Normal service suspended! Bizarre and unusual stories, facts and curiosities across the formative years on Britain's railway network The formative years of Britain's railway network produced a host of ideas, activities and characters, quite a few of which now seem not only highly unusual, but sometimes little short of ridiculous. Weird schemes and designs, extravagant behaviour, reckless competition and larger-than-life characters all featured in the genuine struggle of the railway system to evolve. While the dawning of regulation and common sense brought about more uniform and responsible practices, factors like the weather and the innate complexity of railway operation continued to produce a stream of nonstandard incidents and outcomes, from wild storms to unusual equipment. This book, by ex-railwaymen Geoff and Ian Body, captures over 150 entertaining snippets, stories, and strange and unusual facts from an ample supply of railway curiosities. SELLING POINTS: ? New material collated by an experienced railwaymen ? Featuring the bizarre machinations of railways large and small ? With flamboyant and temperamental characters, storms, incidents, extreme plans, secret projects, telegraphic howlers, strange names and some startling facts about railway mania ? Illustrated with photographs and line arts AUTHOR: Geoff Body worked in the railway industry from 1945 to 1976 and has been writing on railways ever since. He has written a great number of books and articles over the years, including 'Railway Oddities' and 'Signal Box Coming Up, Sir!' for The History Press. He lives in Weston-super-Mare. Ian Body is Geoff's son and is also an ex-railwayman. He has joined forces with his father to produce this, his latest book. 60 b/w illustrations
