Overview

This limited edition of just 300 copies illustrates the work of Network Rail during the past eight years to transform the Western Region from a diesel-only railway with track layouts from the 1960s and '70s to a modern electrified railway from Paddington to Cardiff and Newbury, with enhanced capability, new signalling systems and widespread equipment renewals, including the new station and flyovers at Reading. Using never before published photographs of the work both under way and completed, it provides a unique insight into the work involved. As well as covering the core section of the route between Paddington and Bristol, it also extends into Wales, Devon and Cornwall, emphasising the widespread nature of the work. As well as numerous photographs, it also includes track diagrams of new layouts, the campaign diagrams utilised during the big blockade works, and showing key stages of the works and milestones attained. This limited edition also includes previously unreleased photographs of this challenging electrification project as well as the extensive Crossrail works from Paddington to Maidenhead, supported by archive photographs on the lines and photographs capturing the human element of the works over the last eight years.

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9781857945430

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Paul Stanford joined British Railways Western Region in September 1984 aged 16. He worked in a variety of operational and commercial positions, joining Railtrack in 1994 at rail privatisation and working in front-line operations management posts. He joined Network Rail in 2002, working closely with rail freight operators to grow the freight business. For the last five years he has worked in Network Rail Infrastructure Projects on the Western Region. During his time in the railway industry he has been a qualified Guard, Signalman and Person in Charge of Work, and uses his experience to upskill others, including voluntary work for the Institute of Railway Operators (IRO), of which he is a Fellow. In 2015 he was awarded the Network Rail Aspire Award for outstanding safety contribution for his work in mental health and his part in preventing a rail suicide. He continues the mental health prevention and wellbeing work, and to that end royalties from this book are being donated to the Mates in Mind mental health charity. In his spare time he enjoys cycling, walking, cookery and the countryside and has just completed a degree in Railway Operations Management. He is married to Fiona, who has supported him during the preparation of this book, and they have two sons, Oliver and Toby, both presently in full-time education

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