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.

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.

Scarborough History Tour offers a fascinating glimpse into the past of this famous Yorkshire seaside resort. Over the centuries, the original fishing town evolved to become a popular holiday destination. 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 Scarborough.

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.

A railway arrived on Anglesey in 1848, linking London and Dublin. It was the great railway engineer Robert Stephenson who ensured that the railway link to Ireland would run along the North Wales coast to Holyhead when he presented plans that overcame the engineering challenges associated with the route. A branch was subsequently built from Gaerwen to Amlwch after the LNWR absorbed the CHR. This Anglesey Central Railway was first opened in around 1865 and completed in 1867. The LNWR won the contract to carry the Royal Mail by rail, but it was the City of Dublin Steam Packet Company that carried the mails across the Irish Sea. The LNWR did, however, build a magnificent inner harbour in the 1880s. The railway still runs from London to Holyhead and boats continue to sail from Holyhead to Ireland, but today only the Llanfair P.G., Valley (which serves the RAF base) and Holyhead stations remain.

The stretch of railway line between Hull and Bridlington forms part of northern England’s historic Yorkshire Coast Line (or the Hull to Scarborough line), which runs from Hull Paragon to Bridlington and Scarborough and is around 55 miles long. Since it was opened by the York & North Midland Railway in the mid-1800s, the line and its many stations have maintained many of their original features and much of their charm.Today, the line is operated by Northern Rail and there is much to see along the way – from the busy city of Hull to the Victorian seaside resort of Bridlington, including picturesque villages and pleasant market towns, as well as wonderful sea and countryside views. In Hull to Bridlington Railway Through Time, author Mike Hitches takes a journey along this historic route, showing the changes that have taken place over time and features that have remained the same.

Despite its remote location, surrounded by the high ground of the North Yorkshire Moors, Whitby has featured significantly in history throughout the years. One of the earliest records of Whitby is from AD 656, when Oswy, a Christian king of Northumbria, founded the first abbey there. In AD 664, the town was the setting for the famous Synod of Whitby. Other significant aspects of Whitby's legacy include: the role of Captain Cook, who learned seamanship when based in the town; its role as a fishing port, and its important as a base for whalers; and the jet jewellery industry, which flourished in the second half of the nineteenth century. Today, Whitby is a major tourist attraction, and people come from far and wide to visit this picturesque town. More recent events, festivals associated with the town's link to Dracula, and the 'Goth Weekend', have ensured the town continues to thrive. There have been some inevitable changes to the town and its architecture over the years, but Whitby continues to appeal to and spark the imagination of so many people.

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

The North Yorkshire seaside town of Filey started life as an important fishing village. Whole families were employed in the industry and the fish caught here were transported to Lancashire and beyond, first by horse and cart and later by train. The railway's arrival in North Yorkshire had a dramatic effect, as suddenly fish was available to the workingclass masses of the industrial towns and cities. By the late nineteenth century, 160 fish wagons were leaving Filey station daily.As tourists began to flock to the town to 'sea bathe' for their health, hotels sprang up on the seafront, hosting many wealthy and distinguished Victorian visitors, such as Charles Dickens, J. R. R. Tolkein, and even royalty! Tourism has remained the lifeblood of Filey ever since. In the 1950s, the heyday of seaside holidays, Filey and the nearby Butlins holiday camp attracted thousands of visitors every year and day trippers still flock to the town today.

Famous as a seaside holiday resort, Scarborough was believed to have been established by Norsemen around 966 ad, although the area had been attacked several times before the Norman Conquest. Indeed, a century later the King of Norway, Harold Hardrada, and his army waded ashore, burning and pillaging as they went, and totally destroyed Scarborough. The town did not even appear in the Domesday Book of 1086.South beach is the most commercialised, due to the proximity of the railway station, and the harbour also lies on this side. In its heyday, it was an important port for fishing boats that would discharge their cargos on the west pier, the oldest part of the harbour. This fascinating selction of images old and new will surprise and delight anyone who knows and loves Scarborough.