Dimensions
111 x 222 x 22mm
The Severn Valley Railway has long been considered by many to be Britain s premier heritage railway. That reputation was earned early thanks to the quality of locomotive and carriage restoration, the careful refurbishment of stations and the standard of service offered to visitors. As with all heritage railways it has had to adapt to changing expectations over the years whilst attempting to keep the original aims of railway preservation at the heart of everything it does. This guide traces the history of the original Severn Valley Railway from the early plans of the 1840s, through its days when operated by first the Great Western Railway and then British Railways. The last chapter looks at the challenges and the achievements of the preservation era and the whole narrative should be of interest to anyone keen to know more of the story of a national treasure. AUTHOR: Michael Vanns was born in Newark on Trent in 1956. He is a life-long transport enthusiast and historian, with a special interest in the railways of the East Coast of England. Michael has a great knowledge and interest in the Great Northern Railway and its successor, the London and North Eastern Railway, which are a great historical passion of his. After attending Leicester University he worked at Iron Bridge George Museum, where he looked after the Elton Collection and other archive collections. Michael has written thirteen books, mostly on railways and industrial history and now lives in Colebrookdale, where he continues to write about the history of railways. 110 colour and b/w illustrations and a system map
