| The second volume of James Boyd's reminiscences of his life-long enthusiasm for railways is told in his own inimitable style. The earliest of these stories date back as far as the 1930s. Most railway enthusiasts of the day were drawn towards the impressive standard gauge steam-hauled expresses of Britain's major railways. Fortunately for us, Mr Boyd's tastes were rather more eclectic and obscure and so in this volume we discover the delights of such interesting and diverse systems as Altrincham Gas Works, Eaton Hall, Manchester Ship Canal, Snailbeach District, Woodhead Reservoirs and Whittingham Hospital railways. Those familiar with Mr Boyd's narrow gauge railway history books will be unsurprised to see tales of travels to the Corris Railway, Welshpool & Llanfair Railway and the Isle of Man, and of experiences in the early days of railway preservation in Wales. Mr Boyd also turned his attention towards some standard gauge lines - predominantly in North-West England and the Welsh borders. The author was sent to school for a time to Bryanston, in Dorset, in the 1930s. Being shown how to drive a Somerset & Dorset Joint line 2-8-0 while on shunting duties at Blandford turned out to be not just a memorable moment but a life-changing experience. Evocative stories of a bygone age. Contents:
- Snailbeach District Railways
- Electrification of the MSJ&AR
- Oakeley Slate Quarry
- Woodhead Reservoirs Tramway
- A Ride on the Welshpool & Llanfair Goods
- Shunting Instructions on S&DJR 2-8-0s
- Gravity Run: Moelwyn Tunnel - Tan-y-BwIch
- Interrupted by the Military, Portmadoc, 1940
- The Whittingham Railway, May 1948
- Water Troubles on PRINCE, Festiniog Railway
- Little Help in High Places, IOMR
- Of Choirs and Places Where They Sing
- A Musical Interlude, Portmadoc
- Orbit Oswestry
- Digging for Clues, Portmadoc Wharves
- Uncle Joe
- Bryanston Railway Society, 1933
- Ducal Visits
- Manchester Ship Canal
- Last Days on the Corris Train
- To Scotland and Back!
- Talyllyn Working Party Reminiscences
- A Sleeping Compartment on the Isle of Man Railway
- A First Visit to Eskdale
- Luggage in Advance
- Index
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