Last Updated on April 23, 2026
A REGIONAL HISTORY OF THE RAILWAYS OF GREAT BRITAIN
Volume 1: The West Country
Sixth Revised Edition
David St John Thomas
Fondly referred to as ‘The Bible’ among West Country railway enthusi-asts, this work has enjoyed an incredible sales record and once again (with help from Bernard Mills) has been thoroughly up-dated and indeed includes many dozen extra pieces of information.
This is the story of one of the glories of nineteenth-century energy,vision and enterprise as it was manifest in the western counties, and it brings that story to nationalisation and beyond. We read of the planning, the building, the operation and often, alas, the closing down, of some of the most picturesque railway lines in the land. Much of the material is new, the full story of a number of lines appearing in book form for the first time.
The birth of the railways from Wessex to Cornwall brought counties then remote within a few hours of London: it was undoubtedly the most important and formative event in their economic and social history. For the first time the joys and sorrows of all the railways in the area have been brought together.
Jacket illustration: Landslip on the South Devon Railway near Parson’s Tunnel,
1852.
This book was previously for sale at Margot’s Books. The shop is now closed — this post is kept as an archive record only.
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