Mike Hitches – författare

Giving pleasure to rail enthusiasts, local historians and the general public alike this is a photographic history of the three railway companies that served Wolverhampton before nationalisation. Written by Mike Hitches, Born and bred in the town this is an essential guide to its railway heritage.

Planned by the Manchester & Birmingham Railway in 1845 - partly to antagonise the Grand Junction Railway - the Trent Valley line ran between Stafford and Rugby, passing through Lichfield, Tamworth and Nuneaton en route. Various railway companies were involved initially, but the line was soon absorbed into the London & North Western Railway, and became part of the West Coast Main Line. In his new book Mike Hitches tells the complicated story of the TVR in a clear and accessible manner, primarily through over 200 well-captioned photographs (including stations, engines, rolling stock, and the ill-fated 'tilting' Advanced Passenger Train of the early '80s, which was trialled on this line), track plans and maps. Sample shed allocations are included, as are appendices that examine various aspects of the TVR's history in more depth.

Warwickshire Railways is a fascinating account of the changes and developments which particularly characterized this stretch of railway. The struggles and battles between the various railway companies - the L&B, TVR, LNWR, GWR and NWR - for supremacy over some of the Warwickshire branches are here evocatively depicted by detailed introductory texts to each section. Archive photographs, some never before seen, period timetables, company advertisements and loco-shed allocations also add to the atmosphere and vividly conjure up a picture of a mode of transport that has, sadly, long gone. This nostalgic collection will appeal to train enthusiasts, local historians and the general public alike and is an essential guide to an important part of our railway heritage.

The railways which operated in Worcestershire were controlled by the Midland Railway and the Great Western Railway, whose struggle for supremacy had considerable effect on the development of railways in the county. The most important route through the county linked the great industrial centres of the Midlands and the seaport of Bristol, while lesser routes included the Birmingham and Gloucester Railway, Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway, the Severn Valley Railway, and numerous branch lines. The photographs in this book illustrate not only the county's trains and locomotives but also many of the stations, locosheds and locomotive building works, and the picture is completed with timetables and shed allocation.

A pictorial history of the railways around Stafford, Steam Around Stafford includes the Grand Junction Railway, the Trent Valley Railway, and the branches of the Great Northern Railway. Mike Hitches' evocative record recalls a time when these routes were busy with passengers, staff and freight, making mention of the modern system as well as the age of steam. The author looks in some detail at Stafford locoshed and the history of the private, Stafford based locomotive builder, Bagnall. The reader will find details of the locomotives Bagnall built, and contemporary records, some of which have not been published before. Illustrated with over 200 black and white photographs, plans and adverts Steam Around Stafford is an invaluable guide to a intriguing topic. Railway author Mike Hitches was born in the Midlands, and his informative captions will make pleasurable reading for rail enthusiasts everywhere.

Bridlington History Tour provides a fascinating glimpse into the past of this Yorkshire coastal town. With its bustling harbour, beautiful beaches and picturesque promenades, it is easy to see why it has become a favourite destination for holidaymakers. In this book, author Mike Hitches guides readers around its streets and buildings, showing how its famous landmarks used to look and how they have changed over the years, as well as exploring some of its lesser-known sights and hidden corners.This pocket-sized guide reveals how the town has altered and highlights the way of life for past generations. With the help of a handy location map, readers are invited to discover for themselves the history and the changing face of Bridlington.

The North Wales landscape contains everything from steelworks and collieries to national parks and seaside resorts. Thus, there was plenty of traffic to interest the various railway companies that would be established in the area. The main reason for a railway in North Wales, however, was to create a speedier link between Westminster and Ireland. Although the most important railway in North Wales was the Chester & Holyhead, the first to enter the locality was the Shrewsbury & Chester Railway, opened in 1846. The C&HR was opened two years later to connect London with Ireland via Holyhead. From these early beginnings, we explore the whole history of the railways in the area, through mergers and grouping, and the trains that ran on the lines, from 'The Irish Mail' to 'The Welsh Dragon' and summer excursion trains. Despite the 'Modernisation Plan' and 'Beeching Report', the lines to Holyhead and the Cambrian would, once again, see steam as preserved locos headed excursions from 1989 onwards, reliving those wonderful steam days. In Steam Around North Wales, Mike Hitches explores the railway history of the area in the glory days of steam. Days when the railway formed an important part of the infrastructure and thousands of passengers used the trains. Mike covers shed allocations, timetables and preserved lines in this well-illustrated book.

Explore this fascinating pictorial local history of Beverley through the sixties, seventies and eighties.