Wild Swan Branch Lines

In the shop we now hold in stock every available Wild Swan title, including Journal back issues. However the task of adding all Wild Swan books to these pages has not yet been completed. In the meantime, to find all Wild Swan stock use the Browse the Shop or Booksearch links on the Bookshop Main Page.

The Alcester Branch		£18.95
Stanley C. Jenkins and Roger Carpenter	2005	Softback	100 pages
A delightful portrait of the six mile branch that connected the Midland's cross country line at Alcester with the Great Western's route to Stratford Upon Avon at Bearley. Originating in the 1860s the line wasn't built until over a decae later when the two companies at either end of the route agreed an uneasy truce to allow its operation. This was one of those minor routes that was shut down in both World Wars as an economy measure but somehow managed to survive for freight until 1951, with a couple of miles surviving into 1960 for wagon storage. Not quite as exhaustively comprehensive in its photographic coverage as some books owing to the obscurity of the subject, this book nonetheless allows more than a glimpse of a charming rural railway.

The Banbury and Cheltenham Railway Volume 1		£29.95
William Hemmings	2004	Hardback	200 pages
Fully up to the high standards of its publisher, this book covers the line's history up until 1939 and the outbreak of war. The depth of research and the quality of the results and illustrations uncovered are astounding, chronologically culminating in an amazingly clear series of photographs of evacueees arriving at Chippng Norton. The same book is also available in a softbound format at £23.95 and in either format this is a beautiful book. Volume 2 (see separate description) is a detailed examination of the route and its stations from Banbury to Kingham, whilst volume 3 (not yet published) will complete the history after 1939 and cover associated ironstone workings and the remainder of the route from Kingham to Cheltenham.

The Banbury and Cheltenham Railway Volume 2		£28.95
William Hemings, Paul Karau and Chris Turner	2004	Hardback	170 pages
A very detailed photograhic survey of the line from Banbury to Kingham, including the romanticaly named Rollright and Sarsden Halts and their associated sidings. Kingham is very briefly shown, presumably fuller details will be in volume 3, not yet produced. OS map extracts and a well researched and comprehensive text accompany the photographs in what is a beautifully produced and potentially definitive work on this subject. It is also available in a softback binding at £22.95. This is not a criticism exactly, but I do wonder at the sanity of the publisher in the way in which the whole work has been split into three volumes (no date for the third!) and two different bindings, there was a story that this book was rushed out to beat another publication on the same subject from Lightmoor - surely not?

The Bishops Waltham Branch		£7.95
Roger Simmonds and Kevin Robertson	1986	Softback	92 pages
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.

Country Branch Line Volume 1		£26.95
Paul Karau & Chris Turner	1998	Hardback	240 pages
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		£25.95
Paul Karau & Chris Turner	1998	Hardback	214 pages
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 Didcot Newbury and Southampton Railway		£25.95
Karau, Parsons and Robertson	2000	Hardback	220 pages
A very welcome reprint of a quite magnificent book, beautifully put together and profusely illustrated, including track and signalling diagrams and scale drawings of structures. Promoted by a fiercely independent company, the line crossed the great chalk slopes of the Berkshire and Hampshire downs and was particularly expensive to build, being laid out with shallow curves and easy gradients for high speed running. For various reasons, all covered in this book, the scheme didn't work out as intended and the line had a chequered existence up until its inevitable closure. The promoters' hopes were realised in two World Wars however, the preparations for D Day resulted in the conversion of much of the route to double track and a whole programme of other capacity improvements, all of which are detailed in this superb book.

The Forest of Dean Branch Vol 1		£25.00
Ian Pope and Paul Karau	1992	Hardback	234 pages
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 Forest of Dean Branch Vol 2		£27.95
Ian Pope and Paul Karau	1997	Hardback	200 pages
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 Hawkhurst Branch		£26.95
Brian Hart	2000	Hardback	252 pages
An immaculately well written and beautifully presented book on an exceptionally pretty branch line which ran for thirteen miles or so across the Weald from Paddock Wood on the Kent Coast main line. The whole story is recorded in exquisite and minute detail, from surveying and construction through the inaugural train to the "last rites", and there is even a chapter devoted to the hop - pickers and their special trains. Full scale drawings and plans of all buildings are included, as are track and signalling diagrams and the wonderful photographs cover every conceivable detail of the railway line - this is as good as it gets.

The Lambourn Branch		£18.95
Kevin Robertson and Roger Simmons	1984	Hardback	164 pages
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.

The Liskeard and Looe Branch		£25.95
Gerry Beale	2000	Hardback	220 pages
A completely new book, a comprehensive and fully illustrated history of this delightful branch line, mainly as developed and operated under the auspices of the Great Western and British Railways. Being a picturesque line in a popular holiday area, the branch has attracted the attentions of various photographers over the years and this book is consequently very well illustrated. The earlier years and mineral workings north of Moorswater are also touched upon and illustrated, and the book is up to the high standards that we have come to expect from this publisher.

Severn & Wye Railway Volume 1		£19.95
Ian Pope, Bob How & Paul Karau	1983	Softback	158 pages
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		£21.95
Ian Pope, Bob How & Paul Karau	1985	Softback	200 pages
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.

Severn and Wye Railway Volume 4		£29.95
Ian Pope and Paul Karau	2009	Hardback	174 pages
After a very long wait, coverage of the mineral loop - a delightfully obscure piece of freight railway linking Drybrook Road in the north with Tufts Junction in the south. Largely disused from 1940, collieries along the line loom large with extensive photographs showing their features and operation well, less so for the more obscure ones but the whole is nonetheless a great record of a railway backwater from a lost age.

The Woodstock Branch		£7.95
S C Jenkins	1987	Softback	104 pages
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.