New copy - delivered FREE to any NZ address in 7-9 business days

Sunday Times History Book of the Year 2015 Currently filming for BBC programme Full Steam AheadBritains railways have been a vital part of national life for nearly 200 years. Transforming lives and landscapes- they have left their mark on everything from timekeeping to tourism. As a self-contained world governed by distinctive rules and traditions- the network also exerts a fascination all its own.From the classical grandeur of Newcastle station to the ceaseless traffic of Clapham Junction- from the mysteries of Brunels atmospheric railway to the lost routines of the great marshalling yards- Simon Bradley explores the world of Britains railways- the evolution of the trains- and the changing experiences of passengers and workers. The Victorians private compartments- railway rugs and footwarmers have made way for air-conditioned carriages with airline-type seating- but the railways remain a giant and diverse anthology of structures from every period- and parts of the system are the oldest in the world.Using fresh research- keen observation and a wealth of cultural references- Bradley weaves from this network a remarkable story of technological achievement- of architecture and engineering- of shifting social classes and gender relations- of safety and crime- of tourism and the changing world of work. The Railways shows us that to travel through Britain by train is to journey through time as well as space....