The iconic South Devon line runs for 7 miles through some fine riverside scenery alongside the River Dart in Devon. Formerly known as the Dart Valley Railway, until taken over by volunteers from its previous commercial owner in 1991, the line has steadily built on its strengths and has now gathered an excellent fleet of GWR locomotives and carriages creating an almost unrivalled atmosphere of the classic Great Western branch line.

The line follows the course of the fast flowing River Dart throughout its 7 miles, with many fine views of the river to be had from passing trains, from the mainline junction at Totnes through Staverton to Buckfastleigh on the edge of the Dartmoor National Park.

Don Bishop has captured the line through many visits and photographic charter events over the last 14 years.A number of the scenes he depicts are so close to the line in the 1950s that even the same engines are shown still at work today.A particular emphasis of the book is Don’s liking for “steam in the landscape” photographs showing the railway going about its business with the wonderful Devon scenery around it.Through around 150 magnificent pictures included in the book Don portrays The South Devon Railway at its best with the aim of encouraging the reader to visit the line if they have not already done so and contribute towards its ongoing success.

Don Bishop has been a keen railway photographer for many years and travels widely around the UK looking for that often seemingly elusive “master shot”. Nowadays working professionally as a freelance photographer, concentrating on his steam and UK landscape images, Don has an extensive collection of images of the UK steam scene and regularly has work published in magazines. He also runs workshop days for people to learn about his techniques in getting quality landscape and steam railway photographs.Through his Steam Recreations brand he has organised many private photographic charter events at steam railways around the UK, including the South Devon line, in an attempt to recreate scenes long past, with a particular emphasis on the 1950/60s. He is the author of The West Somerset Railway, also in the Halsgrove Railway Series.

Imprint: Halsgrove. ISBN 978 1 84114 919 6, hardback, 214x230mm, 144 pages. Published July 2009.