Fire & Steam cover art

Fire & Steam

A New History of the Railways in Britain

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Fire & Steam

By: Christian Wolmar
Narrated by: Christian Wolmar
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About this listen

 The opening of the pioneering Liverpool & Manchester Railway in 1830 marked the beginning of the railway network's vital role in changing the face of Britain.

Fire & Steam celebrates the vision of the ambitious Victorian pioneers who developed this revolutionary transport system and the navvies who cut through the land to enable a country-wide railway to emerge.

From the early days of steam to electrification, via the railways' magnificent contribution in two world wars, the chequered history of British Rail and the buoyant future of the train, Fire & Steam examines the importance of the railway and how it helped to form the Britain of today.

©2007 Christian Wolmar (P)2008 Soundings Engineering Europe Great Britain Military World Railroad England War United Kingdom

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Critic reviews

"A beautifully written, detailed (but never anoraky) history of two centuries of life on the iron road." ( Telegraph)
"An excellent book." ( Independent)
"It is written in a brisk, down-to-earth style (a favourite adjective is "daft"), and is enjoyably replete with bizarre details" ( Guardian)
All stars
Most relevant
I?ve always been a `railway enthusiast` ever since my school days, but not as much for the technical gauge?s and measurements, specs and performance, but more so for the love of the `thing` itself, the railways? This book is fantastically arranged and pieced together, offering a perfect account of the history of the railways merged with the explanations behind why we have the system we have today, who was responsible and why. The author self-reads this title, and his voice is compelling and alluring, you feel the man really did love the topic and that his whole heart and sole has gone into this one. and it really has. I would easily listen to this again and highly recommend to anyone, be they just wanting an overview from their beginnings to now, or a true railway enthusiast.

Fascinating & Compelling

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I love this book, you can tell it it written (and narrated) by an enthusiast. There is lots for a railway newbie, probably not enough for a true trainspotter? I found Christians' narrration hard to listen to at first, but after a while it grew on me, and I now think that it is a shame that so many male narrators sound the same! The only disapointment for me was that there is a lack of technical info, there is not very much that explains how the engines worked, and how they were improved, for me there is prehaps a little too much emphasis on the polictics and people. That said it is still very accomplished. Worth it if you have ever wondered about the history of our railways.

A gem

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The story is excellent and well worth listening to. Whilst the author clearly knows his subject vey well indeed I believe the audible version would have been even better if read by a professional reader. However, don’t let this put you off, the reader will soon get used to the authors reading style and the enjoyment will be in the content.

Excellent book

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This is mamouth listen and full marks for Christian for reading it himself. But the listener is rewarded with an engrossing train ride through the early, pioneering, days of Britains railways, the backbone of the industrial revolution.

A must for all historians of Victorian Britain

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Alright I am big rail enthusiast, but this is a book with a difference.

This is a history- social and economic- of the railways in Britain.

I always been a fan of Christian Wolmar's railway journalism and of his work as a Labour politician. But when I saw that CW was going to be reading the book, I wasn't sure if it would work.

But it's fine. You wouldn't employ him necessarily to do other people's book, but reading his own book, he just brings a sense of passion and enthusiasm. I want to read his other book now, but am a bit disappointed that CW won't be reading it !

Really good book- not just for trainspotters !

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