Yeovil - 150 Years of Railway History

New book launched July 2007

80 pages of which 76 contain a single black & white image each, together with colour covers. Derek Phillips has published this book to mark the 40th anniversary of the ending of steam on the Southern Region of British Railways. Many photographs have not been published before and Derek has added a comment or memory in the caption to many.
PUBLISHED BY FOOTPLATE PUBLISHING LTD 2007. Price Ł14.99
If you would like a copy but cannot come to the Shop (open Sunday mornings), please get in touch by CLICKING here and we will be pleased to advise the cost of posting a copy to you.
To ensure you do not have a wasted trip (as we do sell out from time to time) you may wish to email us to reserve a copy.

New book launched July 2007

322 pages in the second of the series covering the railway from Salisbury to Yeovil (the first covered Basingstoke to Salisbury). The authors say that the book has been a long time in preparation and you can understand why. It is full of facts, plans and pictures, many of which are rare/not previously published.
PUBLISHED BY IRWELL PRESS LTD. Price Ł24.95
If you would like a copy but cannot come to the Shop (open Sunday mornings), please get in touch by CLICKING here and we will be pleased to advise the cost of posting a copy to you.
To ensure you do not have a wasted trip (as we do sell out from time to time) you may wish to email us to reserve a copy.

New book launched July 2006

Footplate memories & personal reminiscences Yeovil to Taunton Via Martock, Langport West & Durston By Derek Phillips A4 Size Paperback, 144 PAGES 160 B/W Photographs (Price Ł17.99)

Book is based on Derek's footplate days working out of Yeovil Town Locomotive Shed on the Branch Line between Yeovil and Taunton during the 1950s/1960s. Relive the days of steam locomotives in words and pictures of Yeovil Pen Mill, Yeovil Town , Hendford Halt, Montacute, Martock, Thorney Halt, Langport West, Curry Rivel Junction, Athelney, Lyng Halt, Durston, Cogload, Creech Water Troughs, Creech St. Michael Halt, Taunton. Read about cows and elephants at Yeovil Town, Derailments at Hendford Goods, Pheasants at Montacute, Martock Gas Works, AND MUCH MORE.
PUBLISHED BY FOOTPLATE PUBLISHING LTD 2006
If you would like a copy but cannot come to the Shop (open Sunday mornings), please get in touch by CLICKING here and we will be pleased to advise the cost of posting a copy to you.
To ensure you do not have a wasted trip (as we do sell out from time to time) you may wish to email us to reserve a copy.

Book Launched 21 September 2003

YEOVIL - 150 YEARS OF RAILWAY HISTORY Few copies left.

Well known Railway Writer, Brian Jackson has launched his new book, published by The Oakwood Press (Price Ł14.95).

The book is A5 format, 232 pages of high quality art paper, which includes more than 180 photographs, maps and plans. The book has a colour laminated cover, and a square-backed spine.

This is the story of intense rivalry between the independent railway companies of the Victorian era and their ambitions towards the West of England. The broad gauge Bristol & Exeter Railway and the Great Western Railway, against the standard gauge London & South Western Railway who were held in a stranglehold for 18 years with its route to Exeter and the west by the local Salisbury & Yeovil Railway. Also examined are the many proposed schemes both feasible and impractical that appeared in the early years, not assisted by the topography of the Yeovil area which added to the difficulties when the three routes reached the town, making Yeovil one of those unusual and complex rural railway crossroads.

Fully explained is the removal of the broad gauge and the expansion of the system to its peak, followed by decline as the motor vehicle and bus appeared, the difficulties of two World Wards and Nationalisation. The Beeching Report, the reduction of services, the closure of the Durston branch, and the reduction of the Wilts, Somerset & Weymouth line to a single branch. The battle to save the once fast Salisbury-Exeter route, a racing ground for expresses including the 'Atlantic Coast Express' and the'Devon Belle' reduced to single track with passing loops and hampered by unreliable motive power, until a rethink on policy improved services in 1993.

Today both lines survive, albeit in reduced circumstances, steam specials visiting the Yeovil Steam Centre bring the few locomotive-hauled trains to the town. The history of Yeovil's 150 years of railways has never been covered in one book before, it makes compelling reading.

CONTENTS
Introduction
The Borough of Yeovil
The Race to the West and the Battle of the Gauges
The Bristol & Exeter Railway
The Wilts, Somerset & Weymouth Railway
The Salisbury & Yeovil Railway
The Yeovil & Exeter Railway
Growth and Consolidation
The New Century
The Grouping Years
Motive Power
Signalling
Nationalisation
Beyond Beeching
The Yeovil Town-Yeovil Junction Shuttle
Associated Bus Services
Sundry Working Arrangements
The Yeovil Railway Centre
Acknowledgements

If you would like a copy but cannot come to the Shop (open Sunday mornings), please get in touch by CLICKING here and we will be pleased to advise the cost of posting a copy to you.
To ensure you do not have a wasted trip (as we do sell out from time to time) you may wish to email us to reserve a copy. BACK