Steaming Through Britain : A History Of The Nation's Railways

Description

This lavish new volume explores Britain's most celebrated standard and narrow-gauge railways, offering a comprehensive history of their construction, use and subsequent preservation. It also examines the nation's extensive railway heritage, outlining the development of Britain's railways from the coming of steam through to the first age of the train, the 'big four', wartime service, the nationalisation of the network and the advent of diesels and electrification. This incorporates evocative photographs and artworks along with stunning imagery of famous locomotives, including Stephenson's Rocket of 1829, Sir Nigel Gresley's 'Mallard' and 'Flying Scotsman', the 'Evening Star' (the last steam engine built by British Railways in 1960) and the 'Duchess of Hamilton' Coronation class loco. Examples of steam preservation lines featured in the book include the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, North Norfolk Railway, Bluebell Railway, Nene Valley Railway, Severn Valley Railway and Paignton and Dartmouth Railway, which are presented in a comprehensive appendix, with contact details and opening times for attractions where applicable.

Author description

Chris Ellis has been a steam and model railway enthusiast since his school days. He has nearly fifty years of experience as a writer and editor, having started out in the early 1960s as editor of Airfix Magazine. In 1980 he founded Model Trains, which he continues to edit today as Model Trains International. Chris Ellis has also written numerous railway and scenic modelling books along with articles on miltary, aviation and transport subjects. ANOVA