Signalman's Trilogy
Will be published approx. on 15. January 2016
Book
Paperback/Softback
448 pages
978-1-4456-5622-9 (ISBN)
Description
Adrian Vaughan, born in Reading in January 1941, fell in love with the entire spectacle of the steam railway. It was the Greatest Free Show on Earth. It had drama, it had wonderful peace and relaxation, it was musical and it had poetry - to those lucky enough to be able to appreciate it.
Signalman's Morning is the first of a trilogy tracing a love affair with the coal-fired railway, from love at first sight in 1945 to divorce in 1975. In Signalman's Twilight, the second part of his trilogy, Adrian continues the story of his railway life in rural West Berkshire, moving from Uffington signal box to that at Challow early in 1962. Signalman's Nightmare is the third volume of Adrian Vaughan's memories of his career on the Western Region of British Railways. The book begins in 1962 at Challow. For three years he worked at Uffington, and from Uffington he moved to Oxford's signal boxes in 1968. In 1973, assailed once more by automation, he headed westwards into Somerset. The Somerset Railway was idyllic but times they were a-changin'. Another automation scheme was impending, Adrian had no intention of taking up a post in that and then, in the sweltering heat of the summer of '75 he made one last mistake ...
Signalman's Morning is the first of a trilogy tracing a love affair with the coal-fired railway, from love at first sight in 1945 to divorce in 1975. In Signalman's Twilight, the second part of his trilogy, Adrian continues the story of his railway life in rural West Berkshire, moving from Uffington signal box to that at Challow early in 1962. Signalman's Nightmare is the third volume of Adrian Vaughan's memories of his career on the Western Region of British Railways. The book begins in 1962 at Challow. For three years he worked at Uffington, and from Uffington he moved to Oxford's signal boxes in 1968. In 1973, assailed once more by automation, he headed westwards into Somerset. The Somerset Railway was idyllic but times they were a-changin'. Another automation scheme was impending, Adrian had no intention of taking up a post in that and then, in the sweltering heat of the summer of '75 he made one last mistake ...
Reviews / Votes
'This trilogy is a storehouse of signalling stories... In short, excellent read and a memorable record'. * Railway & Canal Historical Society * 'For any signalling enthusiast who has not already read them, they are a 'must', and will be a source of fascination to other railway enthusiasts.' * Stephenson Locomotive Society Journal *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Chalford
United Kingdom
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Illustrations
32 Plates, black and white
Dimensions
Height: 196 mm
Width: 124 mm
Thickness: 36 mm
Weight
431 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4456-5622-9 (9781445656229)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Adrian Vaughan was born in Reading in January 1941 and grew up closely in touch with the GWR and its nationalised successor. He was a volunteer porter at Challow station from 1953 to 1956, during which time he learned how to drive a steam engine and work a signal box. In 1960, after 41/2 years in the army, he joined the staff of Challow and became a signalman at Uffington a few months later. He was a signalman for fourteen years and an amateur footplateman for six. He produced his first book on his beloved railway in 1971 and has produced over thirty books to date.