The Great Northern. The Story of the Waiau Branch Railway. Researched and written By Leslie Dew. Large Book in Dust Jacket sl faded on spine, end papers, First Edition 2001, Colour Plates, Black and White Photographs, illustrations, diagrams, maps, 310 Pages, Published By Weka Pass Railway inc Christchurch. A Near Fine Copy. SCARCE. 'Just as the slogan 'More than just a train ride' has been a valid description of the service offered by the Weka Pass Railway Society on the surviving section of the Great Northern Line, known also as the Hurunui to Bluff Main Trunk, so too would 'More than just a railway' be apt for les Dew's well researched history of this unique district. The quantum leap forward in transport from Shanks's pony to iron horse was a nineteenth century phenomenon of major importance, changing forever the concept of travel. The rise and fall of the popularity of this line, and the contributing factors are well documented. No sterile statistics can conceal the human side of the area's development' Wonderfully produced book, well illustrated.