For many the GWR was synonymous with holidays by the sea in the West Country, but it was originated to serve as a fast railway line to London, especially for the merchants and financiers of Bristol. Its operations stretched as far as Merseyside, it provided most services in Wales, and was the main line to Cardiff, Bristol, Cornwall and Birmingham. This classic book was first published in 2006 and reveals the equipment, stations, network, shipping and air services, bus operations including Western National, and overall reach and history of the GWR. This authoritative new book, in series with "LMS Handbook", "LNER Railway Handbook" and "Southern Railway Handbook", provides highly detailed reference AUTHOR: David Wragg has written many books on railway, aviation and defence subjects, including 'Wartime on the Railways', 'The Southern Railway Story', 'The LMS Story, the LNER Story' and 'The GWR Story' for The History Press. He has also written on these subjects for The Sunday Telegraph, The Spectator and The Scotsman. He lives near Edinburgh. SELLING POINTS: . Timed for the 70th anniversary of the end of the Big Four railway companies - 6 August 1947 saw Royal Assent to transport act that created British Rail . Recognised classic book on the subject by expert transport author David Wragg . With a new introduction . Uniquely among Britain's railways, the GWR retained its identity from its incorporation in 1835 until nationalisation in 1948, becoming known by devotees as 'God's Wonderful Railway' 150 b/w illustrations