and its amazing bond with a very special cat. ''The global sensation'' Daily Telegraph________ When Felix arrived at Yorkshire''s Huddersfield Train Station as an eight-week-old kitten, no one knew just how important this little ball of fluff would become.Although she has a vital job to do as ''Senior Pest Controller'', Felix is much more than just an employee of TransPennine Express. Felix changes lives in surprising ways. She is always ready to leap into action and save the day: from bringing a boy with autism out of his shell to providing comfort to a runaway child shivering on the platform one night.So when tragedy hits the team at Huddersfield, it is only Felix who can pull them back together. But a chance friendship Trade ReviewTHE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERIt will make you laugh and it will make you cry: Felix The Railway Cat is the extraordinary tale of a close-knit community and its amazing bond with a very special cat.'The global sensation' Daily TelegraphWhen Felix arrived at Yorkshire's Huddersfield Train Station as an eight-week-old kitten, no one knew just how important this little ball of fluff would become. * From the publisher's description *A delightful book * Surrey Life *Full of funny and heartwarming stories . . . [It] will delight all cat lovers * Your Cat *A phenomenon * Big Issue *The global sensation * Daily Telegraph *The purrfect railway cat * Daily Express *

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Book SynopsisA stunning collection of photographs of the United States' most famous railway - Union Pacific Railroad, an American icon.

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Book SynopsisDocumenting the railway scene, from the 1970s to present day. A variety of motive power is to be seen within this collection.

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Book SynopsisThis book in Pen & Sword's Gallery' series starts with a brief history of the Cambrian Railways' early years, followed by a magnificent comprehensive set of early photographs of Cambrian engines and Oswestry Works made available by the former Chairman of the Manchester Locomotive Society and the National Library of Wales. A tour of the sumptuous scenery of mid Wales follows - the trains in the landscape taken from Andrew Dyke's collection and a few so expertly colourised' by him that most find it difficult to distinguish these from the many genuine colour photographs, the Welsh countryside deserving the rich and varied hues. The book is jointly authored by David Maidment and Paul Carpenter, the latter bringing the story of the Cambrian up to date and persuading a number of former railwaymen who worked on the Cambrian system to share their memories and experiences. The book finishes with a description to restore part of the closed section of the line through the efforts of members of the Cambrian Heritage Railways. The book has over 25,000 words of text, and more than 250 photographs, including over 40 in colour.

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Book SynopsisThis is the definitive story of the men who built the railways – the unknown Victorian labourers who blasted, tunnelled, drank and brawled their way across nineteenth-century England. Preached at and plundered, sworn at and swindled, this anarchic elite endured perils and disasters, and carved out of the English countryside an industrial-age architecture unparalleled in grandeur and audacity since the building of the cathedrals.Trade ReviewAbsorbing detail presented so readably that no one with a spark of imagination and a twinge of interest in people could fail to find this book a pleasure * Evening Standard *A brilliant book about a magnificent and vanished race of men * Listerner *Coleman's vivid and perceptive study of Victorian railway navvies is something of a landmark * Guardian *Coleman's pioneering work of industrial history is handsomely illustrated with prints and photographs from the time with a new introduction from the most distinguished recent historian of the railways * The National (Glasgow) *

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Book SynopsisA popular feature of our publishing programme for a number of years has been our fascimile reprints of selected titles from the famous Ian Allan Publishing abc series that first appeared in the 1940s. These modestly priced reprints are welcomed by both the enthusiasts who may have used them when they first came out and also by those not around at the time they were first published. They provide wonderful, nostalgic snapshots of a railway scene which has long since disappeared. The next reissue in the series - British Rail Locomotives and Other Motive Power: Combined Volume 1967. Two years before in 1965, there had been 3,000 steam locos on BR''s books. But such was the remorseless march of diesel and electric traction, by the end of 1967, this had shrunk to a mere 361; 307 of LMS origin, 2 ex LNER locos and only 52 out of the 999 BR Standard locos built. This is also the first of our abc reprints which uses the term ''British Rail'' in its title, that having been introduced in 1965. The focus of the 1967 abc Combined is therefore firmly on diesel and electric motive power with new locos being added all the time and almost all of the early Modernisation Plan types still in service. For generations of enthusiasts, these were the locos they grew up with and spotted so this volume will be one many can relate to more strongly than the rapidly fading age of steam.

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Book SynopsisOver the course of the age of steam on Britain''s railways, relatively few engine men picked up the pen to write about their life on the footplate and the engines on which they worked. One who did was Norman McKillop, who also wrote under the pseudonym of ''Toram Beg'' (''little Norman''), a nod towards his Gaelic parentage and heritage, whilst still working as an engine driver, contributing to publications such as Trains Illustrated. Enginemen Elite was first published in 1958 and is an account of Mc Killop''s railway career which began in 1910 when he joined the North British Railway as a cleaner. He rose through the ranks and in time, based at Haymarket shed in Edinburgh, he became one of the top link drivers on the East Coast Main Line. He has been described, as at once a master and a lover of the locomotiveman''s craft and his observations relating to the various types of engines on which he worked are both fascinating and insightful. He was also an active trade unionist who wrote a history of his union, ASLEF, which was published in 1950 and there is a strong tread of social concern running through his autobiography focusing on the sometimes appalling working conditions of railway staff especially in the dark economic landscape of the 1930s. This reissue of a superbly written work on life on the footplate which has been out of print for many years, one both romantic and thoughtful in turn, will be much welcomed by a new generation of readers.

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Book SynopsisCelebration in words and pictures of the world-famous named train from London to Edinburgh and the great railway centres along its tracks Doncaster, York, Darlington and Newcastle.

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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 SynopsisDiscover the architectural gems that are Britain's 100 Best Railway Stations in this Sunday Times top 10 bestseller'This is a cracker . . . a beautiful book' Chris EvansIt is the scene for our hopeful beginnings and our intended ends, and the timeless experiences of coming and going, meeting, greeting and parting. It is an institution with its own rituals and priests, and a long-neglected aspect of Britain's architecture. And yet so little do we look at the railway station. Simon Jenkins has travelled the length and breadth of Great Britain, from Waterloo to Wemyss Bay, Betws-y-Coed to Beverley, to select his hundred best railway stations. Blending his usual insight and authority with his personal reflections and experiences - including his founding the Railway Heritage Trust - the foremost expert on our national heritage deftly reveals the history, geography, design and significance of each of these glories. Beautifully illustrated with colour photographs throughout, this joyous exploration of our social history shows the station's role in the national imagination; champions the engineers, architects and rival companies that made them possible; and tells the story behind the triumphs and follies of these very British creations. These are the marvellous, often undersung places that link our nation, celebrated like never before. 'However spectacular the book's photographs, it's the author's prowess as a phrase-maker that keeps you turning the pages' The Times'An uplifting exploration of our social history' GuardianTrade Review[Spreads] enthusiasm by inviting the reader to join in a game of admiration. -- Christopher Howse * Telegraph *However spectacular the book's photographs, it's the author's prowess as a phrase-maker that keeps you turning the pages -- Richard Morrison * The Times *A most beautiful book . . . full of information. I'd like to travel to every one of the stations. Simon Jenkins is a blessing to the nation, keeping an eye on our buildings and making sure they are not forgotten or neglected. -- Claire TomalinJenkins has unearthed a lot of gems. The photography is stunning -- Christian Wolmar * Spectator *This is a cracker . . . a beautiful book -- Chris EvansSimon Jenkins extols the virtues of 100 of them, as well as offering a brief history of the rise, fall and rise again of Britain's railways. And he is the perfect person to do so. Excellent, enticing. -- Gavin Stamp * Evening Standard *This glorious and utterly essential guide to Britain's best railway stations is also a history of some of the remarkable - but often undersung - landmarks to our social history * The Bookseller *Masterly, perhaps a masterpiece * Independent, Books of the Year on 'England's Thousand Best Churches' *Every house in England should have a copy of this book -- Auberon Waugh on 'England's Thousand Best Churches' * Literary Review, Book of the Century *Jenkins is, like all good guides, more than simply informative: he can be courteous and rude, nostalgic and funny, elegant, convincing and relaxed' -- Adam Nicolson on 'England's Thousand Best Houses' * Evening Standard *Any passably cultured inhabitant of the British Isles should ask for, say, three or four copies of this book -- Max Hastings on 'England's Thousand Best Houses' * Sunday Telegraph *Full of stand-out facts . . . absolutely fascinating -- Richard Bacon on 'A Short History of England' * BBC Radio 2 *Full of the good judgements one might hope for from such a sensible and readable commentator, and they alone are worth perusing for pleasure and food for thought -- Michael Wood on 'A Short History of England' * New Statesman *Jenkins has travelled the length and breadth of Great Britain's railways. Beautifully illustrated with colour photos, this is an uplifting exploration of our social history * The Guardian *

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Book SynopsisThe ''A4'' class of Pacific locomotives, designed by Sir Nigel Gresley for the London & North Eastern Railway in the 1930s, was arguably the most distinctive and most famous type of steam locomotive built in Britain. Their streamlined design not only reflected the art deco and modernist style of the era but was also functional, enabling them to travel efficiently at high speeds. On 3 July 1938 the most famous locomotive in the class, Mallard, broke the world speed record for a steam locomotive, travelling at 126mph. This record has never been broken.A total of 35 of these beautiful locomotives were built from 1935-38. The first four were originally painted silver, included the word ''silver'' in their names, and were built to haul the glamorous new ''Silver Jubilee'' train from London and Newcastle. Their success led to a second batch being built from 1937-38, named after birds, LNER directors or British empire countries, for new streamlined services from London King''s Cross

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