Peter's Railway and the Moonlight Express: (Bk. 2 Peter's Railway)

This is book 2 in the series. Peter and his Grandpa have built a miniature steam railway across their farm, linking their houses. It is a scenic journey, crossing fields, woodland and running beside a river. For Peter the great excitement of this book is learning to drive the steam engine, Fiery Fox. It is what he has been waiting for since they started to build the railway. Apart from one disastrous escapade, everything works as they intended. The story finishes with the railway running at night, taking Grandma to a surprise birthday dinner. They also extend the railway and build a turntable so the engine can always face forwards for pulling the trains. As with Book 1, the story is combined with lots of simply explained technical information and diagrams, contained in pages at the ends of relevant chapters. More parts of the steam engine and railway are explored.

Table of Contents:
Chapter 1 Living on a Farm with a Railway; Chapter 2 The Romney Hythe and Dymchurch Railway; Chapter 3 Onwards to Dungeness; Chapter 4 Riding Home in the Cab; Chapter 5 A Turntable at Eight Elms; Chapter 6 Looping the Loop and Learning to Drive; Chapter 7 How (not) to Paint a Sitting Room; Chapter 8 The Moonlight Express; Technical Contents; The Boiler - Safety valves, water gauge and explosions; Steam locomotive wheel arrangements - The Code; Points; The Turntable; Ball Bearings; Turning Loop and Sprung Points; Piston and Cylinders - Piston rings to make a perfect seal; Valves - to control the steam.

About the Author :
Christopher Vine has always been fascinated by all things mechanical and electrical. In fact his first words were "Turn it on" and "Turn it off" which just about covered everything of interest. He started making things early on with his first working go-kart at the age of seven. It had a car battery and starter motor as motive power and a morse key as the switch. The next dangerous device was a motor bike made from a tiny child's bicycle and a lawn mower engine. The drive involved a large and vital pulley from his mother's washing machine. So started a lifetime of making things. The only thing he wanted for his eleventh birthday was a lathe. An old one was found for GBP 20 which although worn out did, produce a small stationary steam engine, a Stuart Turner No. 10. Whilst he is a Chartered Engineer, his great interest has always been railways, steam engines and, in particular, model engineering.

Review :
"I wish I could have had these books when I was a boy; they would have given me as much pleasure as they do now; and SO much information! Sir William McAlpine The Moonlight Express is every bit as enjoyable as the first story and succeeds in capturing the magic of railways in a unique way. Tony Collins, Chief Executive Virgin Trains. Chris Vine's second Peter's Railway book is every bit as charming and informative as the first... The perfect gift. Steam Railway Magazine Liam is eagerly consuming the Moonlight Express. I have been amazed how well the books hold his attention and how insistent he is that we too build a railway! They are wonderful gifts. Maggie, Australia"