About the Author

David Maidment was born in 1938. He began his railway career in 1961 and retired from the railway industry over eighteen years ago. Since retirement his life has been just as busy; he balances his writing with speaking in schools, church groups and general interest clubs, and his role as an activist in the voluntary sector. In 1996, David received an OBE for his services to the railway industry and, in 2012, he received a Life Achievement Award at the National Rail Awards. His published works include articles on railway history, safety, practice, performance and nostalgia, and several books including The Great Western Eight Coupled Heavy Freight Locomotives, A Privileged Journey, An Indian Summer of Steam and The Other Railway Children, among other publications.