BOOK REVIEW: The Great Central Railway What Really Happened by John Palmer

This week’s book review will look at ‘The Great Central Railway What Really Happened’ by John Palmer which offers a unique and factual look at the railway’s business aspects whilst including stunning colour photography, fascinating archive photography and historical documentation to reveal its story.

The book measures 22.35cm x 2.79cm x 28.19cm and looks just a little wider than an A4 sheet of paper. This book is wonderful for the bookshelf as a reference tool but even better as a coffee table book due to its eye-catching photography. The book is made up of 343 pages of content.

The book’s cover price is £40 and can be purchased via Pen & Sword and is also available on Amazon for £27.99.

The book provides a thoroughly researched and detailed look at the former Great Central Railway focusing on its life, times and more interestingly its business side to reveal a fact-based look at what really happened. The book is also wonderfully illustrated with colour, black and white photography and historical documentation bringing a welcome dose of nostalgia and in turn bringing the story to life.

The book features a contents page, acknowledgements, information relating to the maps, illustrations, diagrams and photographs within, a detailed glossary of terms, a preface and a foreword before getting stuck into Sir Edward Watkin’s time at the GCR.

Photography and illustrations/maps are featured on most pages of chapter-based content and includes information about the majority when not self-explanatory. The book finishes with a conclusion and then 27 pages dedicated to 9 appendixes, a bibliography and an index.

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In summary, the book offers an incredible reference source for any GCR enthusiast or for anyone with an interest in transport history offering a unique blend of research and nostalgia. The book covers the railway from its earliest days and works right through to the incredible work and dedication carried out by volunteers in order to save part of the line in Leicester.

The book can be purchased at Pen & Sword or at Amazon.

RailAdvent Plus members get 25% off books at Pen and Sword – if you would like to find out more, please click here.

We would like to thank Pen & Sword for providing RailAdvent with a copy of the book to review.