Footsteps of the Celts by Rail

A true rail enthusiast, William Bleasdale has produced an enthusiastic travelogue of his three journeys through Ireland and Scotland by rail. Profusely illustrated, the book is designed to appeal to rail buffs, historians, holiday-makers and armchair travellers alike.

From steam trains to intercity services, from busy main lines to tiny sections of track restored and maintained by enthusiasts, the wide range of railways to be enjoyed in each of these two countries is explored. William Bleasdale also takes the reader on his many detours by road and ferry to see various places of interest. He gives detailed descriptions of the varied and beautiful scenery he encounters, from the bleak splendour of north-east Scotland, to the shores of western Ireland. His fascination with the history of the places he visits comes across in the wealth of detail in these pages. But above all, his knowledgeable account of railways past and present underpins the travelogue ? the voice of an ex-railway man whose passion for the locomotives is as strong as ever.