Living Steam

Less than 50 years ago, trains were routinely hauled by majestic steam-powered locomotives. These magnificent machines still exercise a powerful hold on our imagination, conjuring up the romance of old-fashioned rail travel and the excitement of human ingenuity pitted against the challenges of narrow passes, tight bends and fearsome gradients. Although the heyday of steam has passed, it is still possible to travel on preserved lines, heritage railways and industrial lines where steam traction is still in use. Many of these journeys have been made possible by the dedicated efforts of steam enthusiasts, who have struggled to acquire, keep open and refurbish routes that railway companies had earmarked for closure. "Living Steam" profiles 26 of these remarkable journeys, ranging from the popular Ffestiniog Railway in northern Wales to the revived national railway of Eritrea and the Changa Manga Forest Railway of Pakistan. Each chapter sketches the story behind the journey and details the locomotives that are in use. Illustrated throughout with spectacular photography of steam in action, "Living Steam" will be a must-have for anyone captivated by the romance of steam travel.