The Great Western Railway – quickly coming to be known as ‘God’s Wonderful Railway’ – was once regarded as the most advanced in the world. Engineered by Isambard Kingdom Brunel it was initially designed to connect Bristol to London and came to develop a distinct character all of its own, one of the many reasons why it remains a much-loved and popular area of interest.
This book traces its history covering topics such as the company, its engines and carriages, its engineers – including Gooch, Dean, Armstrong, Collett, Churchward and of course Brunel – as well as the battle of the gauges. Full of little-known facts and figures and with numerous photographs and memorabilia as well as a timeline, it is a tale full of record breakers and mighty achievements waiting to be retold to a modern age.
Dr Rosa Matheson is Swindon’s best-known railway author and a long-time enthusiast of GWR history. Her previous titles for The History Press include TRIP: The Annual Holiday for GWR’s Swindon Works, Railway Voices ‘Inside’ Swindon Works and The Fair Sex: Women and the Great Western Railway.