LOCOMOTION

A VISUAL HISTORY OF TRAINS

AUTHOR ALASTAIR STEELE ILLUSTRATOR RYO TAKEMASA PUBLISHER TEMPLAR PUBLISHING PRICE £16.99 (APPROX. $22.85) RELEASE 3 MARCH

For anyone with an interest in trains, this visual guide provides a detailed journey from the very first railways to the trains of the future. And while the visual elements alone are enough to give you a taste of how these vehicles have evolved, Alastair Steele’s writing provides a full insight into the purpose, use and statistics behind each transition. In Locomotion you will find out how wartime operations shaped today’s railways, learn how modern tracks have evolved to account for earthquakes and much more.

While this book contains no historic real-life photographs, the vibrant illustrations are a worthy replacement. Each one expertly portrays the dimensions, detailed features and time periods to give the reader an immersive experience across the ages. At the end of the timeline there’s an illustrated overview of the full progression in rail travel. This allows the reader to see the changes together in one image and appreciate how far trains have come. To finish, a list of record breakers displays the world’s most impressive and unusual trains and railways and where you can find them.