Devon & Cornwall Railfreight
THIS IS a 208-page hardback book which, as its title suggests, looks at the rail freight in Devon and Cornwall, two counties popular with enthusiasts and photographers alike. It’s a ‘words and picture’ book and there are 17 fairly detailed chapters supported by a mix of images from the steam era through to the modern day, with an understandable reliance on diesel images. And it’s not all china clay by any stretch of the imagination! There are sections on Speedlink wagonloads, milk, coal, and others.
One thing that really stands out about this book is the high-quality paper, and that goes a long way to making it a much better product. I’m not so keen on the pages not being white – they are a pale green – but that’s a matter of personal choice and it certainly doesn’t especially detract from the content on what is a fascinating subject. At £40, it’s not the cheapest book you’ll ever see but, as I say, it is a quality product and you have to pay for quality that will last. There are some fantastic pictures included, such as Class 22s on milk trains, Hymeks at Hemyock, and as well as loco shots, there are a good few of the infrastructure and the wagons, not to mention some of the industrial shunters used in the area. An excellent book for sure!