Julian Holland's "Britain's Heritage Railways" is a delightful treasure for anyone who loves trains, history, or just exploring the gorgeous British countryside. This charming guidebook showcases over 100 heritage railway lines across Britain, offering a wonderful mix of information and stunning visuals.

From the scenic highlands of Scotland to the sunny southern coast of England, Holland takes you on a journey through these captivating steam engines. With such a fantastic variety of railways, there’s something for everyone to enjoy, no matter where you are in the UK!

But this book isn’t just a list of lines and stations; Holland dives into the fascinating histories of each railway, bringing their stories to life. You’ll learn about their importance to local communities and the challenges they’ve faced, adding a rich layer of depth to your understanding.

"Britain's Heritage Railways" also makes planning your own railway adventures a breeze! It includes helpful details on operating dates, special events, and nearby attractions—perfect for every railway enthusiast.

And let’s not forget the beautiful photographs! The book is filled with both contemporary and historic images that capture the charm of these heritage lines—from shining steam engines to cozy stations and the stunning landscapes they travel through.

If you love trains, this book is a must-have. It offers a wonderful overview of Britain's railway heritage, making it a great companion for anyone planning a trip to the UK. Even if you can't hop on a train right now, the captivating photos and engaging descriptions will whisk you away to the heart of the country's railway legacy.

In summary, "Britain's Heritage Railways" is a beautifully crafted and informative guide that will delight a wide range of readers. Whether you’re a seasoned train lover or simply looking for a unique way to discover Britain, this book is a fantastic choice. It celebrates the enduring legacy of Britain’s railways and the passion that keeps these historic lines alive. Enjoy the journey!

I share a love of heritage railways with my husband, so was delighted to receive this book as an ARC. It was fascinating to read about lines that are well-known and loved by us and those not discovered or visited as yet.

The book is helpfully divided into sections for English regions, with separate sections for Wales and Scotland. Each railway has detailed information that includes a history of the original lines/branches operating in the area and the efforts made to preserve and reintroduce some, if not all, of the former lines to be enjoyed by visitors old and young.

There is a heritage railway near where I live and it is lovingly preserved by a collection of enthusiastic and knowledgeable volunteers. Judging by this book, there is a veritable army of such people up and down the British Isles, determined to retain glimpses of a bygone era and maintain links with our industrial past.

Of the various railways in this book, I can thoroughly recommend many of the Welsh railways (Ffestiniog, Welsh Highland, Talyllyn, Vale of Rheidol, Snowdon), as well as the Bodmin line in Cornwall. My husband has been on many more.

This is a wonderful book, and one to be left on a coffee table for browsing at leisure. I shall be buying a copy and planning some long-overdue visits!

I received an ARC of this book from Collins Reference, in return for an honest appraisal.

I expected a more-than reasonable book from this author, and this, while involving more organising than original text, perhaps, is no blot on his copybook. The hundred best and most interesting railway restoration projects, heritage lines and locomotive museum yards are (almost) all given two pages. The standard entry is their location, public openings, length, a tiny schematic of the stations used, a photo from days of yore (generally pre-Beeching), and a more modern image, with just enough text in the space left over. This details what the line covered originally, who ran it, when it closed, who runs it now and what stock the spotter might find there. Heritage railways kind of fell into being a minor interest of mine (I've ridden on six of these, either as a passenger or in a professional capacity), but even I can see the value of this concise, fluff-free gazetteer. Some people will learn little from it, many will have a wonderful check-list to start attacking. The TWERPS are in this; the twerps leave it on the shelf, unbought. Only bespoke mapping to allow us to follow the core of the histories would improve things, and is in fact sorely lacking. As are Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man.

I'm fascinated by trains and historical railways. This is an excellent guide with a lot of information and lovely picture.
Informative and useful.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine