Steam Trains Today: Journeys Along Britain’s Heritage Railways

by Andrew Martin

After the Beeching cuts of the 1960s, many railways were 'rationalised' and gradually shut down. Rural communities were isolated without ready access to the main lines and steam trains slowly gave way to diesel and electric traction. But some people were not prepared to let the romance of train travel die. Thanks to their efforts, many of these lines passed into community ownership and are now booming with new armies of dedicated volunteers.

Andrew Martin goes out to meet these enthusiasts and find out just what it is about preserved railways which makes people so devoted. From the inspiration for Thomas the Tank Engine to John Betjeman's battle against encroaching modernity, Steam Trains Today is a wonderful journey across Britain from Aviemore to Epping.

Genres: History, Railways, Nonfiction, Trains

384 pages, Hardcover

Published April 29, 2021

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.

Andrew Martin (born 6 July 1962) is an English novelist and journalist.

Martin was brought up in Yorkshire, studied at the University of Oxford and qualified as a barrister. He has since worked as a freelance journalist for a number of publications while writing novels, starting with Bilton, a comic novel about journalists, and The Bobby Dazzlers, a comic novel set in the North of England, for which he was named Spectator Young Writer of the Year. His series of detective novels about Jim Stringer, a railwayman reassigned to the North Eastern Railway Police in Edwardian England, includes The Necropolis Railway, The Blackpool Highflyer, The Lost Luggage Porter, Murder at Deviation Junction and Death on a Branch Line. He has also written the non-fiction book; How to Get Things Really Flat: A Man's Guide to Ironing, Dusting and Other Household Arts.

Reviews

[Sophie Crane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the Ideal Book for Train, Travel & Railway Enthusiasts.

[John Watts · Rating 3 out of 5]

An amiable voyage of discovery round some of our Heritage Railways. At times this reads rather like one of Bill Bryson's odysseys round Britain with odd details, but lacking both Bryson's wit and his ability for sharp observation. Andrew Martin has certainly done the footwork and visited lots of differing railways (but not all) so the reader is sometimes left pondering why there is no mention of certain well-established and interesting lines. It also seems that he is quite careful not 'to tread on too many toes'....we never seem to reach a critical appraisal of differing heritage projects. In fact it might have been better to concentrate on ten or a dozen railways and write in depth about them. Personal favourites and why they appeal might be a better approach rather than short snippets about some railways which add little other than to mark the fact that they have been visited. Still mystified why one chapter seems to be about diesels when the book title is Steam Trains Today but this rather reflects the lack of focus here.....is this a book for the general reader or does it really add anything for the rail enthusiast? Sadly, a bit of a 'curate's egg' when it could have given so much more.

[Jeremy Nelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Anecdotal and interesting. It kept me engaged throughout the details of all the heritage railways around the UK.

The writing style bounced a bit in parts, sounding pretentious on one page and like a novel in another.

However, I have enjoyed it.

[Simon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent tour around the UK's preserved railways with an interesting and informative guide. Plenty of history and many personal anecdotes from visits to these lines and train rides on them.

Included in the description of each line is enough detail to to flesh out and give a feel of what you'll find if you are planning a visit. For me as an interested occasional visitor to UK preserved railways who doesn't know the details of each engine type, this was an thorough update from when it was written pre-Covid.

Excellent!! A definite 5-star read.

[Richard Hakes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very much a book of the glory of modern old railways. There is plenty of glory to be found and in the relatively harmless pursuit it entertains in a significant if older section of the population. It is amuzing and informative and having two small grandsons the Thomas the Tank references quite useful. You do have to like old steam engines however.

[L · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third Andrew Martin book I've read, and they're all really enjoyable. They're interesting and informative while also being very readable, and this is no different. It's made me want to go out and travel on some heritage railways. The only criticism is a publishing one - why no maps? They would be great in this book.

[Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

After abit of a disjointed first chapter this book really gets into it's stride. A great overview of different heritage railways in a travel diary format by the author with abit of history of Railways and the preservation movement intertwined within them all.

A very chill read (and listen via audiobook), recommend for any train geeks!

[David Rhodes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful read that is well written and engaging. Whilst I didn’t find the second half of the book not flowing as well as the first I still couldn’t put it down.

Must read for train enthusiasts and newbies.

[Matthew Culley · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable and entertaining description of Britain's preserved/heritage railways. Lines are grouped by themes rather than treated systematically. Many of the heritage pioneers are also discussed. Recommended.

[Adeptus Fringilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book about the preserved/historic railways in Britain. Lots of interesting facts and anecdotes. At times it reads like a guide, with individual chapters per preserved railway. Also contains some surprising background reading, like quoting a FT article from 1972 (or so).

[Rob Mead · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not for the casual reader, be aware there are abbreviations galore.

Still, the passion for his subject shines through as brightly as the fire in one of his beloved engines

[Jean Markos · Rating 4 out of 5]

The books was fun to read.

[Joshua Friesen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love train adventures.