This book examines in words and pictures the huge changes that have taken place in the last 50 years on the British railway network. We see how steam-age infrastructure has gradually given way to a streamlined modern railway. The beginning of the period saw the final stages of the Beeching cuts, with the closure of some rural branches and lesser-used stations. Since the 1980s the tide has turned and numerous lines and stations have joined or rejoined the network. As for freight, we see how the complex operations of the 20th century have been replaced by a far smaller number of specialised terminals, while marshalling yards in the traditional sense have all but disappeared. And the long process of updating our railway signalling has continued apace, even though some semaphore gems have managed to survive into the 21st century. AUTHOR: Paul Shannon has been a keen follower of the railway scene since the early 1970s. Alongside his career in education he developed particular interests in railway infrastructure and rail freight. He has visited most parts of the railway network and photographed the lines, stations, depots, yards, freight terminals and signalling that make it possible to run trains from A to B. He has written many magazine articles and video scripts as well as compiling over 30 books on varied railway topics.
250 colour and b/w illustrations, maps, diagrams