A commemorative booklet charting the history of Britain’s railways has been produced in Essex as part of the national Railway 200 celebrations.
The 45-page book was created and produced by the Essex & South Suffolk Community Rail Partnership (CRP), with funding from Community Rail Network, to commemorate 200 years of the modern railway in Britain.
The booklet is authored by David Gibson, a local rail enthusiast and station adopter for Cressing and Braintree stations. Greater Anglia, Network Rail, Rail Delivery Group and the National Railway Museum have all supported the project.
The pictures in the book were drawn and designed by the children of Great Totham Primary School, Terling School and Maltings Academy, Witham.
The book describes the beginnings of the railway and how it developed thanks to the ingenuity of George and Robert Stephenson. From there, it charts how the advent of the railway changed the world, the importance of the railway during the two world wars, and other key milestones in the history of rail in the UK.
500 copies of the booklet have been produced and are available on request from jayne.sumner@essex.gov.uk.
Jayne Sumner, rail engagement manager for Essex & South Suffolk CRP, said: “We are absolutely thrilled that, after months of research and development, the book is now available for all to enjoy to help celebrate 200 years of the railway.
“I am so grateful to everyone who helped to put it together – especially David Gibson for his knowledge and commitment and all the local schoolchildren whose amazing drawings and designs have added so much to the book and really brought it to life.”
Paul Webster, region support manager at Community Rail Network, said: “Community Rail Network is delighted to have been able to support the production of this booklet which is packed with facts, pictures, games and artwork from the school. This combination perfectly captures the Railway 200 timeline and presents it in an informative and engaging style that readers of all ages can learn something new from.”
Mike Lamport, Railway 200 community rail ambassador, said: “We at Railway 200 are delighted to welcome the publication of David’s timely work, coming as it does in this bicentenary year.
“We are grateful to Jayne and the Essex & South Suffolk Community Rail Partnership for this wonderful initiative, to Greater Anglia and our other industry partners for their support, but particularly grateful to the schoolchildren who are our rail travellers and hopefully, railway people, of the future.”
Keep up to date with future news, projects and events from the Essex & South Suffolk CRP via their website.
