Benedict le Vay is a London-born journalist, author, as well as being a rather bad yachtsman and potter, who has worked as a sub-editor in major newspapers in Britain, Hong Kong and New Zealand. A father of two, his books have included Britain from the Rails and the best-selling Eccentric series for Bradt as well as Weeping Waters: When Train Meets Volcano about a New Zealand disaster and The Secret History of Everyday Stuff: Astounding, Fascinating or Remarkable Facts About Your Everyday Life,

Dedicated author page on the Bradt website at : [...]

TRAINSCOTTING!

Scottish superb superlatives

Who is this book for? A lot of people

How to use this book

Planning your trips

THE IRON MEN & THEIR IRON ROAD: FROM BRILLIANT PIONEERS TO THRILLING TRAINS

Waggons roll! Scotland’s oldest railway

The first ‘proper’ lines open

Thrills & spills in a dramatic century

Going loco on World Records

GREAT ARRIVALS: THE FAMED MAIN LINES

Getting to Edinburgh: The East Coast Main Line

Getting to Glasgow: The West Coast Main Line

THE CENTRAL BELT: EDINBURGH & GLASGOW

Glasgow to Edinburgh via Falkirk: The quickest & best route

Other Edinburgh–Glasgow routes: Shoppers, stoppers & shockers

The Cathcart Circle: Glasgow Central to Glasgow Central

The Fife Circle: Edinburgh Waverley to Edinburgh Waverley

Seaside excursions: Two great days out from Scotland’s two big cities

FIRTH TO LAST: EDINBURGH TO ABERDEEN

Edinburgh to Dundee: Bridges to adventure

Dundee to Aberdeen: Loch, dock & a smoking barrel

SCOTLAND GOES ON HOLIDAY: GLASGOW TO AYRSHIRE & DUMFRIES

The Glasgow & South-Western Main Line: To the land of ‘Oreo cows’ & a romantic anvil

The Ayrshire Coast Line: I’ll take the Troon train!

The Inverclyde Line to Gourock: In the tracks of heroes

BORDERING ON THE BRILLIANT!: THE BORDERS RAILWAY

South from Edinburgh: Home on the Grange

Onwards to Tweedbank: A Gala affair

THE WORLD’S MOST SCENIC RAILWAY: THE WEST HIGHLAND LINE

Glasgow Queen Street to Crianlarich: From lowland bustle to empty highlands in a few miles

Crianlarich to Fort William: A lucky horsehoe, the last great wilderness & a gorgeous gorge

Fort William to Mallaig: Outrageous beauty & concrete evidence

The Oban branch: Awe-inspiring ruins, a rock piano, the magical route to Mull & the Holy Islands

SUMMIT SPECIAL: THE HIGHLAND MAIN LINE

Inverness to Perth: Along Britain’s highest railway

Perth to Glasgow Queen Street: Stirling work

WHISKY & CANALS: THE GREAT NORTH OF SCOTLAND RAILWAY

The route described

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL LINE IN EUROPE: THE SKYE LINE

From feudalism to internet-age democracy in just 150 years

Inverness to Dingwall

Dingwall to Kyle of Lochalsh

WONDERFULLY REMOTE: THE FAR NORTH LINE

Inverness to Lairg: From the slightly Ord to the deeply loopy!

Lairg to Wick & Thurso: Two for the price of one

APPENDIX ONE: ROMANCE & RIVALRY ON THE RAILS

Poetic rails

Further information

APPENDIX TWO: STEAMY AFFAIRS

Steam railways

Steam museums

Steam operators