Britain from the Rails

Benedict le Vay says he loves train travel because it's romantic, fun, comfortable, civilised, sociable, fascinating and doesn't damage the wonderful places you go to. To date, he has written five books for Bradt (many on the 'Eccentric Britain' theme) as well as holding down a full-time job as a Fleet Street newspaper sub-editor. He ascribes his early interest in railways to the fact that his mother grew up on his grandfather's private train, as the chief inspector of Indian railways. Later, as a London schoolboy, he played cricket next to the tracks where the luxury Golden Arrow train to Paris steamed past. Needless to say, he dropped a few catches .

Introduction: Rail Britannia!
Who is this book for? A lot of people..., How to use this book, Ben's top ten rail journeys

Chapter 1 The Glorious East Coast Main Line to Scotland
King's Cross to York: record breakers, York to Edinburgh: to the world's first railway, Edinburgh to Aberdeen: Firth to last
Chapter 2 Scotland: Rails to Romance and Beauty
The basic layout, Glasgow and Edinburgh termini, Planning ahead in Scotland, The West Highland Line: Glasgow-Crianlarich-Fort William-Mallaig and the Oban branch: the iron road to the isles, The Highland Main Line: Inverness to Glasgow (and Edinburgh), Britain's first new domestic line for many decades, the fascinating Borders Railway, Seaside excursions: two great days out from Scotland's two big cities, The Great North of Scotland Railway: Inverness to Aberdeen, The Skye Railway: the very strange story of 'the most beautiful line in Europe', The intriguing Far North Line: from Inverness to Wick and Thurso put into sharp focus
Chapter 3 The North of England: Chuffing 'eck, That's Grand!
Midlands mentions, The North of England: overview and recommended lines, The wonderful Settle & Carlisle Railway: don't Settle for anything less! Leeds to Lancaster and Morecambe: a useful connector, brief encounters and a great comedian, The Cumbrian Coast Line: right round the Lake District, The Lake District by train? What are those words worth?! No missing Lincs in Lincolnshire: Nottingham to Skegness - the Jolly Fisherman Line seen in a fresh perspective
Chapter 4Great Western: God's Wonderful Railway
The GWR: trunk, branches and twigs, Keeping great company: the GWR's great history, London to Penzance: best of the West, The Berks & Hants route: Kennet Valley and Vale of Pewsey, The GWR strikes north: expanded detail on the lovely Cotswolds, Golden Valley and Banbury, West Country branches: Devon and Cornwall's cream, Wessex lines: undiluted Old England at her best, The GWR route into South Wales: branch lines to Dai for. New ways to Oxford - the first new route linking London to a major British city for almost 100 years
Chapter 5Wales Rails
Fire-breathing dragons: & going for a spin with the best connected, Welsh rare bits and best bits, North Wales and the Marches: a fantastic circular route or splendid separate days out, The Heart of Wales Line: Shrewsbury to Swansea, a real rural rail survivor
Chapter 6East Anglia: A Circular Tour to See the Best of This Unique Region
Bargain Anglia, Hitchin to Cambridge: teetotal recall, dozy crossing keepers and snooty dons, The Breckland Line: Cambridge to Norwich - islands in the Fen to blasted heath, Really recommended for the ride, Norwich-Lowestoft: Queen of the Lot, The lovely East Suffolk Line: Lowestoft to Ipswich (for London): swinging stuff, London Liverpool Street to Norwich via the Great Eastern Main Line (plus fabulous branches)
Chapter 7South Western from Waterloo: Take Me to the Sunshine
Waterloo: welcome to Britain's biggest and busiest station, Waterloo to Woking: another Britain's busiest, Woking to Southampton: Martians to maritime, Southampton to Weymouth: the New Forest and two Hardys' Wessex, The Portsmouth Direct Line: Woking to Pompey, ups and Downs, Waterloo to Exeter: the West of England Main Line
Chapter 8South and Southeast: From Dirty Weekends to Bo Peep
The Brighton Line: premier holiday route, London Victoria to Brighton: what to look out for from Thames to Channel, Brighton Line Branches, Brighton-Hastings-Ashford: towns, gowns and Downs, Hastings Direct and the Kent Coast: catch the 1066
Chapter 9Britain's 'Secret Railways'
Manchester to Glossop and Hadfield, The Welsh Valleys: Merthyr and branches, The Ebbw Vale line: Film stars and a phoenix, Vale of Glamorgan: Where you can find coastal beauty, a TV hit, a vital scrap of history and forgotten disaster, London's new Orbital Railway: Outer Circle Line or rail M25?

Appendix 1The Inside Track
A window-gazer's guide to 'rail things': stuff to look out for on your journey, Train trivia.
Appendix 2Useful Information
Books on railways: read between the lines, Steamy affairs: best historic and preserved railways.
Index