Birmingham & West Midlands Railway Atlas

AUTHOR: Joe Brown

PUBLISHER: Crecy Publishing

ISBN: 978-1-80035-146-2

PRICE: £25.00

WEBSITE: www.crecy. co.uk

AS WITH most parts of the country, the railway network around Birmingham and West Midlands is extensive, although nowhere near as extensive as it was following the railway revolution of the mid to late 19th century.

This railway atlas covering the area, compiled and produced by Joe Brown, is the second edition of the book, incorporating a number of changes that have taken place since the first volume was produced in the 2016.

The atlas covers the whole of the West Midlands areas of Birmingham, Walsall, Wolverhampton, West Bromwich, Stourbridge and Dudley, but also includes the surrounding towns and cities on the edge of the main area, such as Stafford, Lichfield, Tamworth, Nuneaton, Coventry, Rugby, Leamington Spa, Stratfordupon-avon, Bromsgrove and Kidderminster.

The maps are produced to a high standard, with colour code that is clear and easy to follow. They also

include the modern West Midlands Metro secondgeneration tramway, with the new volume incorporating the extensions to the tramway. As expected from a publisher like Crecy, the book is produced to a high standard, with the maps and information presented in an attractive and easy-to-understand format. I also liked the inclusion of a laminated bookmark, which also serves as a useful key to the map pages. There are no photographs other than those on the cover, but as a reference tool this book is a useful addition to any collection.

The specialist nature of Railway Atlas books means that it won’t appeal to everyone, but the author is to be congratulated on the sheer amount of work that has clearly gone into its production.

The A4-format hardback book is produced on good quality paper and for £25 represents good value for money.

AMC