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On the Slow Train Again

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On the Slow Train Again

By: Michael Williams
Narrated by: Michael Tudor Barnes
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About this listen

Michael Williams has spent the past year travelling along the fascinating rail byways of Britain for this new collection of journeys. Here is the 'train to the end of the world' running for more than four splendid hours through lake, loch and moorland from Inverness to Wick, the most northerly town in Britain. He discovers a perfect country branch line in London’s commuterland, and travels on one of the slowest services in the land along the shores of the lovely Dovey estuary to the far west of Wales.

He takes the stopping train across the Pennines on a line with so few services that its glorious scenery is a secret known only to the regulars. Here, too, is the Bittern Line in Norfolk and the Tarka Line in North Devon as well as the little branch line to the fishing port of Looe in Cornwall, rescued from closure in the 1960s and now celebrating its 150th anniversary taking families on holiday to the seaside. From the most luxurious and historic – aboard the Orient Express – to the most futuristic – on the driverless trains of London’s Docklands Light Railway – here is a unique travel companion celebrating the treasures of our railway heritage from one of Britain’s most knowledgeable railway writers.

©2011 Michael Williams (P)2011 Random House Audiobooks Engineering Europe Travel Writing & Commentary Western Europe Transportation Railroad England

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All stars
Most relevant  
If it wasn't for books like this, we wouldn't know about these sleepy and unknown lines still in operation, very well described so you can almost picture the journeys mentioned

Very well written and inciteful

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YET AGAIN as in so many of your offerings the "chapters" of this edition bear no relation to those of the original book, as reflected in the narrative. WHY WHY WHY can you not do a better job of adaptation which reflects the structure of the original? Are you stupid or just neglectful?

Chapters Wrong Again

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This is a lovely book outlining some of the lesser known journeys on the British railway system. It is not just for railway buffs. The author often alights from his train to talk to interesting local characters and explore the history of the areas through which he is travelling. He also does not fail to take a well aimed swipe at the vandalism of Dr Beeching who closed down so many lines in the 1960s.



The voice of Michael Tudor Barnes perfectly complements the subject matter. However I have one major criticism of the reader and that is the appalling pronunciation of some of the place names in the book. St Keyne pronounced as KANE rather than KEEN and Princes Risborough pronounced as RISEborough rather than RISborough were two of several glaring examples. It does jar with the listener and could have been avoided with a little research. I've knocked a star off for this.

Wonderful description of some lovely journeys

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Where does On the Slow Train Again rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Like Churchill's History of the English speaking people for Railway buffs !

What was one of the most memorable moments of On the Slow Train Again?

Both technical , descriptive and humorous

What does Michael Tudor Barnes bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

Very knowledgeable presented in an interesting and entertaining way... never bored with this book.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Really enjoyed the narrator helped to bring the descriptive passages to life.... listened to the book three times now

Any additional comments?

If you like railways , British countryside... and not Beeching .. this is one for you !!

Going to be visiting the journeys described....

Pure immersive nostalgia

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I throughly enjoyed this book. Whilst there is a lot of information about trains , the author gives historical and background information that puts it into context. I found it informative , interesting and enjoyable. The narration was clear and easy to follow.

If you love trains...

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The writing and recounting of the author's travels around Britain on neglected railway lines charms the listener with its mixture of scenery and wistful descriptions of a vanishing world. Recommended.

Charming railway diary

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This is well read and certainly made me want to travel the UK again. This is not only for rail buffs as there is extra interesting facts all along the way. The deep tones of the narrater fit well with the subject.

Excellent

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Where does On the Slow Train Again rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This book is for the traveller who enjoys the journey whilst gazing out the picture window at the wonderful scenery

Who was your favorite character and why?

Not applicable

What about Michael Tudor Barnes’s performance did you like?

He's very good with the anecdotes in the local dialect.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No emotional reaction, just sheer pleasure.

For those who enjoy Rail travel

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This book as it claims is not Paul Theroux revisited, but it is a very good enjoyable escape to parts of Greta Brittain

If you like train journeys this is it

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Who was your favorite character and why?

The text itself is entertaining and engaging.

What about Michael Tudor Barnes’s performance did you like?

The narrator cannot be faulted (apart from a few mispronounced places if I recall correctly!), overall, he reads well and his voice is a good match for the subject and pace of the book.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Why don't the audio chapters match with the book chapters??? This is the second book I have purchased where this is the case and I find it unnecessary and annoying (why 'carve' the audio into 'random' chunks instead of following the 'natural' chapters of the book?)

Any additional comments?

AUDIBLE, please indicate when an audiobook DOES or DOES NOT have 'real' chapters (in a similar way that Kindle books indicate 'real' page numbers!).

Audio Chapters do NOT match the book chapters

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