Published Books

Over the years, since 1986, I have had many railway images published in various railway magazines and 3rd party books but getting a book published soley of my material has always remained on my bucket list. It has been a wish of mine to have at least one book published but for one reason or another, it seem it was not going to happen. Then on my birthday in April 2017, I received an e/mail from a publishing company asking if I would be interested in compling a book on 'Merseyside Traction'? They had seen my Flickr site and thought I would be the ideal person to complete the project. The rest of the story is history as the book was released in April 2018.
My first book 'Merseyside Traction' had been well received and the publishers agreed on another three books covering other subjects. First of these covered my earlier interest in preserved steam in the United Kingdom, including my close interest in the Llangollen Railway during the late 1980's and 1990's. This book was entitled 'The Llangollen Railway in the late Twentieth Century' and was released in July 2019. My third book follows on the theme of preserved steam covering the 'East Lancashire Railway in the 1990's' which was released in October 2021. A fourth book was planned covering the current modern scene entitled 'North and West Cheshire Traction' but no longer forthcoming at this current time due to change of heart by the author.

In the meantime, I have also produced two 'personal' books via Blurb Books UK. The first book being a compilation of railway images taken on two visits to Canada in 2007 and 2008. The images are just a personnal record of what I viewed while on holiday with my wife and the book is entited 'Canada by Rail' which includes some images taken in Chicago too. The secord book entitled 'Black and White RAIL REFLECTIONS - Volume One, Merseyside in the 1980's' which is a collection of my better 35mm monchrome film images of the modern scene in the 1980's. Both books are just in my opinion a more pracitical way as a keep sake of a personal photographic of railway images rather than being kept in a box or a family album. Hopefully more will follow.

The 185 images in this book give an overview from the last twenty years plus (upto 2018) of the variety of passenger and freight trains, including motive power, that have travelled in and out of Merseyside. Covering the main lines, including the LNWR line to Runcorn; L and MR line; CLC line to Warrington Central; and yes, surprisingly, a small section of the WCML too. Other lines feature too, including the extensive Merseyrail system, along with the Bootle Branch line, as well as the Prescot to St Helens Central line and also the Kirkby to Rainford Junction line.

This book shows the progress of the preserved line during the latter parts of the late twentieth century, including up to 2003. The 175 photos included provide a brief view of the line as it wanders through the beautiful Dee Valley, showing the various ex-British Railways steam and diesel locomotives hauling an array of trains that have operated on the line as the railway expanded from Llangollen to Berwyn, Deeside Halt, Glyndyfrdwy and ultimately 8 miles on to Carrog.

Hoover and click on the relevant book cover for more information and potential purchase.

A collection of 130 chosen railway images covering my two holidays to Canada in 2007 and 2008. Various locations and traction are covered including some taken in Chicago.

A book of my personal encounters and observations of photographing on B&W film the local railway scene in 1980's in my first 10 years in owning a 35mm camera. Numerous subjects are covered through out the 130 images and gives a flavour of the British Rail 'blue' scene in Merseyside at that time.