The formative years of Britain’s railway network produced a host of ideas, activities and characters, quite a few of which now seem not only highly unusual, but sometimes little short of ridiculous. Weird schemes and designs, extravagant behaviour, reckless competition and larger-than-life characters all featured in the genuine struggle of the railway system to evolve. While the dawning of regulation and common sense brought about more uniform and responsible practices, factors like the weather and the innate complexity of railway operation continued to produce a stream of nonstandard incidents and outcomes, from wild storms to unusual equipment. This book, by ex-railwaymen Geoff and Ian Body, captures over 150 entertaining snippets, stories, and strange and unusual facts from an ample supply of railway curiosities. Read more

A new and updated edition of the classic history of the British railway, published to coincide with the 200th anniversary of train travel in 2025.The opening of the pioneering Stockton and Darlington railway, the world's first passenger line, in 1825 marked the beginning of the railways' vital role in changing the face of Britain. Fire and Steam celebrates the vision and determination of the ambitious Victorian pioneers who developed this revolutionary transport system and the navvies who cut through the land to enable a country-wide network to emerge.From the early days of steam to electrification, via the railways' magnificent contribution in two world wars, the chequered history of British Rail and the disaster of privatization, Fire and Steam examines the social and economical importance of the railway and how it helped form the Britain of today. Read more

The authoritative and fascinating history of the rise and fall of the state-owned British Rail'Wolmar's book is impeccably organised and makes a fast, enjoyable read' THE TIMES Literary Supplement________British Rail wasn't how we're asked to remember it . . .From ancient rolling stock to patchy service, stale sandwiches to the wrong kind of snow, British Rail - our last great state-owned organisation to be privatised - has received a terrible press.But after its controversial 1948 creation, British Rail was actually an innovative powerhouse that over five decades transformed the UK, creating one of the fastest regular rail services in the world.Award-winning journalist Christian Wolmar takes us from promise to punchline, exploring British Rail's birth into post-war austerity, the many battles and struggles to evolve what many considered to be a dinosaur, and how, at the height of its success, the service was misunderstood and unfairly maligned, ruthlessly broken up and privatised._______Praise for Christian Wolmar'Wolmar is the high priest of railway studies' Literary Review'The greatest expert on British trains' Guardian'Our most eminent transport journalist' Spectator'If the world's railways have a laureate, it is surely Christian Wolmar' Boston Globe 'Christian Wolmar is in love with the railways. He writes constantly and passionately about them. He is their wisest, most detailed historian and a constant prophet of their rebirth . . . if you love the hum of the wheels and of history, then Christian Wolmar is your man' Observer Read more

Did you know?In 1884 the Circle Line opened and was described in The Times as ‘a form of mild torture which no person would undergo if he could conveniently help it.’According to one psychologist, Tube commuters can experience greater levels of stress than a police officer facing a rioting mob or even a fighter pilot going into a dogfight.Underground trains have only twice been used to transport deceased people in coffins: William Gladstone and Dr Barnardo.Some of the most bizarre items handed in to lost property include 250lb of sultanas, a 14ft canoe, a child’s garden slide, a harpoon gun, a pith helmet, an artificial leg, someone’s brother’s ashes and a sealed box containing three dead bats.With well over a billion passengers a year, more than 250 miles of track, literally hundreds of different stations and a history stretching back at least 160 years, the world’s oldest underground railway might seem familiar, but how well do you actually know it?This book offers a feast of Tube-based trivia for travellers and lovers of London alike. Read more

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

The Railway Correspondence and Travel Society began publishing locomotive stock books in early 1935, just a few years after the Society was formed in 1928. Initially, they were issued as supplements to the Society’s monthly magazine The Railway Observer but later issues were released as independent books.Information about locomotives - and railways in general – was scarce in the early days. The RCTS was a pioneer in gathering, sharing, and collating data for the benefit of railway enthusiasts, usually via The Railway Observer.After a hiatus in the late-1950s, the stock books were relaunched in 1960, collated by a new team. The format continued to differ from the tabular layout of Ian Allan’s ABC guides which had emerged in the 1940s and were targeted at spotters. The pages of the RCTS stock books were arranged as compact lists, to be used as a reference source for the mature enthusiast.Four substantial editions containing many more illustrations were published in the 1960s, marking the demise of steam on the national network. Alongside coverage of the modern fleet, the stock books emerged as the best source of information about preserved locomotives.The Society is now reissuing these historically important reference books as facsimiles. It is not possible to match the production standards of a modern original, but we have done our best. The text has been whitened, blemishes removed, and half-tone images processed into pixels.There are four volumes in the series. The books included in Volume 4 are:The Locomotive Stock Book 1960 - 12th EditionThe Locomotive Stock Book 1963 - 13th EditionThe Locomotive Stock Book 1966 - 14th EditionThe Locomotive Stock Book 1969 - 15th Edition Read more

Unlock your inner artist and unleash your creativity with the Train Colouring Book for Adults! This beautiful collection of coloring pages is packed full of locomotives, steam engines, trams, and electric trains. With its high-quality illustrations and detailed designs, you'll love immersing yourself in a world of colour as you create stunning masterpieces. Bringing out the best in these complex images while exploring your own imagination will be a truly rewarding experience.50 unique Train IllustrationsEach design is printed on a separate sheetPremium Matte CoverNO duplicate images in this book.Size: 8.5 x 11.5Suitable for Coloring Pens, Pencils, Markers and CrayonsTake a journey through the world of trains with our Train Colouring Book for Adults. You can enjoy hours of entertainment, where locomotives, steam engines, trams and electric trains come to life in vivid colour! Read more

'Great fun. Railway travel without leaving your armchair!' Chris TarrantA jam-packed puzzle and trivia book about Britain's iconic railways. The Big British Railway Puzzle Book is a must-buy gift book for puzzle book fanatics, train and travel enthusiasts, history buffs, and the people up and down the country who love their heritage and their regional identity! Featuring a treasure trove of puzzles about railways and locomotives, using maps, old routes and tracks, original posters and all things that delight train lovers, the book also includes mind-boggling brainteasers, navigational tests, word games, code-crackers, anagrams, crosswords, mathematical conundrums and more. As well as having over 100 mind-bending puzzles, the book also contains historical facts and figures, trivia and introductions to each section authored by Dr Thomas Spain, a research associate at the National Railway Museum, about the history of the British Railways. From the National Railway Museum in York! Read more

Toton first saw railway yards built on the site in the 1850s to support the growing need to transport coal from the collieries of the Erewash Valley and, later, the Leen Valley area to towns and industry. Later, growth in wagonload traffic saw British Rail invest heavily in the yards, including mechanised hump shunting equipment and a modern diesel locomotive facility. However, wagonload traffic was soon to decline, and the transport of coal was revolutionised by the merry-go-round concept utilising new HAA wagons, sweeping away the numerous older vacuum-braked types. Toton was once the heart of coal on the railway, but the decline in use of fossil fuels in the UK has decimated the coal train from the national network, with Toton yards now partly abandoned and the remainder in use mostly as a base for engineering trains and traincrew relieving point. This book illustrates the changing scene at Toton from the last days of British Rail, through privatisation, up to the present day. Read more

This illustrated and meticulously researched book takes you back to the golden age of railways in Yorkshire - to a time when the present-day counties of North Yorkshire and the East Riding of Yorkshire were at the forefront of Victorian railway development.Using archive photography, maps and accounts from the time, the book brings to life the history of the area's railways, the reason for their construction and their closure.The 10 specially drawn maps will help the enthusiast to explore many of the old lines and stations that have survived.Two great men dominated the expansion of railways in the area: George Stephenson, whose Stockton-Darlington railway was extended to Middlesbrough in 1830, and George Hudson, dubbed 'The Railway King'. In 13 years, until Hudson's downfall in 1849, his companies were responsible for building 350 miles of track reaching such towns and cities as Harrogate, York, Scarborough and Hull. Of the 900 miles of rail track and 300 stations that existed at that time, fewer than 390 miles and 80 stations remain as part of today's national network. As the motorcar became more accessible and affordable, the numbers of passengers using the area's railways started to decline. Lines began to close, hastened by the Beeching Report in 1963. It's a far cry from the heyday of the railway age in the 1920s and 1930s, when excursion trains would bring excited holidaymakers to Whitby, Scarborough and Bridlington, and freight trains serviced the local lime, iron ore and chalk quarries. This book tells the story of that rise and fall, and the people at the heart of the story. CONTENTS Acknowledgements AbbreviationsIntroduction1. Around Skipton- Skipton-Bolton Abbey-Ilkley - The Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway - The Grassington branch 2. Harrogate Lines - Church Fenton to Harrogate - Harrogate to Ripon, Thirsk and Northallerton - Knaresborough-Boroughbridge-Pilmoor 3. Nidderdale -The Pateley Bridge branch -The Nidd Valley Light Railway 4. The Vale of Mowbray - The Easingwold Railway - Melmerby to Masham - The Richmond branch - The Catterick Camp Military Railway 5. Wensleydale Past and Present - Northallerton-Hawes-Garsdale - The Wensleydale Railway 6. Cleveland - Picton-Stokesley-Battersby - Middlesbrough to Guisborough - Guisborough to Saltburn and Loftus 7. Coast Lines - Whitby to Loftus - Scarborough to Whitby - The Filey Holiday Camp branch8. Across the North York Moors - Grosmont-Pickering-Malton - The North Yorkshire Moors Railway 9. The Vale of Pickering - The Forge Valley Line - Pilmoor-Gilling-Malton - Gilling-Pickering 10. Over the Yorkshire Wolds - Malton to Driffield - York-Market Weighton-Beverley - Selby-Market Weighton-Driffield 11. Around Selby - Selby to York - The Cawood branch - Selby to Goole - The Derwent Valley Light Railway 12. Holderness - The Withernsea branch - The Hornsea branch 13. The Hull & Barnsley Railway - Hull Cannon Street to Carlton Towers Conclusion Opening & Final Closure Dates Bibliography Index Read more

The opening of the pioneering Liverpool and Manchester Railway in 1830 marked the beginning of the railways' vital role in changing the face of Britain. Fire and Steam celebrates the vision and determination of the ambitious Victorian pioneers who developed this revolutionary transport system and the navvies who cut through the land to enable a country-wide network to emerge. From the early days of steam to electrification, via the railways' magnificent contribution in two world wars, the chequered history of British Rail, and the buoyant future of the train, Fire and Steam examines the social and economical importance of the railway and how it helped to form the Britain of today. Read more

History is everywhere, and is never as complete as when it can be accessed on a part of history itself.  The locomotive is one of the great steps in progress of civilisation that undoubtably connects us to land and history that was shaped by the machine itself. Although a basic form of railway, or rutway, did exist in Ancient Greek and Roman times – notably the ship trackway between Diolkos and the Isthmus of Corinth around 600 BC – it would take several thousand years before the first fare-paying passenger service was launched in the early nineteenth century. Some two hundred years on, it is possible to travel by train to some of the world's most remote and remarkable destinations, and track the many wonderful legacies of the Earth's extensive history – man-made and otherwise.   From prehistoric rock formations to skyscraper cities, slow steam engines to high-speed bullet trains, let A History of the World in 500 Railway Journeys be your guide. Through its beautifully illustrated pages, and 500 awe-inspiring railway journeys, you can chart your own transcontinental itinerary through time. Chug through canyons, steam past ancient monuments, speed through cities, luxuriate in the railcars of presidents and queens, or make express connections between key historical moments or epic eras, A History of the World in 500 Railway Journeys has it all. A must-read for travellers, railfans and history buffs alike, offering inspiration and information in equal measure.   Read more

The history of Britain’s railways is a long and fascinating one, filled with stories of grand endeavours, noted figures and record-breaking feats. Julian Holland brings together a unique miscellany of intriguing tales and engaging trivia – the perfect collection for every railway enthusiast.Stories range from Bulleid’s 'Chinese Laundries', trainspotting trips in Wales and Scotland and Liverpool’s ‘Dockers’ Umbrella' to railway artists and clergy, a railway-owned airline and railways that were never built.Find out about• The Royal Scot’s 11,000-mile journey in the USA and Canada• A narrow gauge island railway in the middle of the Bristol Channel• How the London & South Western Railway saved the British Empire• Mallard’s unbeaten world speed record of 1938• How to fly by Great Western Railway from Cardiff to Plymouth• The 75-mile network of narrow gauge railways on the Isle of Skye• How another 4,500 miles of railway escaped closure by Dr BeechingAll Aboard is a delightful miscellany for every railway enthusiast, filled with fascinating and obscure stories, facts and figures. Read more

The legendary '4472' - better known as the Flying Scotsman - receives the famous Haynes Manual treatment with the full co-operation of the National Railway Museum. Here is a unique perspective on what is involved in maintaining, operating and restoring this Class A3 Pacific, the first steam locomotive to achieve 100mph. This highly detailed manual, based around 4472's recent overhaul and subsequent return to main-line operation, also looks in detail at every aspect of its engineering and construction, providing a feast of information and insight. Read more

It is more than 200 years since the world’s first steam railway locomotive hauled its initial load of iron ore and passengers on a short, slow journey. From that time onwards, the evolution of the steam locomotive continued unabated through the 19th century and on into the 20th.Steam haulage on Britain’s nationalised railways ended in 1968, yet the British public’s love affair with these magnificent machines endures. In this volume you’ll find:Features on 100 of the most impressive British steam locomotivesStories of the fascinating engineers who designed themBeautiful imagery from the country’s leading railway photographersWritten by best-selling railway author Julian Holland, Britain’s Steam Locomotives is the perfect addition to any railway enthusiast’s collection. Read more

It is now over a decade since the much-loved Great British Railway Journeys series set off on its incredible run discovering the cultural, social and engineering landscape of the United Kingdom through the prism of George Bradshaw's Handbook to rail travel. Veteran politician and ex cabinet minister Michael Portillo has since presented eleven seasons of this ever-popular show on BBC Two, covering every part of the existing train network in Britain, as well as others that were closed as a result of the Beeching Report in 1963. Across a decade of these journeys, Portillo has celebrated how every corner of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland was opened up by the railway line as a result of the Industrial Revolution, thus giving fans a unique insight into our shared past of train travel since the Victorian era. With the anniversary, this new collection will celebrate Michael's top fifty journeys from the hundreds he has covered, adding more insight and analysis to some of the greatest railway lines, stations, bridges, viaducts and tunnels the Victorians built to create the world we now live in. From Paddington Station to the Clifton Suspension Bridge; the Southend Pier line to the milk wagons departing from Blake Hall Station. An unrivalled narrative to be treasured. Greatest British Railway Journeys is both a celebratory and charming ride through our country's beloved history - all from the unique position of a train seat. Read more

The Sunday Times Top 10 BestsellerThe perfect new gift from the bestselling author of Britain's 1000 Best ChurchesIt 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. 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. Read more

'Crackles and sparks with life like an exploding box of Diwali fireworks' -William Dalrymple'One can only envy Monisha Rajesh as she embarks on this epic journey' -Tim ParksWhen she was a child, Monisha Rajesh's family uprooted to Madras in the hope of making India their home, but soon returned to England with a bitter taste in their mouths. Two decades on, Monisha turns to a map of the Indian Railways and takes a page out of Jules Verne's classic tale, embarking on an adventure around India in 80 trains, covering 40,000km - the circumference of the Earth.Her journey takes her on toy trains, luxury trains, Mumbai's infamous commuter trains and even a hospital on wheels. Along the way she meets a kaleidoscope of characters and discovers why the railways are considered the lifeline that keeps the country's heart beating. Most of all, she hopes that these 80 train journeys will lift the veil on a country that has become a stranger to her. Read more

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 Read more