Sydney Leleux has put together this fascinating collection of his photos of the numerous narrow gauge railways that were still in existence across Northamptonshire in the 1960s, with a few of his earlier photos from the late 1940s and 1950s also included.
Most of these were industrial railways of some description, but there are also two pleasure railways both of which remain operational to this day: the Billing Aquadrome and Wicksteed Park railways.
Industrial railways featured include those at cement works, quarry and ironworks. Most of them used steam or diesel traction but the ironstone mine railway at Irthlingborough used overhead electric locos. There were also some less conventional types of railway, such as contractors’ monorails in Northampton, a ropeway at the ironstone quarries at Hanging Houghton, and haulage chain operated wagons at Whittlesea brickworks just over the border in Cambridgeshire. Most of the photos are of the railways in operation but there are also some views of track removal in progress, disused lines and withdrawn locos and wagons.
96 pages. Approximately 200 photos, mostly black & white.