Lost Railways
3 total works
Step back in time to the golden age of railways. This is the story of Gloucestershire’s once-thriving rail network; a network of passenger and freight lines that criss-crossed the county at the turn of the 20th century.
The first long-distance main line to arrive in the county was the Birmingham & Gloucester which opened in 1840. This was soon followed by the Swindon via Stroud and the Bristol to Gloucester lines, and in 1851 the South Wales Railway between Gloucester, Chepstow and Newport was opened. These main lines are still with us today, but what of the other 250 miles of lines that were built with hope and enthusiasm?
In this meticulously researched book, Stan Yorke brings to life the county's railways and describes the reasons for their construction and for their subsequent closure.
Modern photographs accompany those from earlier times. These, together with specially drawn maps, will help the enthusiast to explore some of the old lines and stations that have survived.
The first long-distance main line to arrive in the county was the Birmingham & Gloucester which opened in 1840. This was soon followed by the Swindon via Stroud and the Bristol to Gloucester lines, and in 1851 the South Wales Railway between Gloucester, Chepstow and Newport was opened. These main lines are still with us today, but what of the other 250 miles of lines that were built with hope and enthusiasm?
In this meticulously researched book, Stan Yorke brings to life the county's railways and describes the reasons for their construction and for their subsequent closure.
Modern photographs accompany those from earlier times. These, together with specially drawn maps, will help the enthusiast to explore some of the old lines and stations that have survived.
The first railway line to reach Somerset came from Bristol and was part of the Bristol and Exeter Railway Company's main line through the West Country. Somerset's railway heyday stretched into the 1950s when holiday-makers would come from London, the Midlands and North of England to enjoy the county's seaside resorts. During the 1960's many lines were closed, but today you can savour the experience of steam locomotion on the Taunton to Minehead line preserved by the West Somerset Railway Company.
Devon's railway history began when the main line from London reached Exeter in 1844. Links were soon built with Plymouth in 1848 and Barnstaple in 1854. On top of this, in the heyday of the railway age, Devon also boasted over 400 miles of branch lines and sidings - nearly all of them to disappear by the end of the 20th century.