Track

The permanent way is a principal feature of all railways and this illustrated history investigates the origins and evolution of track, from the earliest wooden rails to the welded steel used today. The author looks at the engineering developments, at methods of manufacture, and at successful and unsuccessful innovations over the last 200 years. This work should be of interest to all railway enthusiasts.

Jim Pike is a railway enthusiast and researcher who has contributed to railway magazines and has worked at the National Railway Museum. His remarkable and highly praised book Locomotive Names: An Illustrated Dictionary was published in 2000.