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Highlights the development of light railways in rural Britain and Ireland after the 1896 Act, showcasing their infrastructure.The light Railways Act 1896 marked the final phase in the development of the traditional railway in Britain, being designed to open up rural areas of Britain that had been bypassed by the larger railway companies.
The promoting and construction of light railways allowed many parts of Britain and Ireland, to have an outlet to the outside world and major cities, which previously they had not enjoyed.
The Light Railway is not designed to be a definitive history, but a pictorial tribute to the brave attempt to develop a rural network of lines to serve some of the areas of the British Isles and Ireland that had sadly been neglected by the large main line companies throughout the initial and later railway development period from 1825 to 1896.
This volume looks at the railways themselves, motive power and infrastructure that made up these small but important lines, promoted by our Victorian and Edwardian ancestors.
About the author
John Scott-Morgan is the author of multiple railway histories and photographic surveys, he is the founder of the British Overseas Railways Historical Trust and is a life long transport historian and preservationist. His family has been involved with the railway industry since the early days, having relatives who worked on the railways since 1836. He is also involved in a curatorial capacity, with the Great Western Society at Didcot, advising on the restoration and preservation of locomotives and rolling stock. He lives in Woking in Surrey where he continues to write transport history books.
