Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Before the Railway; Chapter 2 A Tricky Problem; Chapter 3 The Railway Exhibition; Chapter 4 Grandpa's Cunning Plan; Chapter 5 Surveying the Route; Chapter 6 Making the Track; Chapter 7 Constructing the Railway; Chapter 8 Finishing the Line; Chapter 9 Getting Ready to Open the Line; Chapter 10 Raising Steam; Chapter 11 The Grand Opening Ceremony; Technical Contents; Cuttings and Embankments; Spirit Level; Track Construction and Expansion Joints; Flanges - to keep the train on the track; Couplings and Buffers; The Boiler - How the locomotive makes its steam; Pistons and Cylinders - How the steam turns the wheels and drives the locomotive.

About the Author

Christopher Vine has always been fascinated by all things mechanical and electrical. In fact his first words were "Turn it on" and "Turn it off" which just about covered everything of interest. He started making things early on with his first working go-kart at the age of seven. It had a car battery and starter motor as motive power and a morse key as the switch. The next dangerous device was a motor bike made from a tiny child's bicycle and a lawn mower engine. The drive involved a large and vital pulley from his mother's washing machine. So started a lifetime of making things. The only thing he wanted for his eleventh birthday was a lathe. An old one was found for GBP 20 which although worn out did, produce a small stationary steam engine, a Stuart Turner No. 10. Whilst he is a Chartered Engineer, his great interest has always been railways, steam engines and, in particular, model engineering.

Reviews

"You have no idea how many hours my son has spent pouring over your first book...he is reading it by himself for the third time. He is just so motivated by these books. You are his hero...and by extension his mother's too!" Tamsyn M. "I am inspired by your book, I cannot wait to read the other three books. It makes me want to build a mini train. I like the way you explain how it all works." Yours sincerely Charlie H. age 7. "I have never come across a book with such a clever mix of information and fiction. Very child friendly." Richard Linford, Primary School Teacher. "My Son recently read this book and said it was Inspirational." Families Magazine.