The Railways of Devon - Hardcover

Smith, Martin

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 071102149X ISBN 13: 9780711021495

Publisher: Ian Allan Publishing Ltd, 1993

Synopsis

With its railway history dominated by the competition between two of the most important of the pre-Grouping railways - the Great Western and the London & South Western - the county of Devon acquired a complex network of main lines and branches that served both the busy cities of Plymouth and Exeter and also the more remote villages nesting against Dartmoor and Exmoor. Inevitably, there was costly duplication of service and after the Nationalization of the railways in 1948 an almost inexorable series of cuts and closures has decimated the county's railway network. Gone is the bulk of the ex-LSWR main line from Plymouth to Exeter eastwards toward Waterloo has been reduced in status. The majority of the branch lines have also gone, but a number - most notably the lines to Barnstaple and Exmouth - remain and others have survived into the modern age courtesy of the preservation movement. Following on from the successful and well-reviewed history of the railways of Bristol and Somerset, Martin Smith now narrates the railway history of the county of Devon. Exploring not only the well known main lines and branches, he also delves into the history of many of the lesser known lines, such as the Lee Moor Tramway and the railways of Devonport Dockyard. Illustrated with a superb selection of photographs and line drawings, The Railways of Devon is a fascinating account of the railway development of this part of Britain and should be on the shelves of all those who know and love the railways of the county.

Edition details

• Publisher: Ian Allan Publishing Ltd
• Publication date: 1993
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 071102149X
• ISBN 13: 9780711021495
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 112