The Black Country is an area immediately to the west of Birmingham heavily associated with the Industrial Revolution. The townships are fiercely partisan and in typical fashion have fought hard for their railway connections. The main presence was provided by the GWR and the LNWR with routes between the major centres. Other minor concerns were represented by local industries. Given the industrial nature of the area, it has been neglected by photographers and over the last fifty years Steve Burdett has uncovered and recorded a system that was decimated in the Beeching Report. As a result, a variety of locations including Stourbridge, Wolverhampton, Walsall and Bescot are included in this photographic tour around the region. In recent years, an enlightened transport policy has seen an improvement in infrastructure and services including the Midland Metro with more to follow. A variety of motive power is to be seen within this fascinating collection.

Born in Aston in Birmingham in 1952, Steve’s railway enthusiasm was encouraged by his family. This hobby provided a distraction during a career in banking, and he always carries a camera on the railways in order to capture scenes for posterity.