AJC
Western Thunderer
A disclaimer* - I haven't actually seen this yet and it isn't a railway book but since the industry it documents is one that is intimately associated with certain extremely well-known narrow gauge systems (the Ffestiniog, the quarry railways at Penrhyn and Dinorwig, for example) it sounds extremely interesting. The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales/Comiswn Brenhinol Henebion Cymru produce quite a number of books on various subjects relating to the historic built environment of Wales and, for the most part, modellers won't have encountered them which is a shame since they are generally produced to a very high standard and feature much that is useful and interesting. Full details are here:
http://heritageofwalesnews.blogspot...e-archaeology-and-history-of-an-industry.html
"The book's author David Gwyn, draws not only on the extensive industrial archaeology of the quarries themselves and the historic evidence of the stunning landscapes within which they are situated, but also on legal and company records, port books, local and national newspapers, trade journals, painting and photographic collections and parish histories to build up a picture of this distinctive industry."
The other key component is the Commission's photographic archive which is invaluable and at 291 pages with 243 high-quality illustrations, at a cost of £45 it's a substantial purchase (in every sense) but I would be surprised if it wasn't worth it for anyone interested in the industry.
Adam
* For full disclosure, I should also add that I have done some contracting work for the Royal Commission in the past, but that was about medieval battlefields...
http://heritageofwalesnews.blogspot...e-archaeology-and-history-of-an-industry.html
"The book's author David Gwyn, draws not only on the extensive industrial archaeology of the quarries themselves and the historic evidence of the stunning landscapes within which they are situated, but also on legal and company records, port books, local and national newspapers, trade journals, painting and photographic collections and parish histories to build up a picture of this distinctive industry."
The other key component is the Commission's photographic archive which is invaluable and at 291 pages with 243 high-quality illustrations, at a cost of £45 it's a substantial purchase (in every sense) but I would be surprised if it wasn't worth it for anyone interested in the industry.
Adam
* For full disclosure, I should also add that I have done some contracting work for the Royal Commission in the past, but that was about medieval battlefields...
