Dominic Wells

Useful Ian Allan handbook, something between a basic training manual and an "everything you ever wanted to know but were afraid to ask". Wells explains, without getting into too much detail, how all the bits and pieces on a steam engine work, why they are needed, and how they are used in practice. The focus is on the equipment you're likely to come across on a British steam railway today, but a lot of what he says would be applicable more or less anywhere.

Unlike most books of this type that show more I've seen, Wells manages to give technically satisfying explanations whilst starting from first principles. He assumes no prior knowledge about railways or about mechanical engineering, but doesn't patronise the reader, or fudge the issue with things that look like half-truths. The level of technical detail is just about right for most armchair engine drivers; if you are thinking about taking a "footplate experience" course it would probably be a good preparation, but you would have to move on to a more detailed technical handbook if you wanted to drive or maintain steam locos in practice. show less