The Cambrian Railways
- The Cambrian Railways
- Volume 1: 1852-1888
- Railways came late to Mid-Wales and then in ten crowded years from 1859 they spread like a bush fire until they stretched 300 route miles from Brecon to Pwllheli, Aberystwyth to Whitchurch and Wrexham. At first the lines were small and independent, but the desire for self-protection against the schemeing English companies led them to merge into the Cambrian Railways, which became the biggest of the independent Welsh Railways. Essentially a passenger line, the Cambrian had little traffic to help it pay its way.
- This, the first of two volumes, traces the development of the Cambrian from its inception to 1888 when, taking over the working of the Mid-Wales Railway which ran through the enchanting Wye Valley from Llanidloes to Brecon, it assumed much of the size and shape it was to retain until Grouping. Based largely on original research Volume One tells of the difficulties of the five small companies which built the main line from Whitchurch to Aberystwyth and the costly, yet magnificient coast line to Pwllheli, which bankrupted the Cambrian as well as its contractor - lines where trains stood out against the gentle summer blue skies of Cardigan Bay or grey-black rain clouds which drifted over the mountains behind and across the rolling Border hills.
- This volume, self contained, also describes in detail early locomotives and rolling stock and has many yet unpublished photographs. Volume Two will take the Cambrian story from 1888 forward to the present day (1967)
- 178 pages, 1967, Case bound, 5½" x 8¾"
- No ISBN
- New — Out of Print
- Pre-Owned, cover rubbed and pages crinkled from damp
£10.00 Order or Enquire via email - David & Charles Main Page
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- Mr G.Johnson
- British Railway Books
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- Abergavenny
- NP7 1AU