The Railways of Manchester

AUTHORS: Andy Chard

PUBLISHER: Platform 5 Publishing

ISBN: 978-1-90943-184-3

PRICE: £40

WEBSITE: www.platform5.com

OVER THE years there have been many books written about the various regional UK railway hubs and several of these have covered the railways in and around Manchester. I must confess to having a soft spot for the railway network around Manchester, being brought up just a few miles from the city, but it also means that I know the geography and history of the railways around the region reasonably well.

One of the latest books to emerge from Platform 5 Publishing comes from the keyboard of Andy Chard. The Railways of Manchester is an epic tome and has to be one of the best-written books covering the railways around Manchester that I have ever read. The amount of detail, research and content is seriously impressive.

The book has something for anyone interested in the area, not just focusing on the main railway routes and their history, but also including industial lines, narrow gauge railways, the Manchester

Ship Canal, historic tramways and closures, as well as current developments such as Metrolink, railway preservation and how the modern railway network is shaped around the city in the present day.

The detailed text is accompanied by well-researched picture content, along with maps, tickets and illustrations. No stone has been left unturned in the preparation of this book. It’s a weighty 272 page hardback book and while some people may raise an eyebrow at the £40 price tag, I would suggest it is worth every penny. Recommended.