{"product_id":"railway-history-in-pictures-the-west-country-9780715354797","title":"Railway History in Pictures: The West Country","description":"\u003cp\u003eWest Country railways were as colourful and diverse as the land they served. They included several first- class main lines such as the Bristol and Exeter, many picturesque branches, little self-contained systems such as the Lynton \u0026amp; Barnstaple and though this is less well-known -some of Britain's first industrial lines. As early as 1730 wagons were trundling down a primitive railway from Ralph Allen's quarries near Bath.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis well-balanced pictorial history traces the development of the broad- gauge route pioneered by Brunel, and its later narrow-gauge rival, the Lon- don \u0026amp; South Western; it of course also deals with the later development and eventual decline of many lines and finds room for close-ups on the minor systems of the South West.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbove all the beauty of the south-west scene is shown, whether on rural branches, familiar lines serving holiday resorts or obscure mineral rail- ways. Brunel deservedly gains some prominence in having engineered much of the GWR, on whose line the Saltash Bridge remains a memorial to him, but other architectural and engineering aspects are not overlooked.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHardback with dust jacket, 19x25cm, 112 pages, black \u0026amp; white photographs\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCondition: Good\/Very Good\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"David \u0026 Charles","offers":[{"title":"Secondhand (285)","offer_id":41597190307949,"sku":"9780715354797","price":6.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1910\/7111\/files\/9780715354797.jpg?v=1718024995","url":"https:\/\/rail-books.co.uk\/products\/railway-history-in-pictures-the-west-country-9780715354797","provider":"Rail Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}