Paul Shannon is, without doubt, one of the foremost experts on BR and post-privatisation rail-borne freight traffic, and these two new titles are crammed full of detailed information about the various flows and operations that have occupied train operators from the 1980s to the present day.

Both geographical areas - North West England and Wales and the Borders - have been rich in variety of originating, terminating and passing freight, with mineral, steel, oil, chemical and various other traffics. While there’s still much to see today, it’s also sobering to remember how much freight has been lost over the past 40years, and how many routes and locations are almost unrecognisable these days.

The photography throughout is excellent and, for the modeller, there are countless locations that lend themselves to being reproduced in miniature - the stone terminal at Northenden is just one example. The images also reveal lots of fascinating details concerning traction and rolling stock, from classic BR diesels to the ubiquitous ‘66’. Highly recommended.

Model Rail Magazine