Book Launch Unites Former Railwaymen For Plenty of Chat

Published on: 26 Nov, 2012
Updated on: 26 Nov, 2012

A number of former railwaymen were among those who popped into Guildford Museum for the launch of a new book about life on the railways in the days of steam trains.

Author Geoff Burch (centre), with, from left, Bob ‘Ben’ Cartwright, Charlie Hampshire, Dave Salmon and Pat Kinsella. They have contributed memories and photos for Geoff’s new book.

Author Geoff Burch from Worplesdon has just self-published his second book, Further Ramblings of Railwaymen and the museum hosted its launch.

A steady stream of people took the opportunity of buying a copy of the book, that’s hot off the press, and having it personally signed by Geoff.

The book follows on closely from his first title last year, Ramblings of a Railwayman, in which he described his time working on steam locomotives at Guildford’s motive power depot in the 1960s. This time he has gathered stories from a number of former colleagues – plus even more fantastic photos from the days when those much-loved steam engines were being withdrawn and scrapped as British Railways went about its much-needed modernisation plan.

Click here to read our full review, published recently.

Graham Richings was one of those who bought a copy of the book at the launch. In an email to Geoff he’s written: “As you know I bought your latest book as a Christmas present for my son Anthony who is just completing his driver training based at Farnham. Hope you had a good day at the signing. If just after 11am was anything to go by then you must have been very pleased. I took the chance to read the book before we wrapped it up and I have to say it was really good and the quality of the whole thing was excellent.”

Dave Salmon (right) with an admirer!

Guildford Museum stocks the book, plus it is also available at Ben’s Collector’s Records in Tunsgate, Guildford.

And if you’d like to meet Geoff, he will be at the entrance hall at Guildford railway station selling and signing copies of the book this Saturday, December 1, and next, from 10am to 4.30pm.

Copies can also be ordered direct from Geoff, email him at geoff.burch@hotmail.co.uk