Railways of Ayrshire
Railways of Ayrshire

Author: Gordon Thomson

Publisher: The Crowood Press

Published: 2016-07-15

Total Pages: 290

ISBN-13: 1785001485

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In the early 1800s, Ayrshire was already established as a prosperous, mainly rural agricultural county. The realization that there was abundant coal and (to a lesser extent) iron ore deposits to be exploited, together with the coming of the Industrial Revolution, rendered the area wide open to the 'railway mania' that swept Britain in the mid to late 1800s. The proximity of the county north to Glasgow and south to Carlisle (and thence south) made it an attractive proposition for early railway developers. Gordon Thomson explores the history and development of the railway routes in Ayrshire; how the coming of the railways changed the face of the area and supported the growth of industry. It looks at how services evolved through the eras of LMS, nationalization and privatization, and the preservation and heritage scene in Ayrshire. Superbly illustrated with 273 colour and black & white photographs.

Ayrshire & Renfrewshire's Lost Railways
Ayrshire & Renfrewshire's Lost Railways

Author: Gordon Stansfield

Publisher:

Published: 1999

Total Pages: 48

ISBN-13: 9781840330779

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Fascinating statistics on the now closed lines and demolished stations from these two counties, accompanied by 52 old photographs showing many of the locations in their prime. The original Wemyss Bay station, forerunner to the extravagant mock-Tudor structure that exists today, a railbus at Crosshouse, and the sorry spectacle of Kilwinning East station during demolition are some of the many subjects.

Scotland from the Rails
Scotland from the Rails

Author: Benedict Le Vay

Publisher:

Published: 2021-06

Total Pages: 176

ISBN-13: 9781784777623

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A brand new book from the author of the acclaimed Britain from the Rails. Entertaining, eccentric, informative, inspirational and only very occasionally trainspotter-ish, Scotland from the Rails is the perfect guide to some of the most romantic rail journeys not just in Britain but the worldScotland's rail network boasts the highest mainline summits in Britain; the longest bridge; the longest and boldest spans; the most famous railway bridge of all (the Harry Potter one; some of the friendliest staff and the most lovely - and downright quirky - station buildings, many lovingly maintained or restored. And for icing on the cake, or rather cream on the Cranachan (a Scottish pudding best enjoyed with a wee dram) - some utterly charming and fascinating preserved lines, steam centres and luxury excursion trains which cruise through this magnificent land.

The Railways
The Railways

Author: Simon Bradley

Publisher: Profile Books

Published: 2015-09-24

Total Pages: 607

ISBN-13: 1847653529

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Sunday 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.