Sixty years after a disparate group of railway enthusiasts came together in a remote corner of rural Wales to run a train service - a true story that inspired the Ealing comedy The Titfield Thunderbolt.

'Heritage railways' are a serious matter, bringing visitors, employment and a sense of local identity to regions throughout Britain. Bob Gwynne tells the story of this phenomenon and looks at the range of challenges that have been overcome to create the vibrant world of the Heritage railway that we enjoy today.

The book ranges from the origins of railway preservation through to 'new build' locomotives like 'Tornado' and shows how once-discarded backwaters of the national network have become flourishing enterprises, some of which are even now slowly being re-integrated into Britain's transport mix.