The Wellington, Much Wenlock & Craven Arms Railway

By Adrian Knowles

AUTHOR Adrian

Knowles begins this extensive illustrated history by recalling how a single photograph in a dog-eared copy of The

RM ultimately led him to find out more about the

Much Wenlock & Craven Arms Railway, which evolved through the efforts of five different companies. While the Great Western Railway is undoubtedly the best-known of these, the book does not scrimp on detail regarding the other parties involved.

It is meticulously-compiled, featuring not only photographs, letters and architectural drawings, but also three paintings by railway artist Sean Bolan.

People are as much a part of any railway story as the route and the trains so it was refreshing to see that much care has been taken to reflect this with a good proportion of illustrations reflecting the route’s social history.

The reader will find not only a good pictorial representation of the staff who worked on the line, but also learn the name and roles of those who worked tirelessly to keep it running in the late Victorian era through the detailed appendices which also include locomotive allocations, traffic details and passenger numbers.

Running to over 300 pages, this is one of the most comprehensive books I have seen in recent years. The journey and stations are extensively profiled, as is each era of the route’s operation and demise – including the last regular traffic between Madeley Junction and Ironbridge Power Station and hopes of a partial renaissance. GP