The son of the creator of Thomas the Tank Engine explores ten rural
branch-lines with working steam-engines that are situated in some of the
most beautiful parts of Britain: the Mid-Hants, the Kent & East
Sussex, the Bo'ness & Kinneil, the Great Central, the South Devon,
the North Norfolk, the East Lancashire, the Isle of Wight, the
Llangollen, and the Vale of Rheidol Light Railway. These lines are all
that remain of a once vast network that covered the country until most
of it was swept away in the Beeching cuts of the 1960s.
The book is
intended not only for railway enthusiasts, but also for those who enjoy
exploring the countryside and discovering more about Britain's heritage.
Each chapter describes a different branch-line, the area in which it is
located, the places through which it passes, and its history. The final
section includes a complete list of all working steam-lines in Britain
today.
Christopher Awdry has been writing the Thomas stories since 1972,
and is the author of other books on railway history as well being a
regular contributor to railway magazines.