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A railway is not just a collection of machines, rails and buildings - it is also about people. This book is about some of these people. It tells of the wayward Bronte brother Branwell, and his extraordinary but short lived career as a station master. It recounts some little known episodes in the lives of the great railway engineers, including one conceming Isombard Brunel, whose barmy army of navvies took part in the last pitched battle to be seen on British soil. There are tales drawn from the...

In the 1980s British Railways sought a cheap replacement for the ailing Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) trainsets which saw the introduction of the Class 14x trainsets that became known as Pacers. These proved to be cheap to operate hence popular with the operators but less popular with the travelling public who found the rigid 4-wheel chassis provided a basic and uncomfortable ride. Fred Kerr, a life-long rail enthusiast and well-known railway photographer, became familiar with these trainsets when...

Though the famous bullet train launched in 1964, many steam engines were still operational in Japan before withdrawal in 1975. These wonders of narrow gauge railway engineering have often gone unappreciated in Western countries – until now. Japan’s distinctive four seasons offer the perfect backdrop for the rail photographer, and allowed Yoshi Hashida to capture steam engines working against a variety of gorgeous backdrops and stunning settings, including mountain scenes and coastal views. This...

Croydon Tramlink is a new history about the network linking Wimbledon with Croydon in South London. This is the first full history of this fascinating tramway, which is about to celebrate its twentieth anniversary of opening. The book looks at the political, economic and social aspects of the network, as well as the mechanical history of the system. The tramway has been an important aspect in rejuvenating the Croydon area and improving transport links in an area lacking underground lines.