BOOK: Before 1939 it was very unusual for a railway to close branches, partly for reasons of prestige and partly because lucrative freight traffic compensated for branch-line losses. After 1948 different circumstances caused a change of attitude and there was a wholesale closure of branch lines between 1952 and 1967. One result is that hundreds of miles of quiet trackways are awaiting exploration. The railway enthusiast will wish to see the more durable relics such as stations, viaducts and tunnels while others will enjoy the opportunity of getting away from the noise and smell of the roads and appreciate the real countryside. Nature has returned to these tracks since the trains disappeared—modern proof of the famous words of Horace. A selection of closed railways in England and Wales has been made, each with its own peculiar history, and in exploring them the reader will see some of the best scenery in the country, and if he has the inclination, some fine churches, castles and other places of historic interest. Every chapter has a sketch map of the line and in the text will be found advice on how to reach it by train, bus and car. AUTHOR: F. G. Cockman was born in London and educated at Mercers' School. Unable to enter the service of the Great Eastern Railway in 1919 he joined the insurance world and made railways his hobby. During his lifetime he has travelled well over half a million miles by train in the UK and on the Continent without incident and therefore considers that safety is the railways' trump card. In the days of steam he travelled over four thousand miles on the footplate in the UK and also in Spain. Specialising for many years in the timing of express trains, he also indulged his pastime of photographing steam trains, in the course of which he has travelled on nearly every route mile in the UK. Latterly he has turned to railway history, but also enjoys railway work, having performed all kinds of jobs on the Bluebell Line during the past twelve years. His retirement some years ago has given him more time for research. CONTENTS: Preface 1 Halwill Junction to Padstow 2 Sidmouth Junction to Sidmouth and Exmouth 3 Devon & Somerset Railway 4 Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway 5 Mid-Wales Railway 6 Bedford & Cambridge Railway 7 Great Central Railway 8 Yarnton to Fairford 9 The Marquis of Exeter's Railways 10 Horsham to Guildford 11 Lewes & East Grinstead Railway 12 Tunbridge Wells & Eastbourne Railway 13 Stratford-on-Avon & Midland Junction Railway 14 Ware Hadham & Buntingford Railway 15 Colne Valley & Halstead Railway 16 Midland & Great Northern Joint Railway 17 Churnet Valley Railway 18 Bedford to Hitchin 19 Buxton to Rocester 20 King's Lynn to Hunstanton 21 Bala to Blaenau Ffestiniog 22 Northallerton to Garsdale 23 Darlington to Penrith Appendix: Preserved railways referred to in text Index of places

F. G. Cockman

Discovering Lost railways