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Fire and Steam: A New History of the Railways in Britain

Author: Christian Wolmar
Publisher: Atlantic Books
Category: Book

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Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

14 reviews
Sales Rank: 1651

Media: Paperback
Pages: 384
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 7.6 x 5 x 1.4

ISBN: 1843546302
EAN: 9781843546306
ASIN: 1843546302

Publication Date: May 1, 2008
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: BRAND NEW - ***Delivery usually * 2 - 3 * working days - From Aphrohead of SOUTHPORT, Lancs, uk *** . Priority Airmail used Worldwide on International orders. Thanks from all at Aphrohead.

Also Available In:

•	Hardcover - Fire & Steam
•	Hardcover - Fire and Steam: A New History of the Railways in Britain

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Customer Reviews: Read 9 more reviews...

4 out of 5 stars

Excellent social history June 7, 2008
As other reviewers have said, the story of the railways is only part of the appeal of this book. It takes the railways as a starting point for a smoothly written review of our social history over the last couple of centuries and of the changes which were brought about by an efficient, affordable transport service.

Wolmar sensibly concentrates upon the characters who shaped the railways and how the railway services reflected society and helped to shape its change. One for the interested layman, rather than the committed railway buff, I suspect.

5 out of 5 stars

I cannot add anything useful to the excellent reviews below ... June 7, 2008
... simply excellent, and prompted the purchase of two other books by the same author - Broken Rails (describes the Tories' foolish privatisation) and On the Wrong Line (about the Labour Government continuing the same failed policy, despite their election pledge - sounds familiar?)

4 out of 5 stars

Good book even for non-railway enthusiasts June 3, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful

Not being what you might call a railways enthusiast, I picked up on this book shortly after reading "The Industrial Revolutionaries". Much like that volume, this is a relatively short overview of what is a vast subject and more detailed books on various specific aspects of railway history obviously exist and many are name checked here. Like a previously reviewer I spotted a couple of factual errors, and found the style sometimes a bit erratic, with the author darting here and there in various chapters where perhaps a more coherent approach may have paid dividends. Nonetheless this is an interesting and informative read which concentrates on the human story as much as on the technical aspects.

5 out of 5 stars

The best short history of the railways available April 3, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful

An excellent book which gives a great insight to how railways came about and has a number of references to read about certain areas in more detail.
I have a couple of small gripes, which are that, as someone who had a keen ineterest in railways throughout the late 70s and 80s, there are 2 factual errors in the chapter on British Rail which are: 1) Jimmy Saville was the front man for 'This is the age of the train' campaign, not the 'We're getting there' one; and 2) He states that there were no rail closures from 1977, whereas there were 4 that I am aware of in the 80s (for the curious among you: Kilmacolm, Clayton West, Woodside - Sanderstead and Tunbridge Wells - Eridge).
These pedantic gripes aside: EXCELLENT!

5 out of 5 stars

The Orient express of railway books March 16, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful

As I have worked in the railway industry for 6 years I like to think I understand a lot about the railway but this book made me realise I know only a little. In this book Christian takes you though the social and political history of the railways in Great Britain beginning with how the first railway line began (Manchester & Liverpool) and continues right up until the railway that exists today. Every chapter provides you with history, facts and knowledge that will help the reader to understand the railway and how it became what we travel on in the 21st century. The book made me laugh , got be frustated, made me angry and very proud all at various points in the book and also kept me intrested all the way to the very last page. The book is not just for railway enthusiasts despite having bits of railway nostalgia here and there, in my opinion its should be read by every passenger who has ever travelled on the railway and i think it will help the reader to understand a industry that has done as much to shape 21st century Great Britain as any. On a personal level this book made me proud to say I work for the railway.