Devon's first railway was opened as long ago as 16 September 1820. This was the Haytor Tramway constructed by George Templar. Sections of the tramway are still extant and scheduled as an Ancient Monument. The later railway map of Devon appears complicated, but is easier to comprehend when the history of the lines is understood. Basically two competing main lines thrust westwards to Plymouth - the GreatWestern Railway (GWR) and the London & SouthWestern Railway (LSWR). As far as Exeter the GWR ran to the north of the LSWR, but west of that city the positions were reversed. South-east Devon, generally known as `East Devon', was LSWR territory, South-west Devon, known as `South Devon' was mostly GWR territory, while most of North Devon came under the LSWR's sphere.After reorganisation, the LSWR lines fell to the Southern Railway. Partly due to its topography, Devon had an unusually large number of branch lines.Although many were closed either immediately following, or before the 1963 Beeching Report on Railways, some have reopened as preserved lines:Totnes to Buckfast; Paignton to Kingswear and the PlymValley Railway. Much of the Seaton branch was relaid as a 2ft 9in gauge electric tramway. Some stations too have been reopened: Sidmouth Junction has opened as Feniton; Ivybridge, closed to passengers 2 March 1959, reopened 15 July 1994 as a park and ride station to reduce traffic to and from Plymouth, while Tiverton Junction moved to Tiverton Parkway to give improved road access. Colin Maggs, the renowned expert on railway history, tells the fascinating tale of the railways and the impact they had on the lives of everyone in the county.The nostalgic branch lines with their small local trains and the main lines with their thundering expresses, are all part of a rich heritage which is explored in an expert text and in more than two hundred evocative images to present an absorbing view of Devon's recent past.
The first railway in Dorset was not a steam operated line, but one worked by horses and gravity, to transport Portland stone from the quarries to the sea. However, the first true main line in the county was the Southampton & Dorchester which opened on 1 June 1847 followed by the Wilts, Somerset & Weymouth Railway (WSWR) which reached Weymouth on 20 January 1857.The Southampton & Dorchester Railway had running power over the line between Dorchester andWeymouth and opened to Weymouth in 1857. The Salisbury & Yeovil Railway opened to Gillingham in 1859, and to Yeovil and onwards to Exeter in 1860. The Dorset Central Railway was inaugurated between Wimborne and Blandford in November 1860 and northwards to Cole in 1862 where it linked with the Somerset Central Railway, the two companies uniting as the Somerset & Dorset Railway.The extension to Bath opened on 20 July 1874 creating a new main line. Thus was established the pattern of four main lines in Dorset: two running approximately east to west and two north to south. From these main lines, branches were created to serve places off a main line such as to Lyme Regis, Bridport, Abbotsbury, Portland and Swanage. For decades these branch lines flourished, but eventually the more convenient internal-combustion engined vehicles rendered these branches uneconomic and they were closed around the time of the 1963 Beeching Report. Colin Maggs, the renowned expert on railway history, tells the fascinating tale of the railways and the impact they had on the lives of everyone in the county.The nostalgic branch lines with their small local trains and the main lines with their thundering expresses, are all part of a rich heritage which is explored in an expert text and in more than two hundred evocative images to present an absorbing view of Dorset's recent past.
British Steam Railways is a showcase of all that steam railways have achieved; from the basic design of Richard Trevithick's engine in 1804 to Stephenson's groundbreaking rocket in 1829, the opening of the Liverpool-Manchester line in 1830 and the golden era of train travel in the early 20th century. Hundreds of colour and black-and-white photographs, maps and artworks beautifully illustrate all facets of steam railways - from engines to signal boxes, platforms and signs. The accompanying DVD The Very Best Of British Steam of Yesteryear is a special programme that features a selection of some of the most interesting lines from all around the old British Railways network. Although the steam officially retired from daily use in England during August 1968, thanks to the efforts of a dedicated band of enthusiasts, who during the 1950s and 1960s set out to record this fascinating part of everyday life, it is still possible to enjoy the sights and sounds of British steam at work. This fantastic DVD also includes bonus footage of Bullied Pacifics hard at work in the days of BR steam.
This is a collection of fascinating and diverse British railway facts and stories to read in any spare moment. Travel back to the age of steam and discover the world's oldest active steam locomotive before becoming up-to-date with railways in films, such as Harry Potter. In addition to the fascinating lists of longest tunnels, widest bridges and most powerful locomotives, ponder the dismal failure of Brunel's atmospheric railway in South Devon, before reading the rags-to riches tale of Frank Hornby. From the sublime to the ridiculous and the euphoric to the poignant, every railway enthusiast is catered for.
Accompanying the six-part BBC 2 series, the six walks featured in this book follow the old tracks, overgrown cuttings and ancient viaducts which are the legacy of 'The Beeching Axe'. Julia Bradbury looks at how the rise and fall of the railways has altered the lives of communities across the country. Today, many of the thousands of old branch lines which were closed in the 1960s are now the treasured stomping grounds of ramblers and hikers. This book follows six of these beautiful walks, all offering an insight into Britain's industrial heritage: the Monsal Trail in Derbyshire, Dolgellau to Barmouth in Snowdonia, Cornwall's Coast to Coast Trail, the Strathspey Railway, Weymouth to Portland, and Callander to Loch Tay in Perthshire. Fully illustrated with maps and photographs of Julia walking the routes and the spectacular surrounding landscapes, Julia Bradbury's Railway Walks will inspire you to don your walking boots and explore Britain's lost rail empire. The book covers six different walks: 1. Derbyshire- The Monsal Trail 2. Snowdonia - Dolgellau to Barmouth 3. Cornwall - Coast to Coast Trail 4. Speyside - The Strathspey Railway 5. Weymouth - Harbouring History 6. Perthshire - Callander to Loch Tay
Discover over 50 of the greatest scenic railway routes in England, Scotland and Wales, from the authors of the highly acclaimed publication ?The Times Mapping the Railways?. Explore the hidden treasures of Britains rail network and its fascinating heritage railways. Detailed text on history, geography and present-day operations is complemented by stunning Bartholomew historical mapping and a selection of high-quality photographs. These are supported by railway memorabilia and extracts from gradient profiles and track diagrams to illustrate the passage of the railways through the diverse landscapes of Britain. In addition to selected routes on the main rail network, the best heritage railways, narrow-gauge and miniature lines are also featured. Lines featured include: The route of the classic Cornish Riviera Express, along the coast and across steep-sided river valleys to Penzance. The unique landscape of Romney Marsh and its eccentric seaside bungalows, served by the miniature express trains of the Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway. Two classic narrow-gauge lines through stunning North Wales mountain country ? the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways. Across and through the Pennines via the Settle & Carlisle Line, the last main line railway in England constructed almost entirely by hand. The West Highland Line from Glasgow, by romantic Loch Lomond and lonely Rannoch Moor, to the foothills of Ben Nevis at Fort William. A unique insight into the most scenic journeys in England, Scotland and Wales, Britains Scenic Railways fills a long-standing gap in the portrayal of our rail network. It is the ideal armchair guide to the very best of British rail travel.
The successful running of Britain's mainline railways was a great achievement for those operating them, and a great thrill for those travelling on them. Over the years railway photographers have recorded the glamour and excitement of our glorious railway story. Along Main Lines celebrates the most dramatic and best-remembered aspects of Britain's rail heritage, focusing on the famous main line routes, big city stations, record-breaking locomotives and the renowned express trains. Packed with archive photographs, old postcards, badges and other railwayana, this book is crammed with fascinating material that Atterbury has himself collected from tireless searching at postcard and antique fares and auction sites. Therefore, many of the illustrations are original and previously unpublished. Paul Atterbury offers a rare insight into the main line story all over Britain. Organised regionally, the book includes major routes, classic trains, important stations in London and elsewhere, railway sheds and works, along with features that highlight forgotten corners of railway history.