From Trevithick’s early steam locomotive and Stephenson’s Rocket to today’s high-speed bullet trains, the story of rail is the story of the modern world.

Long before cars and aircraft transformed travel, the railway was the first great force to conquer distance. This richly illustrated volume celebrates over two centuries of railway innovation, tracing the locomotives and services that reshaped nations and connected continents. It brings to life iconic trains such as the Orient Express, the 20th Century Limited, the Flying Scotsman, Mallard, and the Shinkansen.

Featuring impressive photography and detailed illustrations, The Book of Trains explores every era of rail travel – from the age of steam and the golden era of luxury journeys to the rise of diesel and electric power and today’s high-speed revolution. An exploration of engineering ingenuity, this book offers a vivid guide to the machines and visionaries that shaped modern rail travel.