Rail Operations Viewed From South Devon

Book excerpt: South Devon, a thriving county with the sea, estuary and moorland for recreation, owes much of its success and vibrant economy to the railways that provide day return services, allowing people to travel freely to and from London and the North. Rail Operations Viewed From South Devon is a comprehensive exploration of the railways in and around South Devon, with chapters drawing on areas across the country such as Totnes, Carlisle and Bristol. Embracing a wide range of topics to help the reader understand how railway engineering reached its current state, this book aims to encourage discussion about the rail network as an entity. Chapters include the history of the sea and cliff issues associated with Dawlish, as well as how the Victorians built a congestion-free rail system around Bristol, with another chapter detailing the Cross Country timetables of 1925. This extensive insight into the railway also draws on the author’s personal experience of undertaking a rail tour to Carlisle and back to Totnes in 1999, following the re-privatisation of the rail network, in comparison to a previous excursion in 1961. Illustrated throughout with dozens of detailed maps and diagrams, as well as useful statistics, Rail Operations Viewed From South Devon will appeal to readers who are curious about railway history and the recent management of the rail networks.