Wales

Raymond E. Bowen    [Publisher:  Oakwood  2001]    Softback    184 pages

A thoroughly researched account of a Coalworks and its canal and waggonway. A waggonway was in use here from as early as 1766, and all technological rail developments were used before eventual conversion of the whole undertaking to a railway. Much still remains to be discovered on the ground today as the photos in this book show.

Robert Western    [Publisher:  Oakwood  1997]    Softback    128 pages

An enlarged new edition of a 1997 book describing the North Eastern Railway's cross country route through Appleby, which survived in part for quarry traffic and was most recently used by the MOD at Warcop. It is the subject of a fairly nascent but very impressive preservation project based around the well appointed station at Kirkby Stephen, the restoraton and development of which has come on in leaps and bounds since my visit ten years ago. An excellent record of an interesting railway line which will hopefully develop further with its preservationists.

C.W. Judge    [Publisher:  Oakwood  1997]    Softback    232 pages

A complex temporary railway system, built to construct Birmingham Corporation's system of dams. Running from a junction with the Cambrian at Rhayader, the mountainous nature of the landscape demanded steep gradients and heavy engineering. It was well documented, and this is an excellent record of the whole thing, including detailed maps and many photographs

Colin Chapman    [Publisher:  Oakwood  2000]    Softback    142 pages

A Welsh valley line, complete with coal mines, engine sheds, complicated junctions and an even more complicated history. Oakwood at its best, although lacking scale drawings and signalling diagrams in this instance. Two pictures stand out to me, a lovely full page portait of driver and fireman in front of their engine in 1950, and the short goods train from the explosives factory on page 136.

Neil Fraser    [Publisher:  Oakwood  1999]    Softback    112 pages

Not a history of some obscure football club, as I at first thought, but rather an account of an L&NWR engine shed near Huddersfield, and the men who worked it. Coverage is not just BR, but extends back into pre-grouping days, as do the photographs, all of which makes for an interesting book.

J.N. Fisher    [Publisher:  Oakwood  1997]    Softback    80 pages

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.

Robert Western    [Publisher:  Oakwood  2018]    Softback    104 pages

A third edition of a decent book covering the LNWR line from Ingleton in the south through to Low Gill on the main line to through Shap, which formed a sort of alternative to the settle and Carlisle. A scenic route, features of which remain clear to see to this day.

Andrew Hadjucki & Alan Simpson    [Publisher:  Oakwood  1996]    Softback    128 pages

A complete and well illustrated history of a North British light railway which connected a small market town with the famous Waverley Route at Fountainhall. Intriguing features were a large MOD food depot at the terminus, and the use of tank locos with tenders to keep the axle loading down.

B.J. Elliott    [Publisher:  Oakwood  2002]    Softback    208 pages

An unusual railway, built to serve the South Yorkshire coalfield it became a joint line after grouping, finally lost its passenger service in 1929 and yet continues to operate to this day. Its fortunes are intimately connected with those of the South Yorkshire coalfield, which it serves, and this book is as much an account of coalfield development and politics as it is railway history, although this is not at the expense of the railway history which is fuly detailed and illustrated.

Stanley C Jenkins    [Publisher:  Oakwood  2017]    Softback    196 pages

With the final chapter updated to the state of affairs in 2017, this is a welcome reprint of a popular book on a cross country route that linked the Settle and Carlisle with the East Coast main line. Sadly the new owner has had this printed on a coated cartridge paper that doesn't do justice to the pictures or match previous Oakwood publications. I really hope he doesn't do this again, the Oakwood books deserve the better paper.