Tamar Valley Trains John T R Snell

JOHN Snell has not merely a wide knowledge of the railways, not only immense appreciation of them — rather he has a love of this form of locomotion. This is not just of interest to great numbers of folk today — almost 200 years after the laying of the first tracks nationally — but which remains crucial to the transport system and economy of the country.

Assuredly this knowledge and immense affection comes through in his writing, especially as 'Tamar Valley Trains' — an update of a book he published in 1997 — concerns that beautiful, greatly under-valued area where John was born and bred and in which he worked throughout a career in the service which spanned some 50 years, starting in 1948.

Thus he witnessed and was involved in seismic changes, ranging from a world dominated by steam to the diesel age, from the golden age of Tamar Valley railways in the 1940s, '50s and early '60s, to its present branch line status.

These were the decades when the main line, which ran through Bere Alston station, picked up passengers from the Cornish side of the Tamar who came via Calstock Viaduct on the branch line, and transported them — usually directly — to the major cities of England and Scotland.

Probably more importantly, it also transported the horticultural crops produced in one of the best — and earliest, crops-wise — market gardening areas of Britain.

Daffodils in the spring, also early potatoes, and during the summer, vast amounts of soft fruits, especially strawberries. This ceased with the 'Beeching axe', of course — and a thriving industry, employing thousands both sides of the river, was decimated.

The author captures this — the good years, then the sudden demise — admirably; it helps of course that he was there, was involved, working in booking offices on both sides of the river. Indeed, it is this involvement of the writer — the auto biographical nature of the publication — which adds greatly to its allure; the fact that so much of the nature and ways of the working of the Tamar Valley trains were not only witnessed by the author, but involved him.

Some of the events which happened on these railways did, of course, take place before his time, none more poignant — indeed tragic — than the accidental death of ten New Zealand soldiers, bound for the western front in 1917.

They jumped out of the train on the wrong side at Bere Ferrers Station and were mown down by an express train hurtling through on the other line. This horrific incident is marked at Bere Ferrers War Memorial every Remembrance Sunday, their names being inscribed on that memorial.

With his crisply descriptive writing plus the crucial ability to be able to make the technical readily understandable — indeed highly interesting — to the lay reader, John Snell has penned a fascinating, often thought provoking account of a railway service which has spanned the dozen decades between the Diamond jubilee of Queen Victoria and that of Queen Elizabeth II.

This, along with over 70 photos covering a similar period, make 'Tamar Valley Trains' desirable reading for railway enthusiasts, social historians and these who merely want an enjoyable read — in fact everybody.

'Tamar Valley Trains' by John T R Snell, published by BEH Publication (ISBN 9781841023465) at £5.95 is available at local bookshops.

TED SHERRELL