The Trains Now Departed

by Michael Williams

Sometimes you come across a lofty railway viaduct, marooned in the middle of a remote country landscape. Or a crumbling platform from some once-bustling junction buried under the buddleia. If you are lucky you might be able to follow some rusting tracks, or explore an old tunnel leading to...well, who knows where? Or the spectre of a train from a golden era of the past panting up the embankment? The Trains Now Departed is a journey into the soul of our railways, summoning up a magic which, although mired in time, is fortunately not lost forever.

400 pages, Hardcover

Published May 1, 2016

About the author

Michael Williams writes widely on railways for many publications, including the Daily Mail, The Independent, the Independent on Sunday, the New Statesman, The Oldie and the railway specialist press. He is a veteran Fleet Street journalist, having held many senior positions, including Deputy Editor of the Independent on Sunday, Executive Editor of the Independent and Head of News at The Sunday Times. He is currently Senior Lecturer in the School of Journalism, Media and Communication at the University of Central Lancashire. He commutes regularly by train on the 440-mile return journey between his home in London's Camden Town and his office at Preston in Lancashire.

Reviews

[Rachel Bowlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

For the train lovers. It was a bit of a struggle to finish. I thought each chapter would focus on one particular line, but it was more 'themed.'