From: The Oakwood Press

Price: £14.95

Pages: 172

Author: James I.C. Boyd

Published: Out Now

Press Release: The second volume of James Boyd's reminiscences of his life-long enthusiasm for railways is told in his own inimitable style. The earliest of these stories date back as far as the 1930s. Most railway enthusiasts of the day were drawn towards the impressive standard gauge steam-hauled expresses of Britain's major railways. Fortunately for us, Mr Boyd's tastes were rather more eclectic and obscure and so in this volume we discover the delights of such interesting and diverse systems as Altrincham Gas Works, Eaton Hall, Manchester Ship Canal, Snailbeach District, Woodhead Reservoirs and Whittingham Hospital railways. Those familiar with Mr Boyd's narrow gauge railway history books will be unsurprised to see tales of travels to the Corris Railway, Welshpool & Llanfair Railway and the Isle of Man, and of experiences in the early days of railway preservation in Wales. Mr Boyd also turned his attention towards some standard gauge lines - predominantly in North-West England and the Welsh borders. The author was sent to school for a time to Bryanston, in Dorset, in the 1930s. Being shown how to drive a Somerset & Dorset Joint line 2-8-0 while on shunting duties at Blandford turned out to be not just a memorable moment but a life-changing experience. Evocative stories of a bygone age.

Our Review: Although only containing two chapters relative to the island, Mr Boyd’s book is highly recommended and follows up on the first volume which deals with Ireland.  This volume make interesting reading and shows the struggle that faced the author when attempting to write the first volume of what became the I.M.R. "bible" in 1961.