Railway Adventure
Re-issued by The History Press in January 2010.
Re-published by Sutton Publishing in 1971 and 1992.
Published by Pan in paperback in 1962.
Further editions by David & Charles, Phoenix House in 1961.
First published by Constable in 1953.
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Rolt was one of a small group of amateur railwaymen who made their dream of running their own railway come true and his graphic and often amusing account of this unique achievement is a record of individual enterprise and creative effort, as refreshing as it is rare.
"Railway Adventure is a very full and fair account of the first two years of the world's first successful take-over and restoration of a moribund railway by enthusiasts and volunteers. The main object of the book at the time was, of course, to help publicise and assist the Talyllyn Railway Preservation Society’s cause. In this it succeeded ...... Tom's cause was, as it turned out ... to reverse the fashion to centralise and nationalise; to restore the tradition of self-supporting local concerns in which people could take legitimate pride and achievement. To get away from conformity and dependence. In fact to work towards some of the ideals that were later grouped under the banner 'small is beautiful', but more than that: to enlarge the duty, and joy, of living. The world has begun to change, and it is moving now in Tom’s direction."
John Snell, in his foreword to the 1992 edition
