Narrow Gauge Steam

Britain was the world pioneer of railways, but the development of the narrow gauges is more of an international phenomenon, as you’ll discover in the newly-published Narrow Gauge Steam and other railway curiosities.

This fascinating new, 100-page, A4 format, perfect-bound bookazine, written and edited by Paul Appleton and available to buy for just £8.88, explains how rails of a narrower width were used where terrain was more tricky, such as in mountainous regions, across rough ground or for lines in more rural, lesser populated areas, due to their lower construction and operating costs.

There have been many innovations and some quite novel solutions, both in Britain and overseas, and a good deal of those pioneering lines are still with us today as part of our heritage scene. Others, regrettably, were ripped up and are now distant memories.

Narrow Gauge Steam uses rare photographic collections as the basis for an exploration of these often unusual railways, plus highlights innovations, notable events and celebrates the efforts of those who are dedicated to saving as much of this lesser-known aspect of railway operation as possible, for posterity.

From steam in the backstreets of Welshpool, to the industrial setting of the Bowaters paper mills railway, the mountain tops of North Wales quarries to pioneering diesel railcars in Ireland, and the quirky Stronach-Dutton Roadrail system exhibited at Wembley in 1924 to Australia’s Puffing Billy – there’s something to delight every taste in this brand new bookazine production.

To order your copy now, simply click here