© Peter Johnson 2021

Peter Johnson Railway historian, journalist, photographer

Books

Peter Johnson’s first book, Rails in Wales - the Cambrian Lines, was published by Ian Allan Publishing in 1984. It set the tone for many of the books that followed, with the emphasis on a well-written text supported by a good range of illustrations.


Although many of the titles relate to Welsh narrow gauge railways, particularly the Festiniog and Welsh Highland Railways, there are also books about travelling post offices and trams and tramways.

The Snowdon Mountain Railway; Pen & Sword Transport, 2021

The Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway: The story of a Welsh rural byway; Pen & Sword Transport, 2020

The Vale of Rheidol Railway: The story of a narrow gauge survivor; Pen & Sword Transport, 2020

The Corris Railway: The story of a Mid-Wales Slate Railway; Pen & Sword Transport, 2019

Rebuilding the Welsh Highland Railway: Britain’s longest heritage line; Pen & Sword Transport, 2018

Festiniog Railway: From Slate Railway to Heritage Operation 1921-2014; Pen & Sword Transport, 2017

Festiniog Railway: The Spooner Era and After 1830-1920; Pen & Sword Transport, 2017

Narrow Gauge Lines of the British Isles; Ian Allan Ltd, 2015

The Cambrian Railways - a new history; Oxford Publishing Co, 2013

Narrow Gauge Railways; Shire Publications, 2013

The 40 Mile Railway - the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways; Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways; 2013

An Illustrated History of the Great Western Narrow Gauge (Corris, Vale of Rheidol Light and Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railways); Oxford Publishing Co; 2011

An Illustrated History of the Snowdon Mountain Railway; Oxford Publishing Co; 2010

An Illustrated History of the Travelling Post Office; Oxford Publishing Co; 2009

An Illustrated History of the Welsh Highland Railway; Oxford Publishing Co; 2nd edition, 2009, reprinted with revisions 2010

An Illustrated History of the Shropshire & Montgomeryshire Light Railway; Oxford Publishing Co, 2008

An Illustrated History of the Festiniog Railway; Oxford Publishing Co, 2007, reprinted 2014

Immortal Rails – The story of the closure and revival of the Ffestiniog Railway 1939-1983 (2 vols); RailRomances, Vol 1 2004, Vol 2 2005

The Travelling Post Office 1838-2004 (British Philatelic Bulletin Publication No 10); Royal Mail, 2004

An Illustrated History of the Welsh Highland Railway; Oxford Publishing Co, 2002, revised 2004, reprinted 2006

Welsh Narrow Gauge - a colour portfolio; Ian Allan, 2000

Welsh Narrow Gauge - a view from the past; Ian Allan, 1999

Portrait of the Welsh Highland Railway; Ian Allan, 1999, revised 2000

Isle of Man Steam Railway in Colour; Ian Allan, 1998

Festiniog Railway - a view from the past; Ian Allan, 1997

Heyday of the Welsh Narrow Gauge; Ian Allan, 1997

Mail by Rail - the history of the TPO and the Post Office Railway; Ian Allan, 1995

Celebration of Steam - North Wales; Ian Allan, 1995

(With Michael Whitehouse) Festiniog in Colour; Ian Allan, 1995

Alan George A Centenary Celebration; West Wales Publications, 1994

The Welsh Narrow Gauge in Colour; Ian Allan, 1993

Portrait of the Festiniog (Railway); Ian Allan, 1992

Railway World Special - The Welsh Narrow Gauge Railways; Ian Allan, 2nd edition 1991

(Editor) Railway World Annual 1988; Ian Allan, 1987

(With Rodney Weaver) Talyllyn Railway No 1 Talyllyn and No 2 Dolgoch (Great Preserved Locomotives No 6); Ian Allan, 1987

Festiniog 150th Anniversary - a celebration; AB Publishing, 1987

(With Rodney Weaver, Paul Ingham, Paul Rees as 'Taliesin') Festiniog Railway Locomotives; AB Publishing, 1988

Festiniog 150 - The history of the Ffestiniog Railway; Ian Allan, 1986

Trams in Blackpool; AB Publishing, 1986, enlarged revised edition 1996

Vintage Roadscene Special - British Trams and Tramways in the 1980s; Ian Allan, 1985

Railway World Special - The Welsh Narrow Gauge Railways; Ian Allan, 1985

The British Travelling Post Office; Ian Allan, 1985

Rails in Wales - The Cambrian Lines; Ian Allan, 1984


Use the form on the contact page to ask about the availability of signed copies.