The Trains Now Departed

This is a wistful and sepulchral affair yet … The Trains Now Departed is more than just a lamentation for the days of steam and soot. * Times Literary Supplement *In elegant prose Michael Williams takes us on nostalgic journeys, reminding us - with smuts and smells - of what we have lost. – Michael PortilloRevel in what we’ve lost and wonder how on earth we ever had it. It’s a perfect book for a leisurely, long rail journey. If the scenery leaves you uninspired, then read a chapter, refresh your mind, and gaze once more from your window. – Philip Haigh * Rail Magazine *A nostalgic thrill for anyone with the least longing for the lost age of steam. * Press Association *Williams is to railway writing what his namesake Portillo is to railway television * Rail Magazine *Chock full with enjoyment – will capture and transport * Bookbag *An excellent read, and amongst the most enjoyable and entertaining railway books of the year…Underlying Williams’s prose is a sense of joy…and real knowledge of his subject. – Andrew Roden * Steam World ‘Book of the Month’ *Even if you are not particularly interested in railways, you will find much to enjoy in this book. Williams writes well and engages you in his passion – Toby Neal * Shropshire Star *A wonderfully evocative read – Andy Peebles * BBC Radio 1 DJ *From charming rural branch lines to the glamourous Night Ferry, the accounts in Williams’ new book are sure to give a nostalgic thrill to anyone with the least longing for the lost age of steam. Anecdotes detail eccentric lines where crews would stop services to pick mushrooms, then fry them on the firebox; luxurious carriages are lovingly detailed, producing a pang in anyone familiar with drab modern services. * Aberdeen Press & Journal *

Michael Williams is the best-selling author of On the Slow Train, On the Slow Train Again and Steaming to Victory. He is a journalist, academic and author - writing, blogging and broadcasting on railways and other subjects for many media outlets, including the Independent, the BBC, the Daily Mail, the Daily Telegraph and the New Statesman, as well as the specialist railway press. He is also a travel writer, having covered the world for a variety of publications. He lives with his family in Camden Town, not far from St Pancras - Britain’s most splendid railway station.

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