Alnmouth to Alnwick, Coldstream & Berwick

By Roger Darsley and Dennis Lovett ONE of the latest publications in the Country Railway Routes series from Middleton Press, this volume offers readers an insight into railway operations in north Northumberland, stretching across the Scottish border to Coldstream.

Sections of routes that ran west of the East Coast Main Line (Alnmouth-Alnwick, Alnwick-Coldstream and Coldstream to Berwick) form the main focus, although there is also an explanation of local colliery and forestry railway operations, as well as past and present comparisons of Alnmouth and Berwick, both of which remain well-used stations on the ECML.

Ultimately, the tale of these lines was one of demise, but that by no means concludes the story of railways in this area of England’s most sparselypopulated county. The authors explore the history through to present-day of the Aln Valley Railway (which runs a heritage operation on part of the AlnmouthAlnwick route) and the 15-inch gauge Heatherslaw Light Railway (England’s most northerly steam railway), both of which are popular visitor attractions.

This book maintains the very high standard of the series. Illustrations include 120 archive and recent monochrome photographs, Ordnance Survey extracts, route maps, gradient profiles and images of tickets and timetables. GP

Published by Middleton Press www.middletonpress.co.uk

117 pages, hardback. £18.95