Narrow Gauge and Industrial Railways

With previously unpublished photographs documenting the period's industrial and mineral railways scene.

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With images and vivid recollections, we journey away from the main line to valleys, quarries and factories. Industries as diverse as slate, iron, paper, glass, food and tourism relied on dozens of small railways to keep people and goods moving. At quarries, factories and picturesque rural stations, Brian and Ian Reading explore scenes, many of which have now changed beyond recognition.

This photographic tour includes the Isle of Man Railway, Stewarts & Lloyds Minerals at Corby, British Industrial Sand at Middleton Towers & Leziate, the Wissington Light Railway, Richard Garrett Engineering Leiston Works, Bowater’s Railway at Sittingbourne, Kemsley & Ridham Dock, the Vale of Rheidol Railway, the Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway, Dinorwic Quarries (Padarn) Railway, Penrhyn Quarry Railway, the Talyllyn Railway and the Festiniog (Ffestiniog) Railway.

People, machines and landscapes are crystalised on film for future generations; reawakening memories for those who lived through this time of change and offering a fascinating insight for those who are too young to have been trackside during this intriguing period of railway history.