The son of the creator of "Thomas the Tank Engine" explores ten rural branch-lines with working steam-engines that are situated in some of the most beautiful parts of Britain: the Mid-Hants, the Kent & East Sussex, the Bo'ness & Kinneil, the Great Central, the South Devon, the North Norfolk, the East Lancashire, the Isle of Wight, the Llangollen, and the Vale of Rheidol Light Railway. These lines are all that remain of a once vast network that covered the country until most of it was swept away in the Beeching cuts of the 1960s. The book is intended not only for railway enthusiasts, but also for those who enjoy exploring the countryside and discovering more about Britain's heritage. Each chapter describes a different branch-line, the area in which it is located, the places through which it passes, and its history. The final section includes a complete list of all working steam-lines in Britain today. Christopher Awdry has been writing the Thomas stories since 1972, and is the author of other books on railway history as well being a regular contributor to railway magazines.