Isambard Kingdom Brunel gave Reading an inconvenient station with but a single platform; after four major rebuilds it now has 15. This book documents 175 years of growth; the proliferation of branches and connections; the 'railway mania' of the 1840s; the 'battle of the gauges'; competition between the Great Western, South Western and South Eastern lines; increasing speeds; and the current transformation to a safe, flexible and efficient interchange. It looks forward to electrification and the possibility of through trains to Heathrow, the City, Essex, North Kent, and even mainland Europe.
Retiring early from the civil Service Adam Sowan has devoted himself to researching the history of his adopted town. For much of his 35 years in Reading he has been part of an informal network of people who seek to demonstrate that the town is not just Anywhere: it has its own identity, history, life and culture. This, along with a lifelong interest in words and places, has led him to write a series of books on aspects of the town. He is an activist in Reading Civic Society, for which he edits the newsletter.
Title: All Change at Reading: The Railway and the Station, 1840-2013
Author: Adam Sowan
ISBN: 9781901677928
Binding:
Publisher: Two Rivers Press
Publication Date: 2013-08-22
Number of Pages: 102
Weight: 0.1800 kg