Bøker av John Stretton

On the railways, Dr Richard Beeching was appointed Chairman of the British Transport Commission - a decision that was to have considerable influence on the future of the network. The East Coast Main Line, for so long the domain of the 'A3s' and 'A4s' on express passenger services, saw the start of the diesel take-over.

Although published in 1999 when the WHR ran only from Caernarfon to Dinas, this book covers the whole route through to Porthmadog.

From the mid-1950s steam was in decline, to disappear entirely from BR in 1968. Yet from the scrapyards and disused branch lines a remarkable preservation movement emerged, and steam, once thought gone for ever, has made a remarkable return. This book celebrates steam's 'second coming'.

Running from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead, at over 21 miles the WSR is the longest preserved line in the UK, so deserves to be classed among the premier heritage railways. It incorporates many classic ingredients of a traditional GWR branch line: steam-hauled trains and beautiful stations set in a countryside of rolling hills and seaside resorts.

2013 marks 150 years of steam on the Ffestiniog and this book focuses on the locomotives, as well as showing a comparative views through the years. What the book does show is both progress in the past by the railway and the health of current operations to take them into the next 150 years!

The long campaign of the Cotswold Line Promotion Group, has borne fruit, with an increase in the numbers of trains servicing this route, further enhancing the traveling experience and giving the line a long term future. This book looks at these newer works against a backdrop of past operations, including views of the engineering works involved.

2006 was a landmark year in the history of the Dean Forest Railway, with the opening of the extension to Parkend by HRH Princess Anne. This title presents a selection of 'past' views' and contrasts them with developments on the railway, which took place since the publication of the earlier volume in 2002.

Features the last four dramatic years of steam, recording both working locomotives, shed scenes and a selected number of routes, many of which closed during the period of examination. This book illustrates the disappearing steam age railway.