Product Description

The author describes in depth the nature of freight operation in the steam era. It is often forgotten, particularly in the 21st Century that the origins of the railway industry lay in the need to carry the products of Britain's industries from source to market. Freight was the bedrock of the railways' prosperity. Comprehensive in its coverage, this title will become the standard work of reference on the subject for railway historians and modellers alike.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #214525 in Books
• Published on: 2006-03-31
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 96 pages

Customer Reviews

only 5 stars because there isn't a higher possible rating
This book is excellent, bought it to read on holiday and couldn't put it down. It is what it says on the cover, an explanation of freight train operation for the railway modeller. There is a clear focus on the steam age railway.As someone who didn't experience this first hand,and is trying to produce a realistic model this is invaluable.

A useful introduction
The author provides some interesting examples of freight facilities and some brief suggestions of how they might be modelled. The book is pretty short, but should provide inspiration for further research. It is a pity that the author finds it necessary to dismiss diesel/electric traction - despite their use on identical traffic for at least the last 2 decades covered by the book - and contends "the wisdom of not modelling the post-1968 railway era"!

Get the freight on rails!
This book is excellent, I have never seen so many wonderful photos of goods and freight trains. They come in many different sizes and with a variety of motive power. It is relieving to see so many short goods trains, just as I run them on my model railway. So many of the railway books concentrate on the high class passenger trains with A-class locomotives. This book shows the humble freight trains that were the backbone of many railways and that fits much better in our 'small' model kingdoms. I just wish the model train makers would make more different closed and ventilated vans such as you see them in the trains in this book. I'm going to look through the photos next time I put a goods train together for the next trip over my rail. I wish the real world would once more see more goods and freight move on rails to reduce polution and congestion on the motorways.