£30.00
RCTS Publications is delighted to present the second volume covering this line following the author’s initial volume produced in 2014 covering the Reading to Westbury section.
The author, a member of the RCTS, has spent over 25 years in researching the line’s history from visiting numerous archives, libraries, parliamentary archives and endless requests for information from sources mentioned in this title.
The detailed information presented in this book follows the progress of the line from an overview of before the railways came, what ideas were floated, some discarded and others progressed to fruition. The story commences from the 1830s up to and including 1993 all presented in nine Chapters. Maps of each defined area is included plus information on all relevant Acts of Parliament that pertains to each section of railway opened or closed. All the known facts regarding GWR and LSWR involvement have been carefully woven into the story as the years went by and works progressed, some in competition, some in agreement. But it is all very interesting and supported by a myriad collection of historical material, be they posters, notices, local announcements and public concerns or expectations.
This detailed work is intended for both enthusiast and resident alike and is highly recommended purely, as a result, of the level of information provided in this route which now in its reduced form serves as part of the main line to the west of England.
There are 160 pages, 77 b/w images, 27 colour images, 12 maps, 13 posters and 17 photos of tickets, plans and railway notices.
It is hardback, 297mm x 210mm and priced for Members at £24.00 plus £4.00 p/p (normal price is £30.00 plus p/p
Delivery
Despatch is normally within 14 days or sooner after the receipt of your order. We will advise you if we are unable to despatch promptly. Despatch of overseas orders (including Europe) will be by airmail. Postal and packing charges apply as shown above.
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Westbury to Taunton on the Great Western Railway route to the west of Eng- land is a matter of 47 1/2 miles. Peter Simmonds has done an impressive job in researching and presenting this part of the line’s history. This second volume follows on from the author's initial volume covering the Reading to Westbury section which came out in 2014. Nine chapters cover the time before the rail- way arrived to the start of privatisation. Three appendices cover a very compre- hensive list of sources and further reading, a 1905 engineer’s description of the route and a description of the route itself as it was in 1962 before intermediate station closures occurred.Very relevant illustrations of train working and locations in monochrome for the earlier years and colour for later years show the range of operations on the route. They are comple- mented by useful maps for each section covered. Further illustrations show the civil engineering work in progress as the line developed.
The author spent over 25 years in researching the line’s history, and the comprehensive amount of detail shows just that. Information presented in this book follows the progress of the line from an over- view of before the railways came, what ideas were floated, some which were discarded and other ideas which progressed to fruition. The story starts from the 1830 pre-railway waterways up to and including the railway privatisation bill in 1993. Information on all the relevant Acts of Parliament that relate to each section of railway opened or closed is included. Details of railways connected to the main route are also present. Illustrations of historical material such as posters and notices add to the valuable amount of detail. This historical work is aimed at both an enthusiast and area resident audience. There really is something of interest for everyone. The sheer amount of research and detail presented by the author makes this a highly recommended work about an important route, its main line, branches, passenger and mineral services.
Mike Peart
