David Spaven Knihy

Written by an acclaimed railway expert, the first book of its kind to feature the story of Scotland's railways through maps.

David Spaven draws from both his own experience and from newly-unearthed archive sources to tell the story of the Far North Line. He also includes a collection of 80 photographs which have previously remained unpublished hand drawn maps from key periods in the line's history and eye-witness accounts of the line.

The main-line railway from Edinburgh to Carlisle known throughout history as 'the Waverley Route' ended its 107 year service in January 1969 under the 'Beeching Axe'. In a remarkable reversal of fortune in 2015 just over a third of the line re-opened reborn as the Borders Railway and re-connecting Edinburgh Galashiels and Tweedbank by train - the longest line to be built in Scotland since 1901. This third edition of the Waverley Route covers the royal re-opening of the line the subsequent controversies surrounding it and the impact the line has had on the borders.

From a new series which covers the diverse range of scenic Highlands rail routes. Each bookmakes use of specially commissioned maps and sketches historic commentary black-and-white photos memorabilia anecdotes and many more sources to explain the history of the line and the area through which the line travels.

David Spaven traces the birth, life and eventual death of Scotland’s branch lines, and outlines the controversial closure process through the unique stories of how a dozen routes lost their trains in the 1960s: the lines to Ballachulish, Ballater, Callander, Crail, Crieff, Fraserburgh, Kelso, Kilmacolm, Leven, Peebles, Peterhead and St Andrews.

Follow the development, decline and revival of Britain's railways through a unique collection of old and new maps, commentaries and photographs. The story is traced from early 'waggonways' through the steam era to today's diesel and electric railways.