Travel back through a life spent guiding royal trains and shaping railway service. This memoir offers a front-row view of empire-era rail travel and daily operations.
A vivid memoir by George P. Neele, who served as General Superintendent of the London and North‑Western Railway, recounts years of royal journeys, personal honors, and close connections with the people who ran the trains. From long treks with Her Majesty to retirements marked by keepsakes and keep-sakes, the book blends personal memory with the evolution of railway practice at the end of the 19th century. It also highlights the pride and challenges of maintaining a vast network during a period of expansion and ceremony.
The narrative sits beside appendices and tables that reflect Neele’s professional world—new passenger routes, upgrades to lines, and the day-to-day work that kept trains moving. Expect portraits of colleagues, moments of ceremony, and a sense of how railway service touched lives beyond timetable pages.
- Behind-the-scenes look at royal railway travel and passenger service in Victorian Britain.
- Personal anecdotes from a long career, including honors, retirements, and key colleagues.
- Insight into railway operations, safety issues, and the daily work of keeping a vast network running.
- Reference material and appendices that document lines, openings, and the evolution of the system.
Ideal for readers of railway history, memoir lovers, and those curious about Victorian Britain and its transport networks.