Suffolk Steam Railways

Head back to England during the glorious days of steam and enjoy this remarkable collection of photographs of Suffolk railways. From as far back as 1860 through the end of the steam era, these images capture the trains themselves, shunting with horses, loading at the docks, the crews, the stations, and accidents and their aftermaths. The lines covered are predominantly in East Suffolk, including both the main lines and some that were closed long ago. The unique perspective the pictures offer derives from the fact that many of the photographs were taken by people intimately related with those stations and trains, including the staff photographer of the famous Ipswich engineering firm, Ransomes, Sims & Jefferies, and the legendary shedmaster at the Ipswich loco shed. It's hard to overestimate the importance that railways had in East Anglia during this period for both transportation and employment. Photographs of passengers from what was then called Third Class reveal how embedded class was in society, especially throughout the early days of steam. However, you may be surprised to see how neatly they were dressed, suggesting a formality and reverence for rail travel that you may struggle to find in most places now! Likewise, the pictures of venues such as Ipswich Station are of special interest, displaying the old-fashioned Victorian architecture in peak condition, evoking both the practicality and refinement of the age. Regular users of that transport link will be intrigued to compare it with the modern building, seeing just how much-or how little-has changed. All of the images in this collection are accompanied by thoroughly researched captions, with which the author was assisted by local experts, including the Chairman of the Ipswich Transport Society. These provide key dates and details of the various services depicted, including how they were altered through time. David Kindred's passion for photography and photographic restoration means that some previously-faded or damaged pictures, which might otherwise have been lost, have instead been preserved for the benefit of future generations. For any Anglophile or train enthusiast, this is a must-own trip into history.