A NEW BOOK will evoke memories for older readers of a relaxed form of travelling before the advent of motorways.

Herefordshire and Worcestershire's Lost Railways, may also encourage readers to make the acquaintance of the preserved lines in the area.

Railways came early to the area: the Hay Railway opened in 1816, although this line did not carry passengers and was horse-worked.

The first public railway in the two counties was the section of the London and Birmingham Railway which crossed the north-east of Worcestershire and opened in April 1838.

In the far west of the area there were some fascinating, bucolic rural lines which have all gone.

In retrospect, it might be thought obvious that these areas could never support a railway, yet they were promoted with high hopes.

Justifiably so, as the Kington and Eardisley line replaced the horse-worked Kington Railway which had yielded dividends as high as 31/2 per cent just hauling goods.

But circumstances had changed: in earlier times the area had looked to south Wales for its links as the natural line of transport by the river and canal led that way.

By the 1860s Kington was linked by rail with the rest of Herefordshire and on to London and the line from Eardisley to Swansea saw only two through passenger trains a day.

In the years leading up to 1923 there was a process of consolidation by which smaller companies amalgamated or were absorbed by larger ones, but in 1922 there were still well over 100 different companies in Britain.

In 1923 all but a few minor companies were grouped into four larger concerns by Act of Parliament.

These were the Great Western Railway (which continued in an enlarged form), the Southern Railway, the London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS - which included the LNWR and Midland) and the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER).

These four companies - often referred to as the 'Big Four' - continued until nationalisation in 1948.

Under British Railways a modernisation plan introduced in 1955 spelled the beginning of the end for steam on Britain's railways, while the Beeching Plan of 1963 saw the start of widespread closures of many minor, and some major, lines. This book brings them back to life.

Herefordshire and Worcestershire's Lost Railways, by Peter Dale, is published by Stenlake Publishing at £7.50.

For details of purchase contact 01290 551122 or order post free from 54-58 Mill Square, Catrine, Ayrshire. KA5 6RD.