In the latter half of the eighteenth century, Bristol was a flourishing city and required coal for its developing glass, pottery, sugar refining, brewing, distilling, soap making and smelting industries. A railway was proposed to connect the Coalpit Heath colliery to the harbour at Bristol. The opening of this railway took place in 1835, but an extension to Gloucester was soon thought necessary. The Bristol & Gloucester Company invited Brunel to be engineer. Over the years, a standard gauge horse and gravity-worked local railway developed into a broad gauge main line, probably making the Bristol & Gloucester unique. Colin G. Maggs, one of the country's leading railway historians, tells the full story of this line right from its inception up to the present day. As well as detailing its history, he describes the line, its locomotives, rolling stock and train services. He also details permanent way and signalling, while accidents, including the horrific one at Charfield in 1928, are also covered in this wide-ranging book, which features over 190 illustrations.