Lost Lines: Joint Railways

The joint railway lines of Britain have always provided a particular fascination for rail enthusiasts. These were railways that were operated by more than one company, and their origins lay in the hundreds of independent companies created in the nineteenth century that survived the Grouping in 1923 into the Big Four—GWR, LNER, LMS and SR—and maintained their independent status until nationalization after World War 2. The Midland & Great Northern and Cheshire Lines Committee was the largest of the Joint Railways and they operated their own rolling stock. More than fifty railway companies were not included in the Grouping, and each retained its unique atmosphere well into living memory. This latest volume in the highly popular Lost Lines series uncovers what can still be seen of the Joint Lines today with a detailed description and a host of historic and contemporary photographs as well as maps and memorabilia.