| Synopsis: |
From the very start, when George Stephenson's famous Rocket knocked over and killed a government minister at the opening of the Liverpool to Manchester line in 1830, the world's railways have given rise to intriguing stories. In this fascinating book, updated with a new selection of tales, railway buff Tom Quinn explores the bizarre side of train travel, featuring weird weather conditions, audacious robberies, hair-raising accidents, vanishing passengers, an infestation of maggots and a mysterious missing mummy. From the dawn of rail travel, when speeds of 15mph were considered dangerous to health and people mistook engines for fire-breathing demons, through the Victorian heyday of royal trains and seaside specials to today's more prosaic leaves on the line, this whistlestop tour through railways' long and storied history is the perfect gift for armchair travelers, history fans and trainspotters. |