The Iron Sherpa - Darjeeling and its Remarkable Railway Volume I – The History Hardback – 367 pages. Author Terry Martin ISBN-12: 978-1-900622-10-3 Published by RailRomances PO Box 85 Chester CH4 9ZH UK.

The Iron Sherpa must rank as one of the most superb railway books ever published; it is certainly the finest covering a single (narrow gauge) railway. The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) is one of the railway wonders of the world, and as such has been awarded World Heritage Status. It is India’s equivalent of the Ffestiniog Railway but is 5 times longer and rises to over 7,400 feet with Mt. Everest as a backdrop. The railway has survived more or less intact, running continuously for 125 years despite the efforts of Road transport, World War II, Politicians and Nature to close it. Terry Martins Volume 1 of a two-part “tour de force” covers the history of the line from 1879 to 2006 in the most wonderful detail. With over 360 illustrations and superb full colour maps by Gordon Rushton, most of which are new to this original work. It is certain to become the DHR Bible and it is almost impossible to see it improved upon. The railway enthusiast, and indeed anyone interested in India’s rich history will derive hours of pleasure from this book. Superb in every way.

ps Volume II covering the Locomotives, Rolling Stock & Architecture will be published in 2007.

Price £49.00 + £7.50 pp (UK) from the publisher or other bookshops.

Colin Usher