This book celebrates the bicentenary of the opening of the Stockton & Darlington Railway by looking, not at locomotives, but at the rolling stock behind them, both passenger vehicles and goods wagons. 1825 saw the first train load of passengers hauled by a steam locomotive, but it was an experience not to be immediately repeated, as the Stockton & Darlington passenger service after the opening ceremony was by a horse-drawn stage coach. It was not long, however, before steam took over on other lines. At first, travel was basic – the first class had closed carriages, second class open carriages with a canopy for cover, while the third class were little more than goods wagons with seats. The book traces the development of carriages over the years with increasing levels of comfort – taking the story right up to the present day. There are sections on the special trains, the most glamorous side of travel, as well as the familiar everyday coaches. It also looks as the experience of train travel over the years, including a section on accidents. Freight movement has also changed with the times, from the days when trains were made up of loose-coupled wagons to the container trains of today. There is a last look at the railway past and the preserved railways that recreate the age of steam.

Anthony Burton is a professional author who specialises in the history of transport and technology. He has written several books on canal and maritime history. He has travelled extensively round the British canal and river system in a variety of different craft. He wrote and presented the BBC TV series The Past Afloat, looking at historic vessels and has also written a history of British shipbuilding. His previous works on textiles include books on silk and cotton and he wrote and presented the BBC TV series “The Rise and Fall of King Cotton”. He is a founder member and former chair of the Stroudwater Textile Trust.