Rails Through Barnsley - A Photographic Journey

[Poggy1165]

Books about the railways around Barnsley are like hen's teeth - although probably a bit rarer - which is a pity because it is, or rather was, a very interesting location with a lot of modelling potential. This book is what is suggested by the title, very largely a collection of photos, although there is a reasonable outline text covering the history and functions of the local railways. There are also some comparative system maps for various periods, the earlier ones of which would have benefited from having company ownership marked.

 

As to the photos, there are few that I have seen before, and they are generally reproduced in large format, in several cases taking up the whole page. The majority are from the BR steam era. There are a reasonable number from the diesel/electric period - including one that shows you can have blue diesels and fully painted pre-group no trespassing signs in the same location - and just a handful from pre-1948, of which the gem is the cover photo of a GCR 0-6-2 tank. The focus is very much on traction, but there are a few of stations and the odd one or two showing signal boxes as the main subject. Rather surprisingly, there isn't a single photo of a private owner wagon, although the Barnsley area was peculiarly rich in the breed.

 

This is a book worth having for anyone interested in the area, particularly if your focus is on the BR period.