 | Branch Lines Books Published |  |
| Branch Lines Books Published | |
| The Bishops Waltham Branch | Wild Swan | |||
| Roger Simmonds and Kevin Robertson | £7.95 | 92 pages | Softback | 1986 |
| Running from Botley on the Eastleigh to Fareham line, this little known LSWR branch survived in freight only guise until 1962, latterly becoming the haunt of Ivatt tank locomotives. This book provides comprehensive photographic coverage of the line including fascinating views of repairing a landslide in 1936. | ||||
| BR Steam In Dean | Lightmoor Press | |||
| Ian Pope | £9.99 | 80 pages | Softback | 1999 |
| Ben Ashworth, in my opinion, ranks alongside the greatest names in railway photography, Winston Link included. Working his unique magic on the elements of viewpoint, subject, composition and lighting, he produces memorable and often stunning images of the steam age. This book is well printed and does full justice to the photographer's art, a huge relief as his work has often been wasted within the many indifferent volumes produced by Alan Sutton of late. The subjects are nearly all freight trains, many hauled by Pannier tanks, and if your interests cover either of those two subjects, then you will find this book very hard to resist. | ||||
| Branch Line To Moretonhampstead | Middleton Press | |||
| Vic Mitchell and Keith Smith | £14.95 | 96 pages | Hardback | 1998 |
| Standard Middleton fayre, potted history, OS map extracts, and photographic coverage of routes both historic and more modern where there was something there to photograph. The Teign Valley line is also covered in this book, and there are some good detail shots of Christow alongside the more usual views. | ||||
| The Bridport Branch | Oakwood | |||
| B.L. Jackson & M.J. Tattershall | £19.95 | 224 pages | Hardback | 1999 |
| A welcome and much enlarged edition of the 1976 OPC paperback, a fully illustrated account of a branch line which survived well into the modern era. In some ways I think that these Oakwood hardbacks push the A5 format to the limit, they are very well done, and this is a nice book, but a bigger format would make more of the photographs and plans for little extra cost. | ||||
| The Bromyard Branch | Kidderminster Rly. Museum | |||
| William H Smith | £14.95 | 160 pages | Softback | 1998 |
| A beautifully put together record of a rural branch line, produced to the very highest standards. Apart from a widely researched and full history, including many details of operation and the people associated with the enterprise, the photographs are outstandingly comprehensive in their coverage. They illustrate everything from construction to demolition, and the whole thing is a real credit to David Postle who put the book together under the auspices of the Kidderminster Railway Museum. | ||||
| The Calne Branch | Wild Swan | |||
| Colin Maggs | £9.95 | 112 pages | Softback | 1990 |
| Although only 5 miles long the Calne branch was intensively worked, many thousands of servicemen travelled the line to Yatesbury Camp and Harris's famous Bacon Factory was situated at the end of the branch. This is a particularly well illustrated book, which covers everything you would expect and more, for example the construction of the new "Black Bridge" by the Great Western, and the laying of an impressive water main along the line for Harris's - I wonder whether the scrap men took it away when they lifted the line, or perhaps it is still there? Full details and photographs of the unique "Siphon" vans and their workings complete this attractive and useful book for modellers. | ||||
| Country Branch Line Volume 1 | Wild Swan | |||
| Paul Karau & Chris Turner | £26.95 | 240 pages | Hardback | 1998 |
| Subtitled "The Story Of The Line From 1872 To 1961", this has got to be the ultimate branch line history book of all time. The Watlington Branch is Paul Karau's favourite branch line, and he has amassed a truly staggering collection of photographs, plans and facts about it. The book is a beautifully crafted piece of work, and as you will by now expect from this publisher, the story and presentation encompasses much more than just the railway. The characters, countryside and customers are all included in this lovely book. | ||||
| Country Branch Line Volume 2 | Wild Swan | |||
| Paul Karau & Chris Turner | £25.95 | 214 pages | Hardback | 1998 |
| This second volume describes the stations along the Watlington Branch with the same style and phenomenal level of detail as the first book dealt with the history. The number and depth of coverage of the photographs which have been collected is truly incredible, including the Cement works at Chinnor and the Timber Research establishment at Princes Risborough amongst many other subjects. If I had a criticism, it would only be that the Watlington Branch isn't my favourite line! | ||||
| The Forest of Dean Branch Vol 2 | Wild Swan | |||
| Ian Pope and Paul Karau | £27.95 | 200 pages | Hardback | 1997 |
| Continuing on from volume 1, this beautiful book covers the Great Western's routes north of Bilson and the Churchway and the Whimsey branches. Extensively illustrated with a wide range of photographs, it includes comprehensive coverage of the coal mining and other industries which led to so much railway development in this small area. There are comprehensive plans and maps, including full signalling diagrams of stations and sidings. | ||||
| The Forest of Dean Branch Vol. 1 | Wild Swan | |||
| Ian Pope and Paul Karau | £25.00 | 234 pages | Hardback | 1992 |
| A major work of reference and a beautifully illustrated book, covering the Newnham to Cinderford lines of the Great Western and all the associated industrial sidings, quarries and coal mines. The pictures are frequently stunning, and the coverage of coal mining in the area is very well done, including underground photographs, details of coal workings and of course all of the railway facilities and organisation. | ||||
| The Glencorse Branch | Oakwood | |||
| Jeff Hurst | £10.95 | 176 pages | Softback | 1999 |
| A comprehensive history of a relatively unknown North British branch which ran off the northern end of the Waverley Route. Part was until recently in use for access to Bilston Glen Colliery, and eight miles of line remains in place, with the local authority considering reinstatement of a passenger service. | ||||
| The Huddersfield And Kirkburton Branch | Oakwood | |||
| J.N. Fisher | £6.95 | 80 pages | Softback | 1997 |
| An L&NWR branch in the middle of Yorkshire, four and a half miles long and part of an unrealised through route from Huddersfield to Barnsley. Passenger services finished as early as 1930 but freight business was brisk and continued up until 1971, latterly for an ICI works which may yet see part of the route rebuilt. A well produced and illustrated history of a busy secondary line in the industrial heartland of England. | ||||
| The Hundred of Hoo Railway | Wild Swan | |||
| Brian Hart | £7.95 | 84 pages | Softback | 1989 |
| An irresistible history of almost a branch line system in Kent, part of which survives carrying huge "block" trains. With a rickety pier station and a water tower that came straight from the American backwoods this curious system would form the basis of an unusual model project. Still available at its original price and likely to go out of print soon, this is another bargain from a publisher of superlatively good books. | ||||
| The Lambourn Branch | Wild Swan | |||
| Kevin Robertson and Roger Simmons | £18.95 | 164 pages | Hardback | 1984 |
| Reprinted recently, this is an attractive and comprehensive history of the branch which ran from Newbury to Lambourn, famous for its racing stables. The book includes coverage of the line's early independent days, right through the GWR's upgrading up to the line's amazingly late survival into 1973 as a private line run by the US air force. This was to serve an enormous munitions store which had been connected to the branch by a new 2 mile long railway built in 1952. It is possible that the line would have remained in use for even longer had it not been for BR's perceived over-charging for pilots etc. for the last bit of working into Newbury station - a fascinating story well told. | ||||
| Railways of The Isle of Portland | Irwell Press | |||
| Martin Smith | £7.95 | 44 pages | Softback | 1997 |
| An interesting and well illustrated book about the minor network of railway lines which made up the Portland Branch. The photographs feature the work of Colin Caddy, who in my opinion always managed to record the more detailed aspects of operation and the railway scene. | ||||
| Scottish Branch Lines | OPC | |||
| C.J. Gammell | £24.99 | 192 pages | Hardback | 1999 |
| Not a reprint, but a genuinely new book from OPC, now part of the Ian Allan empire, and really very well done. The author has complemented his excellent photographs with those from other people's collections, and the text and captions are well informed and interesting. There is something I find particularly appealing about the pictures in this book, a lot of the lines have a definite "light railway" character, and platforms and trains tend to be short. Out of print, one copy left (Jan 2008). | ||||
| Severn & Wye Railway Volume 1 | Wild Swan | |||
| Ian Pope, Bob How & Paul Karau | £19.95 | 158 pages | Softback | 1983 |
| Reprinted as a softback in 2003, this first part of only two volumes published so far covers the history of the Severn and Wye from early tramroad days up until 1947. The photographic coverage extends into the 1960s but does not cover the later (diesel) years. The line from Lydney Junction to Parkend is explored in great detail and the book concludes with a useful selection of scale architectural drawings. Throughout there are numerous scale and signalling track diagrams and maps which explain the complicated developments of both main line and industrial railways. Industries and collieries along the route are well featured, including Norchard Colliery where the current day preservationists have established their base. | ||||
| Severn & Wye Railway Volume 2 | Wild Swan | |||
| Ian Pope, Bob How & Paul Karau | £21.95 | 200 pages | Softback | 1985 |
| This second volume continues the photographic exploration of the first volume onwards from Parkend to Cinderford and includes all the minor branches and industries along the way. The collieries are particularly well explored, with photographs taken underground complementing the extensive coverage of the surface works and their railways. Scenes of heavy industy contrast with their rural setting and the charming narrow gauge Bicslade's tramroad. Although this book covers a very specific area it is one of the best available photographic references for the interaction between coal mining and other rural industries with the railways and tramways that served them. | ||||
| The Shipston on Stour Branch | Wild Swan | |||
| S.C. Jenkins and R.S. Carpenter | £14.95 | 106 pages | Softback | 1997 |
| Losing its passenger service in 1929, and finally closing to goods in 1960, this minor branch was a GW rebuild of part of the much earlier Stratford and Moreton tramway of 1826. This book is up to the usual high standards of its publisher, and the attractive rural route with its numerous level crossings is well illustrated, as is the terminus and even the tramway north of Shipston which survived until just after the Great War. | ||||
| The Teign Valley Line | Wild Swan | |||
| Peter Kay | £27.95 | 284 pages | Hardback | 1996 |
| Considered by some to be the most attractive of the Great Western's branches, the Teign Valley was a picturesque line which certainly had an intriguing history. I have read the whole of this book, and can confirm that it is as interesting to read as it is attractive to look at, the early machinations of the two companies which built the line are truly incredible as is the story about the mushroom grower and the telegraph wires! One small criticism, there is no simple overall map of the line and its connections. | ||||
| The Vale Of Neath Line, Neath to Pontypool Road | Gomer | |||
| G. Briwnant Jones and Denis Dunstone | £23.50 | 222 pages | Hardback | 1999 |
| A new edition of a 1996 book, with extra colour photographs and more information on the spectacular Crumlin Viaduct, which this line crossed. Apart from being a well researched history of a peculiar amalgamation of two lines, one broad and the other standard gauge, this is also an extremely attractive and well crafted book. The numerous photographs are universally interesting and although predominately historic they bring the story up to date. The book is further enhanced by some beautiful colour maps and diagrams - superb. | ||||
| The Winsford and Over Branch | Oakwood | |||
| R.W. Miller | £8.95 | 104 pages | Softback | 1999 |
| A compact history of a Cheshire Lines Committee branch, built to serve the needs of the many salt works in the area. The company were never very keen on passengers and the service was withdrawn from 1931, although freight carried on until 1967. There were numerous private lines and works connected to the branch, as shown by the plans and track diagrams in this book. There is a well informed and interesting chapter on the locomotives used in the works of the Salt Union, later ICI, which includes photographs of splendidly diminutive products from both Fletcher Jennings and the Falcon Engine and Car works - wonderful. | ||||
| The Woodstock Branch | Wild Swan | |||
| S C Jenkins | £7.95 | 104 pages | Softback | 1987 |
| Home to "Fair Rosamund" and serving Blenheim Palace, this was an example of the classic Great Western branch line. Auto train worked to the bitter end this Oxfordshire idyll is done full justice by this attracively produced and well illustrated book. Likely to go out of print shortly, and still available at its original published price, quite a bargain. | ||||