The Western Region enthusiastically adopted diesel traction and this permeated the West Country fairly early on. In this the sixth volume of the RC Riley series attention turns to Cornwall. No-one could have guessed quite how the effects of rail modernisation and reorganisation would change the everyday appearance of the railway but the photographer's regular summer forays to the Duchy have captured the last of the old way of life and the beginning of the new. As with previous volumes curator Jeremy Clements has grouped the images into clearly defined themes and this being Cornwall, the subject of viaducts provides the perfect way to open proceedings with Saltash, Moorswater, Treffey and St Pinnock among the large number that are illustrated from an inspired number of viewpoints. Subsequent chapters are grouped into main line, branch line, and goods trains. A rich variety of locomotive types from Hawksworth 'Counties' to humble panniers are featured with locations as equally diverse.
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