Book excerpt: Written by best-selling railway author Paul Atterbury, this updated second edition explores the closed lines of Britain's vanished railway heritage. Paul has uncovered the most interesting of these lines, retraced their routes, explored their relics, and looked back with nostalgia to the days when the railway was an essential part of country life. The text is accompanied by high-quality black and white photographs taken in the heyday of these lines, along with specially commissioned color photography of what remains today. There are also detailed route maps and information panels on recognized footpaths, cycleways, and nearby attractions of interest to railway enthusiasts.