The St Ives Branch Line: A History

In 1963, Flanders and Swann composed the song "Slow Train" about the proposed closure of railway lines. The St Ives branch, built in 1877, was not closed in the 1960s and is now one of the most scenic railways in Europe. This book explores the history of the line, including why it was built, how it escaped closure, and how it became a popular tourist resort. It also answers questions such as why the war departments of the world had their eyes on St Ives, why a heliport was proposed for St Erth, and how two young men ended up four miles from the nearest station in 1860.

Format: Hardback
Length: 184 pages
Publication date: 28 July 2022
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd

In 1963, the comedic duo Flanders and Swann composed the melancholic song "Slow Train," which mourned the proposed closures of numerous railway lines by Dr. Beeching. Among the destinations mentioned in their song is the refrain from St. Erth to St. Ives. Built in 1877 as the final broad gauge line constructed in the UK, the St. Ives branch managed to survive the 1960s and continues to thrive to this day, earning widespread acclaim as one of the most picturesque railways in Europe. How did this branch escape closure, and what led to its initial construction? Why did the war departments of the world have their eyes on St. Ives in the years preceding the First World War? How did a town once notorious for its pungent fish odor transform into a popular tourist resort in the UK? Did the Great Western Railway invent the Cornish Riviera? Why was a heliport proposed for St. Erth? Where did a 32-ton ballast digger end up in 2008? And how did two young men find themselves four miles from the nearest station in 1860?

This book, featuring over 100 images, predominantly in color and many previously unpublished, aims to provide answers to these and numerous other questions.

Weight: 1054g
Dimension: 225 x 287 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781399002004