Railways in North and Mid Wales in the Late 20th Century (Hardback)
Imprint: Pen & Sword Transport
Pages: 144
Illustrations: 231 black and white illustrations
ISBN: 9781399091220
Published: 2nd March 2022
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The coastal and mountain scenery around the railway lines of North and Mid Wales is among the best in Great Britain. Here we look at the British Railways lines and the trains that ran on them in the years between 1980 and 2000, as recorded by my cameras during my many visits to the area. A few photographs from earlier years are also included to help to complete the picture. During this period of time, quite a lot of mechanical signalling and many old station buildings still remained, all adding to the railway atmosphere. Featured here are the North Wales Coast line and its branches, the former Cambrian line from Welshpool to Aberystwyth and Pwllheli, and the Welsh section of the Shrewsbury to Chester line. While the emphasis is very much on the main lines, the Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway, closed by British Railways in 1956 and reopened as a heritage railway, and the Llangollen Railway on a section of the former Ruabon to Barmouth line also feature, as does the Vale of Rheidol Railway, sold by British Rail into private ownership in 1989. A few photographs of the steam specials that regularly ran on the main lines are also included.
"This is an excellent quality book which does exactly what it says on the front cover and at a very reasonable price as well. I can recommend it to anyone who enjoys great pictures as well as to those interested in the area. The author has a follow-up volume dealing with South Wales and the Central Wales Line due out in September 2022. Judging by the high standard of photography in the reviewed book it promises to be another excellent release to look out for."
Diesel and Electric Modellers United – Issue 102
Anyone who travelled around north and mid Wales in the 1980s and 1990s will appreciate this excellent collection of over 200 black & white photographs. Capturing the last days of traditional signalling on the famous Cambrian route from Welshpool to Pwllheli and Aberystwyth, the book also covers the North Wales Coast route, along with the now-closed branches to Amlwch and Trawsfynwdd, plus other key locations such as Chirk, Wrexham and Chester. Class 37s abound, along with ‘25s’, ‘33s’, ‘40s’, the odd ‘Peak’ and a variety of first- and second-generation DMUs. Some of the locations have changed drastically in the intervening years, so the book offers a welcome glimpse into the not-so-distant past. Various preserved railways also feature, including the Llangollen and Vale of Rheidol routes.
Model Rail Magazine
Featured by
The Broad Gauge Society
"Overall, the book gives an enjoyable picture of an extremely scenic part of the country and the trains that used to serve it. Recommended!"
Journal of the Friends of the National Railway Museum
As Featured In
Ffestiniog Railway Magazine, Summer 2022
Review as featured in
Railways Illustrated
Highlight: This book represents good value for money and would also be useful to anyone interested in photography who is looking for some inspiration; the author is clearly accomplished in his art.
"This is a photographic journey that will be enjoyed by many enthusiasts."
Branch Line News
"The volume will be enjoyed by many enthusiasts whether they are familiar with these lines or not."
Heritage Railway Magazine No293 (page 94).
"If you like books of railway pictures this is definitely one for you."
Roger Backhouse - Welsh Railways Research Circle Newsletter, No.169 Spring 2022
As featured in
The Bookseller
A nice pictorial journey through the Welsh railways. This will bring back happy memories for those who travelled when everything was in black and white.
James Simmonds
A well put together volume
About Peter J Green
Peter J Green's interest in railways really began in 1959 during a holiday near the former Great Western main line in Devon. At first his hobby was about collecting numbers but, encouraged by his father's interest in photography, he soon began to record the general railway scene. His focus was on steam locomotives initially, but quickly expanded to include diesels, signalling and railway infrastructure. Pursuing what has been an absorbing interest, he has recorded the trains, and the railways on which they run, not only in Great Britain, but also in many other parts of the world. Today he continues to travel and photograph railways as often as he is able to do so.
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