Steam on the Isle of Wight: A Personal Journey

Bruce Oliver first discovered the Island railway system in 1964, a time when, if it were known then, steam and its associated Victorian infrastructure had only three years to survive.

During this period success with colour photography was very much the product of several situations.The inflexibility of the film, prevailing weather conditions, and last but certainly by no means the least, the availability of the necessary finance meant that colour film was regarded as a luxury item at the time. Consequently it is extremely rare to find such an exceptional record of the Isle of Wight steam railways attributable to just one man.

An expert photographer, Bruce Oliver is a man who took time to prepare and compose his images, thus producing photographs of the highest quality. Steam on the Isle of Wight – a personal journey is the masterpiece of one man and his camera, providing an unmatchable record of the Isle of Wight railway from Ryde through Newport to Cowes.

Including a handsome collection of over 120 stunning colour photographs, none of which have ever been published before, a scene that was soon to be swept away is faithfully recorded. It is certain to be extremely popular with railway enthusiasts across the country.