2003-11-28 Choo choo!

Herring has seamlessly made the transition from rock-fuelled music junkie to coal-fired locomotive spod, and the rock age's loss is the steam age's gain.

This work revels in, and shares, all the passion and glory of an era when steam trains ruled the British transport network, and did so with a grace and majesty that has not been seen since.

However, there is one caveat to my recommendation. You must accept that after reading this book you will start using a notepad, wearing an anorak, smoking a pipe and standing at Clapham Junction in the freezing cold. However, if you already do all these things, then you have no excuse for not owning this.