Halsgrove Publishing: Spirit of The Isle of Wight Steam Railway, Isle of Wight, 9780857100085

Description
Reviews
Related

In the golden age of steam the Isle of Wight could boast an impressive 54 miles of railway. Opened in 1862, the line between Cowes and Newport was the first connection on the island and more branch lines followed. For many years the railways were an important contributor to the island’s economy and the variety of engines, carriages and wagons that worked on them, many bought second-hand from the mainland, gave it a charm much appreciated by visitors.

In 1923 all the lines became a part of the Southern Railway and the whole system was improved and modernised. The 1930s saw holiday traffic reach record levels and, excepting the war years, this trend continued into the early 1950s. As on the mainland, competition from road transport proved too much and as the 1960s dawned closure was proposed. By 1966 all that remained was the Ryde to Shanklin section and that same year saw the last steam train on that line.

However the trains that had remained on the island had attracted a devoted following and a group of enthusiasts collectively sought to save a locomotive and a few carriages for static exhibition. Initially their stock had been kept at the closed Newport Station but in 1971 all was relocated to Havenstreet and passenger services between there and Wootton commenced. Daily running during the summer season started in

1980s and the line was extended to Smallbrook, alongside the Ryde to Shanklin route, in 1991.

Having holidayed on the island regularly Mike Heath has had the opportunity to visit and photograph the line many times. From his collection of stunning images he presents this photographic excursion along the line which, with many of the society’s locomotives and all of its carriages having spent much of their working lives on the island, is truly a journey back in time.

For well over 25 years Mike Heath has enjoyed combining his hobbies of photography and visiting preserved railways all over Britain. In that time he has amassed a vast collection of stunning photographs covering all aspects of the railways across all four seasons, day and night. He is the author of more than ten railway titles, all for Halsgrove.

Imprint: PiXZ Books. ISBN 978 0 85710 008 5, hardback, 110x155mm, 64 pages. Published June 2010.

Reader Reviews

No Reviews For This Title.

Click to review this title

	GWR Didcot By Night - £14.99
	In this unique album photographer Mike Heath presents a collection of more than 140 images from his stunning portfolio of atmospheric night time scenes taken over a number of years depicting the real steam atmosphere generated by the only surviving original Great Western engine shed at work.
	Isle of Wight Address Book - £12.99
	Whether bought as a gift or for personal use, this Isle of Wight Address Book, with its superb pictorial reminders of the island, will provide years of pleasure.
	The Llangollen Railway - £12.99
	Not surprisingly the line is the most popular tourist attraction in the area, and this album by Mike Heath provides a personal photographic journey along its length, starting at Llangollen and looking at each of the stations as we travel towards the present terminus at Carrog.
	The Severn Valley Railway - £12.99
	Mike Heath’s photographic portrail takes a personal journey from Bridgnorth to Kidderminster and back calling off at each station en route. Through over 140 glorious colour photographs he captures the real atmosphere of this busy railway, revealing it to be, truly, ‘a line for all seasons’.
	The East Lancashire Railway - £14.99
	In this photographic journey Mike Heath has sought to show the reasons for the preserved East Lancashire Railway’s success and introduce those unfamiliar with the area to the wonderfully varied landscape that surrounds it.
	The North Yorkshire Moors Railway - £14.99
	A photographic journey with Mike Heath who ecocatively illustrates the reasons why the railway can rightly boast to being the most popular heritage lines in the country.
	The Welshpool & Llanfair Railway - £14.99
	For nearly ten years Mike Heath has been visiting the line and the beautifully landscaped mid-Wales countryside through which it passes In this photographic journey he has sought to show why this line, which is often missed by travellers heading for more well known destinations, is well worthy of a day out all to itself!
	The Paignton & Dartmouth Railway - £14.99
	Here renowned railway photographer Mike Heath takes us on a photographic journey along the Paignton & Dartmouth Railway. He highlights the diversity of the superb Devon coastal and riverside scenery through which the railway passes, the beautiful old world charm of its destination, Dartmouth, and shows why the area has attracted thousand of visitors each and every year since Victorian times.
	Embsay & Bolton Abbey Railway - £14.99
	In this book, with a selection from his portfolio of superb photographs, Mike Heath introduces us to the line, its historic locomotives and rolling stock, the stunning Dales’ landscape through which it passes and the many events and attractions held on and around the railway that combine to create an atmosphere of the rural branch line enjoyed by thousands of families and enthusiasts all year round.
	Isle of Wight from the Air - £14.99
	The superb aerial photographs in this book provided a fascinating overview of this historic island community, which these days provides a distinctive place to live for thousands, and for many more a place to enjoy leisure pursuits including watersports of all kinds, birdwatching, or simply walking the many island footpaths.
	Images of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Railways - £19.99
	Here are rare photographs, many of them taken by the author Maurice Dart, of main line locomotives and private and industrial lines, many of which no longer exist. Each is accompanied by the author’s own text, unique reminiscences of the locomotives that once ran on the westcountry’s extensive rail system.
	East Lancashire Railway by Night - £14.99
	Mike Heath's stunning portfolio of atmospheric night time scenes featuring many of Britain’s most famous preserved steam locomotives suspended in a railway time warp as today’s 21st century backgrounds are cloaked in darkness.
	Portrait of the Isle of Wight - £14.99
	The Isle of Wight is a landscape of infinite and fascinating variety and is captured here by Ian Badley in over 140 evocative and beautiful images, showing the island at its colourful best.
	Beaches, Bars and Blisters of the Isle of Wight - £9.99
	This book captures the unique charm and eccentricity of the island and recalls the sights and personalities author David Yates encountered along the way as he passed a variety of beaches, visited a number of bars and developed several blisters on his feet.
	Spirit of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway - £4.99
	Mike Heath has been visiting and photographing the railway for over fifteen years and here through more than 60 new photographs in a handy pocket-sized format, he captures the true spirit of the line, taking us on a photographic journey along the route and highlighting the reasons why the railway can rightly boast to being the most popular heritage line in the country.
	Spirit of the Severn Valley Railway - £4.99
	In this all new pocket sized photographic portrait Mike Heath takes us on a personal journey from Bridgnorth to Kidderminster and back.Through over 60 glorious colour photographs he captures the real spirit of this busy railway revealing it to be, truly, ‘a line for all seasons’.
	Spirit of the Llangollen Railway - £4.99
	In this all new pocket-sized album Mike Heath and his son Karl Heath have selected over 60 colour photographs from their respective portfolios to provide a stunning photographic journey along the length of the line capturing the spirit of the beautiful and dramatic scenery, wonderfully restored country stations and variety of motive power that combine to provide a wonderful day out for both tourists and railway enthusiasts.
	Sky High Isle of Wight - £4.99
	The superb aerial photographs by Jason Hawkes in this book give a fascinating overview of this historic island community, which these days provides a distinctive place to live for thousands, and for many more a place to enjoy leisure pursuits including watersports of all kinds, birdwatching, or simply walking the many island footpaths.
	Spirit of the East Lancashire Railway - £4.99
	In his latest, pocket size, album Mike Heath and his son Karl have sought to show the reasons for the East Lancashire's success and introduce those unfamiliar with the area to the wonderfully varied landscape that surrounds it.
	Spirit of the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway - £4.99
	In this pocket size album Mike Heath takes us on a photographic journey along the route which starts alongside the BR station at Keighley and climbs through the diverse West Yorkshire landscape to the line’s terminus at Oxenhope, highlighting the magnificent Bronte countryside.
	Spirit of the Welshpool & Llanfair Railway - £4.99
	The railway’s steam locomotive collection now embraces examples from three continents. Thus but with the retention, in working order, of the W & L’s two original locomotives and some of the goods stock together with the original passenger vehicles, the traditional Welsh rural railway experience is still maintained. All this is captured in this pocket sized album from Mike Heath which shows why this gem of a railway is well worth a visit.
	Cowes Week - £14.99
	With over 140 striking and immediate images, Dave Willis captures the excitement, disasters and triumphs of one of the sporting calendar’s ultimate events.
	Portrait of the Isle of Wight Coast - £14.99
	Starting and finishing near the Needles and Alum Bay this book represents a photographic exploration of the island’s numerous coastal highlights and characteristics, captured in all their glory through more than 140 images from the camera of Geraint Tellem.