Shire have a reputation for producing succinct, attractive and well-written books by authorities on their subjects. This is no exception. Written by a former curator at the GWR and STEAM museums at Swindon it packs much information into its small size. After examining the origins of the Great Western Railway and how Brunei persuaded the company to back his recommendation of the 7ft broad gauge, there is a brief discussion of some technical aspects of the track and the problems with early locomotives brought about by Brunei's restrictive specifications. A brief description of the construction and early operation of the London-Bristol main line is followed by short sections covering expansion, decline and fall of the broad-gauge network, the development of Swindon works, and a brief survey of locomotives and rolling stock. There is a guide to further reading and places to visit, plus a short index. The illustrations are well-chosen and interesting, although the cover picture of the replica Fire Fly locomotive at Didcot shows little because it has been brutally cropped.
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