Description

The Battle of the Railways, 1940-41 is a compelling and meticulously researched history book documenting a lesser-known but crucial front of the Second World War — Britain’s rail network. In the early years of the war, Britain maintained one of the most complex railway systems in the world. When the Luftwaffe launched bombing campaigns during 1940–41, their goal was to cripple civilian morale and disrupt vital transport infrastructure. Yet despite relentless air raids, the railway staff — signalmen, engineers, drivers, maintenance crews and more — displayed extraordinary resilience and bravery to keep trains running.

Authored by Matthew Richardson, a respected social-history curator, this book chronicles those critical months on the Home Front, drawing on archival records, eyewitness testimonies and operational details. With 224 pages and around 50 monochrome illustrations, it offers both broad context and detailed accounts of the heroic efforts by ordinary men and women under extraordinary circumstances.

Whether you’re a World War II historian, railway enthusiast, or simply interested in Britain’s wartime home-front resilience, The Battle of the Railways, 1940-41 sheds light on how the railway staff’s defiance preserved vital supply lines — often at great personal risk. This is not just a book about bombs and rail lines, but about human courage, solidarity, and determination in the face of adversity.