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

A pictorial survey of freight trains, almost all images taken in the last forty years and of course all diesel hauled. Interesting to see the types of traffic that have vanished from railways though more recent pictures show what remains.

This book has the merit of commendably informative captions giving details of train loads and their handling so is a useful record of freight traffic.

Welsh Railways Research Circle Newsletter No.171, Autumn 2022

"Overall, recommended if you like diesel-hauled freight trains and views of recent industrial history."

Ffestiniog Railway Magazine - Winter 22