Fifty years ago it was still possible to travel to some of the former Southern Railway holiday destinations in Dorset, Somerset, Devon and Cornwall by rail. Since then, the ravages of economics and the rise of the motor car have resulted in many of these locations no longer being accessible by train and of those few that do survive, certainly not behind steam.
Beginning in Dorset, with a brief look at the ‘Somerset & Dorset’, the book then covers the area from Somerset to Devon with a wonderful portrayal of Exeter Central, before venturing further west through Barnstaple and towards Ilfracombe, Torrington, Padstow and Bude. Supplemented by a carefully chosen selection of images, all previously unpublished, this book is certain to conjure memories for those who fondly remember travelling on the lines, and also be of great interest to anyone wishing to learn more about the railway network in this part of the country.
