Narrow Gauge Steam: Its Origins and World-wide Development
This is the story of how steam locomotives were first developed for narrow gauge railways in mid-Victorian times and how their design subsequently progressed. Narrow gauge railways soon spread across the world and many colourful personalities were involved, adding human interest to the narrative which, due to much fresh research, is by no means the story as previously accepted.
Here are the reasons why so many railways were built with a track gauge less than the British standard, and the much- loved and individualistic narrow gauge railways of the British Isles are put into their full context. For example, when the Festiniog Railway put a new double Fairlie locomotive into service in 1872 it attracted international attention and was the subject of a leader in The Times. At this time it was considered that railways had cost too much and were yielding too little in the way of dividends, but the Festiniog was cheap and very profitable. Narrow gauge was the way ahead - not only for Britain but for the vast British territories overseas, and indeed the world at large.
The eventual decline suffered by narrow gauge railways when faced with road competition is covered, as is the subsequent revival of many such lines as tourist attractions. Important appendices detail all known early narrow gauge locomotives, of which research has revealed a surprisingly large number, and the principal narrow gauge railways of the world, with their gauges and opening dates.
P. J. G. Ransom first experienced narrow gauge travel when, as a boy, he was allowed to ride in the guard's van of the Corris Railway's three-days-a-week goods train. He joined the Talyllyn Railway Preservation Society in 1951 and was one of the first members of the Festiniog Railway Society. He has written more than a dozen books on transport subjects.
Hardback with dust jacket, 20x25cm, 192 pages, black & white photographs
Condition: Good/Very Good with mild toning to edges of pages
ISBN: 9780860935339
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