To ride the highest standard gauge railway in the world and explore the rail systems of the Andes had long been a dream of the author's. In 2003, a tour operator's advertisement caught his eye and he was off. From the sturdy Baldwin steam locomotive to an abandoned 1918 Hunslet Saddle Tank loco, flatcars to trolley-buses, we are given a glimpse into the most remote corners of Peru, Colombia and Ecuador. Here we enter a land where time has slowed, nature fights with economics and wealth and poverty stand side by side. In this engaging, detailed and often hilarious account of rail travel in South America, the forgotten heroes of one of the harshest landscapes in the world are given a voice that will captivate train lovers and travelers alike. William Bleasdale lives in North Wales and developed a passion for rail travel from an early age. He enjoys meeting people from different countries and cultures and also writes short stories from which has come a short film on BBC2 about his early life. He spends a lot of his spare time as a volunteer with Victim Support.