The advantage of telling the history of something that is still going strong is that its purpose and relevance are more likely to be obvious to children: it is a case of how we got where we are today sometimes being easier to comprehend than events, attitudes or things quite outside our own experience. Trains very much exemplify that: they still rely, for the most part, on nineteenth century foundations, and much of their basic working remains unchanged, although they now operate with new motive powers and the designs are obviously more modern. But basically Stephenson’s Rocket and the Magrail or TGV are doing much the same job.
This volume is aimed at eight to‐12‐year‐olds and takes a competent approach to its subject; the full story of trains involves a combination of technical, mechanical, economic and social aspects of travel and transport. This volume very much concentrates on the technical history, especially of locomotives. The story itself is familiar enough, but this is a useful short account for children which selects the main developments and covers the story soundly: beginning with the British pioneers, it moves through North American expansion, great journeys (such as the Trans‐Siberia Railway), speed (specifically the Mallard), diesel power and a chapter on today and tomorrow (TGV, Maglev, Bullet and Channel Tunnel). Short four‐ or five‐page chapters have a main and fairly striking illustration by Terry Hadler then a mixture of text and original pictures and diagrams. The first page offers a general text followed by more details and captioned illustrations. This should impart information to the age range aimed at quite effectively and should also leave most readers wanting more: there are no lists of further reading in this volume, so its use presupposes that the child has access to a reasonably well stocked school or public library. The two‐page glossary and single page index are adequate, but the wheel code entry in the glossary should have referred to the diagram on page 13 which actually explains the code far better.
There are other books available at this level on the same subject both for younger and older children. But this contains a useful mix of text and illustrations all clearly assembled and presented and it should become a useful item in the school library.
