This fascinating selection of photographs traces some of the many ways in which the GWR South Wales Main Line has changed and developed over the last century.

A history of Great Western Railway's direct line from London to South Wales, from the early 1900s onwards. With a focus on those who worked the line, South Wales Direct Line - History and Working includes the 'Badminton' line route, and all the stations and junctions between Patchway and the Severn Tunnel - an ideal resource for anybody with an interest in this important British railway. Topics covered include how the line developed, from the opening of the London-Bristol line in 1841 to the building of Brunel's Severn Tunnel; duties of those who staffed the stations, signal boxes and goods yards; the upgrade of 1975: how the South Wales Direct Line became the first dedicated high-speed (125mph) rail line and finally the future of the line: upgrading to high-speed electric trains in 2017. Route and station maps are included as well as hundreds of colour and black & white photographs. Superbly illustrated with 209 colour and black & white photographs.

A lavishly illustrated title from acknowledged railway expert Colin G. Maggs, presenting the story of Gloucestershire's branch lines.

This book examines in words and pictures the network of British branch lines and other secondary routes that survived the mass closures of the 1960s. While nearly 4,000 route miles were lost between 1963 and 1970, the cuts were less severe than they might have been. Some lines were reprieved because of their social importance, even though they would never pay their way in purely commercial terms. They included some lengthy rural routes, such as those serving the Far North of Scotland, Central Wales and the Cumbrian Coast, as well as some urban backwaters such as Romford to Upminster and the St Albans Abbey branch. As the 1970s progressed, closures became scarce, but cost-cutting measures included the singling of some lines as well as scaled-down stations and simplified signalling. Yet even today, some pockets of traditional operation survive. Mechanical signal boxes still control many hundreds of miles across the network, in areas as diverse as West Cornwall, East Lincolnshire and South West Scotland. This book also celebrates several reopened and new lines, ranging from the major Borders Railway project in Scotland to the Stansted Airport and Barking Riverside branches in South East England - making the point that the branch line concept is far from dead.

To commemorate the sixtieth anniversary of its closure, Chris Barber offers a fascinating insight into the history behind this picturesque railway line.