Ken steams ahead with book

Having collected hundreds of rare pictures of the Bishop’s Castle Railway - many of which have never been seen by the public before - Ken Lucas is now showcasing a selection of them with a new book which is being launched next week.

He is holding a signing session of “The Bishop’s Castle Railway, A Pictorial Presentation” on October 20 at the Bishop’s Castle Railway Museum in School Street, Bishop’s Castle, from 11am to 2pm.

He is vice chairman and also archivist of the Bishop’s Castle Railway Society, which has published the book.

“I started collecting pictures of the railway when I came out of the Army in 1946,” said Mr Lucas.

“My grandfather Thomas Lucas helped to construct it. He was a timber feller and felled all the timber up the line that was in the way, and then afterwards it was a bit quiet in the timber trade and he helped put the sleepers out as far as the Snead, between Bishop’s Castle and Churchstoke, when they were going to do the extension.

“I have over 800 photographs of the Castle railway and people say ‘Can I have a look at your old photographs?’ and I say ‘I’ve got 800.’

“My late wife suggested that I should put them in a book. I’m 82 this month, and I can’t sit down and just look at the telly. I have to be doing something. I’m a young 82, and I thought I would put 100 in a book for people to have a look at.”

Published by the society, the book costs £8.95 and will be available in local bookshops or by post (add £1 p&p).