Wales

D. W. Southern assisted by Norman Jones    [Publisher:  Foxline  2014]    Softback    134 pages

An updated and enlarged edition of the book produced in 1995, exquisitely well printed and produced with a wonderful range of photographs from the steam era through to more recent times. This was the scenic railway across the bleak uplands of Mid Wales that featuring the military establishment and more recently the Nuclear power station at Trawsfynyyd. Photographs are much more than just trains, superb landscape, civil engineering and also some of the places served by the route - a lovely book.

Brian P. Mills    [Publisher:  Bryngold Books  2019]    Hardback    272 pages

More infrastructure than trains, this a detailed and very pictorial record of the railways built by the Barry Railway and what has happened to them, especially the more recent changes after the decimation of the coal mining industry. The result is fascinating, partly because the whole landscape has changed so much around the railway, but mainly because the author has an intimate knowledge of his subject, is well connected in the field of permanent way and the "nuts and bolts" of operations and has also spent a long time researching and recording his subject.

Jeffery Grayer    [Publisher:  Crecy  2016]    Softback    104 pages

A slightly different approach to earlier volumes, this album covers a wider area and includes a lot of images of the lines and locations featured actually in use. There are a number of colliery lines featured which add more visual interest to an already appealing collection.

Chris Davies    [Publisher:  Crecy  2020]    Softback    128 pages

Similar in size and format to books from Amberley, this is an interesting all colour review of the coal trains that have operated recently in recent years. Great photographs of modern motive power and stock in a post industrial industrial landscape, if you know what I mean.

Trefor Jone and Mike Morton Lloyd Compiled by Jonathan David and Ray Caston    [Publisher:  Welsh Rlys. Research Circle  2021]    Softback    40 pages

A wonderful book, collected drawings of largely Cambrian Railways structures, together with photographs and details of the routes and locations described. Absolutely top drawer inspiration and source material for modellers, Dutton were the signalling contractors to the Cambrian and so these deigns and buildings relate to many other lines in the UK. Small signal boxes, waiting shelters, water cranes, buildings and numerous other details of the railways as they once were. Piece de resistance has to be Aberdovey's wagon turntable and traverser, photographed and recorded in 1959 - just wonderful.

Derek J. Lowe    [Publisher:  Foxline  2008]    Softback    120 pages

A return photographic journey along the Cambrain Coast route from Machynlleth to Pwllheli. Photographs cover the 1950s up to the early 1970s and concentrate on steam workings. Fully up to the high standards of earlier volumes produced by Greg Fox and a delightful and informative record of a magical railway journey that can still be taken, albeit by "Sprinter". Reprinted to the same high standard in early 2012.

Peter Dickinson    [Publisher:  Author  2015]    Softback    62 pages

A commendable little book on the now preserved line through the Dee Valley, put together and published by its author. In the same size and format as Oakwood Press books, with a good selection of colour photographs and decent text. The Sun Lane washout is covered as are recent devlopments in preservation, particularly on the signalling side of things.

John Miles, Keri Thomas and Tudor Watkins    [Publisher:  Lightmoor  2017]    Hardback    264 pages

A much expanded book based upon the 2004 "Midland Railway - Swansea Vale & Branches", - a detailed history and description of what became the Midland's link to the Swansea area coalfield. Concentrating on the history and years up to the Grouping and not dealing with the years of decline, this is a fascinating and hugely well illustrated record of an interesting network of lines, not to mention the collieries and industry it served. A wonderful book by anyone's standards.