The Shropshire & Montgomeryshire Light Railway (Hardback)
The Rise and Fall of a Rural Byway
Imprint: Pen & Sword Transport
Pages: 240
Illustrations: 200 colour & black and white illustrations, maps & track diagrams
ISBN: 9781526776174
Published: 22nd February 2024
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The Shropshire & Montgomeryshire Light Railway, was one of the lines managed and operated by Colonel Holman Fred Stephens from his office in Salford Terrace in Tonbridge Kent.
It was a revival of the long disused Potteries Shrewsbury & North Wales Railway, a railway that went bankrupt shortly after opening in the mid 1860s and was left derelict for forty years.
The railway reopened in 1911 to much local rejoicing, however the company was in financial difficulties by the 1920s and withdrew its passenger services in the early 1930s.
During the Second World War the army took over the railway, constructing ammunition and stores depots along its entire length.
After the war the railway continued to be operated by the army until closed in 1960, when it was handed over to the Western Region of British Railways for demolition.
The author has researched the history of this fascinating bucolic railway over many years. In this new book he presents much previously unpublished information and many fascinating insights into the railway’s complicated history.
As reviewed in
Branch Line News - July 2024
As featured by
The Welsh Highland Heritage Railway's Journal No 203
"This packed book starts with a full map of the S&MLR showing all 19 stations and then goes on to offer a fully comprehensive history of the railway including its predecessor..."
Railway Ramblers - No182
"The book is very well produced and a product of considerable research and background knowledge from an author renowned for other work on narrow-gauge and light railways...Those with an interest in the area or in light railways generally will find the book an invaluable source."
The Railway Correspondence and Travel Society, The Railway Observer - June 2024, Volume 94
"Those that enjoy finite details will particularly enjoy the 40 page appendices which offer a wide range of information on stations and sidings, staff, figures from 1866 to the war office years, not forgetting the various Acts of Parliament and Locomotives & Rolling Stock with additional photos as well."
EPB Members Magazine - April 2024
"The book is well produced and a product of considerable research and background knowledge from an author renowned for other work on narrow-gauge and light railways.
The Railway Correspondence and Travel Society, The Railway Observer - May 2024, Volume 94
Those with an interest in the area or in light railways generally will find the book an invaluable source."
"The Shropshire & Montgomeryshire was one of those quirky rural byways which acquired a degree of popular attention out of all proportion to its role in the local economy. Indeed, it should probably never have been built, at least not as a passenger-carrying railway, but for its large fan club this book should be worth acquiring."
Industrial Railway Society Bulletin 1126, May 2024
"Production is a credit to both author and publishers. On the strength of this volume we can look forward to Peter Johnson's forthcoming book on the Tanat Valley Light Railway."
National Railway Museum Review – The Journal of the Friends of the National Railway Museum – No187, Spring 2024
"...this is a well researched railway history and arguably the author's best yet."
Welsh Railways research Circle Newsletter no 177 for Spring 2024
As featured
Welsh Highland Railways Journal Snowdon ranger No126/Spring 2024
As featured
Swanage Railway Magazine No 133 Spring 2024
"The turbulent years of this railway known as the Potts Line locally, has not seen its memory fade, while its adoration by locals and enthusiasts alike should see this book sell well."
Heritage Railway magazine No 317 (March 15-April 12)
"This nicely presented book by Peter Johnson looks at this fascinated light railway which was part of Col. Holman Fred Stephens empire of light railways which he managed from his office at Tonbridge In Kent. The original days of the Potteries, Shrewbury & North Wales Railway are covered right through to the when the Shropshire & Montgomeryshire was opened on part of the old "Potts" line in 1911. Highly recommended."
Peter A. Harding - Branch Line & Light railway Publications.
About Peter Johnson
Best known for his books on narrow gauge and Welsh railways, Peter Johnson first wrote about travelling post offices in 1985 and added the Post Office (London) Railway to his portfolio in 1995. Living in Leicester, he was employed in local authority fire service communications for 29 years.
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