History Books and Publications

Out Now: A new guide to the Swanage Railway, blending concise history of the railway and its impact with the practical elements of a guidebook.

A new history of the unique Wantage Tramway (Pen and Sword Books) delves into company archives and uncovers the story of the company, its people and its close relationship with the Great Western Railway. 

A new book on one of Britain's biggest and shortest-lived engineering companies.  Provides new insights from recently released official documents and company records. 

Published by Routledge (hardback and e-book), this book aims to establish the effect of railway building on local economies and individual sectors within those micro-economies. Ideal for students and scholars of the economic and social history of the Victorian period

28 Feb 2026: Explore 200 years of British locomotive innovation - steam to electric, triumphs and trials - uncovered through fresh insights into railway history and iconic engineering.

30 March 2026 Explore the Kent and East Sussex Railway with this heritage guide—uncover railway history, Colonel Stephens’ legacy, and top local attractions including museums, castles, and wildlife-rich destinations.

30 Mar 2026: Explore Britain's railway station history and their impact on communities - from Victorian rivalry and iconic architecture to post-war evolution and redevelopment. 

 This book tells the story of the iconic Lancaster in full, providing a comprehensive account of the design, development and operational history of the aircraft and its evolution into successor aircraft. 

Mud! The common perception of the First World War is of mud, foetid shell holes, broken remains of trees and villages, soldiers wading up to their knees in water in trenches, or climbing out to go ‘over the top’ and walk into hails of machine gun fire. If this was true, how did ‘Tommy’ get time to play football?