The Trains Now Departed
The Trains Now Departed

Author: Michael Williams

Publisher: Random House

Published: 2015-05-07

Total Pages: 354

ISBN-13: 1409052346

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SOMETIMES you come across a lofty railway viaduct, marooned in the middle of a remote country landscape. Or a crumbling platform from some once-bustling junction buried under the buddleia. If you are lucky you might be able to follow some rusting tracks, or explore an old tunnel leading to...well, who knows where? Listen hard. Is that the wind in the undergrowth? Or the spectre of a train from a golden era of the past panting up the embankment? These are the ghosts of The Trains Now Departed. They are the railway lines, and services that ran on them that have disappeared and gone forever. Our lost legacy includes lines prematurely axed, often with a gripping and colourful tale of their own, as well as marvels of locomotive engineering sent to the scrapyard, and grand termini felled by the wrecker's ball. Then there are the lost delights of train travel, such as haute cuisine in the dining car, the grand expresses with their evocative names, and continental boat trains to romantic far-off places. The Trains Now Departed tells the stories of some of the most fascinating lost trains of Britain, vividly evoking the glories of a bygone age. In his personal odyssey around Britain Michael Williams tells the tales of the pioneers who built the tracks, the yarns of the men and women who operated them and the colourful trains that ran on them. It is a journey into the soul of our railways, summoning up a magic which, although mired in time, is fortunately not lost for ever. THIS EDITION REVISED AND UPDATED TO INCLUDE MAPS.

The Picture History of the Somerset & Dorset Railway
The Picture History of the Somerset & Dorset Railway

Author: Robin Atthill

Publisher:

Published: 1970

Total Pages: 120

ISBN-13:

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Over 140 photos accompanied by extended captions written by Robin Atthill illustrate the beauty and variety of scenery that attracted visitors and photographers from far and wide toi this legendary, much-loved line. Atthill researched the history of the S&D in depth and described the 'sturdy individuality' of a line that had to deal with the challenges of difficult operating conditions and fluctuating seasonal holiday traffic.

Yesterday's Railways
Yesterday's Railways

Author: Peter Herring

Publisher:

Published: 2002

Total Pages: 298

ISBN-13:

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Many still recall when the train was their principal means of travel, whether to school or work, to visit friends and relatives, or to go on a trip away from home. Trains were not only used to transport people; they were also an essential means for daily survival, delivering the coal that heated their homes and food that sat on the dinner table. It was a time when a train journey remained an adventure, and the steam locomotive that made such a journey possible provided a source of both awe and fascination. These times are recalled in Yesterday's Railways, a fascinating book that chronicles England's complete railway history from the ground-breaking years of the 1900's to August 1968 when the engine fires were put out for the last time. Readers will learn not only about the varied cargo, routes and destinations of these historic trains, but also how they were used during times of war as necessary tools of victory for England and its allies.

Splendour of the Somerset and Dorset Railway
Splendour of the Somerset and Dorset Railway

Author: Alan Hammond

Publisher:

Published: 2010-03-25

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9780948975905

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Following the runaway successes of Alan Hammond’s first six books on the Somerset & Dorset Railway, this volume follows the same winning formula, with emphasis placed on the people who worked on the railway as much as on the locomotives and buildings themselves. With a foreword by well-known television personality Jools Holland, and lively text packed with anecdotes of railway pranks and fun, accidents, and strange happenings, this book is a must have for all S&D enthusiasts! There are accounts of working on the line, of train crews struggling to cross the Mendips, and most importantly, of people going about their daily lives. These stories are accompanied by some of the most fascinating photographs yet assembled, many of which capture scenes of the everyday life of the railway staff. Essential reading for all those keen to learn more about this famous line, and ideal for the many who wish to add this volume to their collection.