This fascinating selection of photographs traces some of the many ways in which Radstock and Midsomer Norton have changed and developed over the last century.

This fascinating selection of photographs traces some of the many ways in which Radstock and Midsomer Norton have changed and developed over the last century.

This fascinating selection of photographs traces some of the many ways in which Somerset has changed and developed since the war

The Locomotives of Robert Riddles guides the reader in the quest to understand how Robert Riddles career on the LMS and in war service shaped his knowledge and character and led to him becoming the obvious choice for leading the locomotive engineering function within the newly-formed Railway Executive. The book outlines the substantial impact Riddles had on the design and supply of locomotives that were to support the Allied military campaigns in the second world war, including useful analysis of the types of locomotives specifically designed for that work. The bulk of the book outlines the decision-making processes that led to the twelve designs of standard steam locomotives that were intended to be the future stop-gap before electrification, and the political and practical reasons for successive policy changes that led to their unexpectedly short lives. Those events include the 1955 Modernization Plan with its emphasis on dieselization, and the subsequent railway rationalizations that reduced the need not only for new steam locomotives but also made relatively new diesels redundant. Each BR standard locomotive type is described in its own chapter. The performance of each class is given its rightful emphasis. The book is comprehensively illustrated with largely unpublished pictures that cover a wide range of locations and locomotive duties.

A wonderful collection of photographs showing the Somerset & Dorset Railway in operation, after abandonment and during the present day.

Experience the abundant history of Britain firsthand with this scenic, thorough, and altogether superlative guide.

'One of the nation's favourite saga writers' Lancashire Post 'Jennie Felton knows how to tell a cracking story and keep the reader gripped' Books With Wine and Chocolate In the tradition of Dilly Court, Rosie Goodwin and Josephine Cox comes a heartrending and unforgettable saga about a mother, her daughters and the shocking events that threaten to destroy their lives. There is no strength like the strength of a mother determined to protect her children . . . Somerset, 1911. Miner's wife Lorna Harrison sometimes wonders what became of her marriage. The affection has gone, and her husband Harry is surly and cold. But Lorna will always be grateful for the joy that their two daughters bring. When a devastating accident occurs at the pit and Harry is unable to work, Lorna worries about how she will make ends meet. Worse, the pit owner wants them out of their house. And neighbours turn their backs, as rumours spread that Harry helped cause the mine collapse. At her lowest ebb, Lorna is befriended by Bradley Robinson, the colliery safety officer, whose kindness is a beacon of light. But as shocking secrets are revealed, Lorna wonders if Bradley is only using her to learn the truth about the pit. As she struggles to keep her daughters safe, Lorna must decide if she can trust the man she is falling in love with . . .