New Book: Rambling Railwayman’s Recollections

Published on: 16 Nov, 2014
Updated on: 26 Nov, 2015

Retired railwayman Geoff Burch, from Worplesdon, has written his third book all about his fascinating career with trains.

The cover of Geoff Burch’s new book.

Rambling Railwayman’s Recollections and starts where my his book, The Ramblings of a Railwayman ended – Monday, July 10, 1967, when he moved from Guildford loco shed to work on more modern forms of traction at Woking.

The chapters span his further railway career – secondman and passed secondman days based at Woking, driving days at Effingham Junction and Woking, instructing days at Waterloo South Side Training School, a brief period with Surrey Police and finally, training days at South West Trains Operations & Safety Training Centre at Basingstoke.

Class 47 ‘Brush’ Type 4 No. 47483 emerges from St Catherine’s tunnel, Guildford with a cross-country service from Newcastle to Portsmouth Harbour circa 1985. Photo: Geoff Burch

The official book launch will take place at Guildford Museum, Quarry Street, on Saturday November 22, between 10am and 5pm. Light refreshments will be provided.

He will also be signing copies of the new book at Guildford railway station on Saturdays, December 13, and 20.

If you can’t get to any of those, the book will be on sale at Guildford Museum, Ben’s Records in Tunsgate, or by visiting his home address (contact details below).  Alternatively, Geoff will post the book, but there will be an extra charge for postage and packing.

Visit his website http://www.ramblingrailwayman.co.uk or give him a call on 01483 232617.

Some more photos from Geoff’s new book.

A murky morning as the 10.53 stopping service leaves Guildford from platforms 6 and 7 (up the Gulley) circa 1965.
The train consists of 2x2HAL units, the leading unit being No. 2644. The headcode stencil 7 denotes the train is a stopping service to London Waterloo via Woking.
Photo: Leigh Darnton.

4COR 3123 and 4BUF 3081 leave Guildford on a Portsmouth to London Waterloo fast service with sister unit 4COR 3114 stabled in the up sidings on 18th July 1970.
Photo: Gordon Edgar.

The Author’s nephew Jonathan Burch realises every boys dream when he visits the cab of a Class 47 at Guildford before his uncle departs for Reading with a cross-country service in August 1985.
Photo: Geoff Burch.

4CEP 2317 leads the 12.23 Waterloo to Portsmouth Harbour service through a rain-lashed Worplesdon station on 13th December 2003.
Photo: Martin Loader.

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