£37.50
Author: Chris Turner & Stanley Jenkins
Published: 2024
Edition: Hardback
Pages: 246
Genre: Great Western Railway
Status: Available
Synopsis
The Staines Branch by Chris Turner and Stanley Jenkins.
The Staines Branch is an original study of an unusual Great Western branch, one which has been in the making for some considerable time. Chris Turner is the author, and in his introduction he explains the genesis of his wonderful printed culmination of many years interest and work.
The amount of work Chris has carried out over many years, both original research in archives and also, most significantly, the interviewing of probably hundreds of ex-railway employees and others simply enhances this work. This has resulted in a real wealth of articles in various periodicals, most significantly the “British Railway Journal” and “Great Western Railway Journal” , produced and published by his friend Paul Karau.
The book itself is a “proper” history of what was an unusual line on various counts, not the least being that part of it remains in use to this day. The book has been laid out by Paul Karau and so is very much in the mould of the classic line histories from Wild Swan, the only difference being the glazed board covers rather than a dust jacketed book. The book is profusely illustrated, and includes track plans, signalling diagrams and scale drawings of key structures, covering the steam era and later diesel operations. A chapter covers the later freight only operations, fascinating in themselves, with aggregate and aviation spirit traffic still operating over the northern part of the line. Appendix 3 covers filming activities around the line, with a wonderful picture of “Pete and Dud” speeding through Colnbrook station on a white grand piano!