Manchester is steeped in railway history, going back almost 200 year to the opening of Liverpool Road station in September 1830. It was later home to the world-renowned locomotive builder Beyer, Peacock & Company and an extensive dock railway system based around Manchester Ship Canal and Salford Docks.

Today, Manchester's rail network includes over 260 km of track and boasts the largest provincial railway network outside of London. A number of ground-breaking schemes have been introduced, including the Metrolink and Ordsall Chord, as well as extensive electrification.

This book celebrates the rail scene around Manchester, featuring 180 rare and previously unpublished images.