The Shropshire & Montgomeryshire Light Railway

The Shropshire & Montgomeryshire Light Railway

Author: Peter Johnson

Publisher: Pen and Sword Transport

Published: 2024-04-30

Total Pages: 402

ISBN-13: 1526776189

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The Shropshire & Montgomeryshire Light Railway, was one of the lines managed and operated by Colonel Holman Fred Stephens from his office in Salford Terrace in Tonbridge Kent. It was a revival of the long disused Potteries Shrewsbury & North Wales Railway, a railway that went bankrupt shortly after opening in the mid 1860s and was left derelict for forty years. The railway reopened in 1911 to much local rejoicing, however the company was in financial difficulties by the 1920s and withdrew its passenger services in the early 1930s. During the Second World War the army took over the railway, constructing ammunition and stores depots along its entire length. After the war the railway continued to be operated by the army until closed in 1960, when it was handed over to the Western Region of British Railways for demolition. The author has researched the history of this fascinating bucolic railway over many years. In this new book he presents much previously unpublished information and many fascinating insights into the railway’s complicated history.


Report

Report

Author: Commonwealth Shipping Committee

Publisher:

Published: 1909

Total Pages: 704

ISBN-13:

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The Story of the Cambrian: A Biography of a Railway

The Story of the Cambrian: A Biography of a Railway

Author: C. P. Gasquoine

Publisher: Good Press

Published: 2023-08-22

Total Pages: 110

ISBN-13:

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In 'The Story of the Cambrian: A Biography of a Railway', C. P. Gasquoine takes readers on a captivating journey through the history of the Cambrian Railway, showcasing the impact of transportation on society in the 19th century. Gasquoine's writing style is both informative and engaging, providing readers with a detailed account of the railway's development, challenges, and triumphs. The book is rich in historical context, offering valuable insights into the significance of railways in shaping the industrial landscape of Great Britain. Gasquoine's meticulous research and vivid descriptions bring the Cambrian Railway to life, making it a must-read for history enthusiasts and transportation scholars alike. C. P. Gasquoine, a renowned railway historian, brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to 'The Story of the Cambrian'. His passion for railway history and dedication to preserving the legacy of transportation systems is evident throughout the book. Gasquoine's unique perspective sheds light on the intricate workings of the Cambrian Railway, offering readers a deeper understanding of its cultural and economic significance. I highly recommend 'The Story of the Cambrian: A Biography of a Railway' to anyone interested in the history of transportation, industrial development, or British railways. Gasquoine's masterful storytelling and in-depth analysis make this book a valuable addition to any history lover's collection.


Colonel Stephens Light Railway Locomotives

Colonel Stephens Light Railway Locomotives

Author: Brian Janes

Publisher: Pen and Sword Transport

Published: 2023-10-30

Total Pages: 178

ISBN-13: 1399023462

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Holman Fred Stephens (1868-1931) set himself up in the 1890s as an engineer and manager of the complete light railway as evolved by Victorian theorists to serve rural districts as yet bereft of the benefit of cheaper transport. To them, a light railway was not an assemblage of second-hand mainline equipment of dubious merit but of fit for purpose, new material. This ideal theory did not survive the near universal inability to raise sufficient capital to build and equip a light railway that would give a reasonable profit. Recourse was therefore made to the second-hand market. Stephens became a master at the art of building and running railways with the minimum of capital. The history of the mechanical performance of his railways was also nearly always handicapped with inadequate engineering facilities. This left staff struggling, often surprisingly successfully, with a menagerie of locomotive types. Limited standardisation was practised but most often expediency ruled. This gave rise to a glorious kaleidoscope of locomotives the history of each of which is outlined This variety was further colored by Stephens generally regarding a locomotive name as far more important than its number.


Shropshire Railways

Shropshire Railways

Author: Geoff Cryer

Publisher: Crowood

Published: 2014-03-31

Total Pages: 252

ISBN-13: 1847976921

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An examination of four hundred years of railways in Shropshire, from the primitive wagonways of the pre-railway age to the county's current rail network and services. Fully illustrated with almost two hundred monochrome and colour photos, Shropshire Railways is an ideal resource for anyone with an interest in this county with its rich railway history, and home to one of Britain's top heritage railways. Including detailed route maps and a survey of timetables over the years, the book covers the pre-railway age and the coming of the main lines, with the opening of the Shrewsbury and Chester railway in 1848; the 'grouping' of the railway companies from 1923 - the Great Western Railway (GWR) and London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) era in the county; the British Railways period from 1948-1994 - nationalization and modernization, passenger and freight trains, and locomotive sheds; the minor lines, the industrial railways and the heritage railways; privatization and the current main line scene. Illustrated with 205 colour and black & white photographs and maps.


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 1896 Light Railways Act

The 1896 Light Railways Act

Author: John Hannavy

Publisher: Amberley Publishing Limited

Published: 2019-08-15

Total Pages: 194

ISBN-13: 1445693453

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The fascinating story behind a Victorian law with a welcome and unexpected side effect - it allowed today's heritage railways to come into being.