Irish Standard Gauge Railways
Is it the existence of the Irish Sea or the tortured nature of Ireland's history, or both, which makes understanding of the Green Isle so traditionally difficult for British citizens? Certainly railway enthusiasts are little better placed; to many a deal of Irish railway history remains as elusive as it is complicated. Contradictions, too, abound. Why, for instance, with Westminster playing a dominant role in 19th century Irish affairs for better or for worse — should Irish standard gauge be 'different'? Why, with Grouping and Nationalisation following the same broad course as in Britain, and the abandonment of steam arriving just as surely upon the scene, should the Irish railway story persist in following its own unique course? In this book the author has succeeded in encompassing a mass of historical standard gauge intricacies in extremely compact form. Many hitherto unpublished photographs are included, and maps have been carefully drawn to assist the process of clarification. And what a story there is to tell! From the very birth of railways in Ireland, over-numerous, yet ever-optimistic groups of men clearly grasped the vision of the Railway Age. They were doomed, none the less, to face implacable handicaps in the form of depopulation and Ireland's inability to develop agriculture and industry. Add constant lack of funds, the lacklustre quality of UK investment, and the miracle is, perhaps, that they achieved so much.
Hardback, 96 pages, black & white photographs
Condition: Good/Very Good with a little fading to spine
ISBN: 9780715380079
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Updated: 2 April 2024