‘Past and Present’ is the original series of this genre and this volume, No. 62, holds true to the original concept. That is that the ‘present’ photograph must be taken from the same position and include at least something in it that is visible in the ‘past’ view so the two can be linked by the reader.
The pictures, all mono, are supported by lengthy and detailed extended captions. Most of the ‘past’ pictures are of the steam era, and to avoid the sometimes-depressing changes that have taken place, these are worth considering on their own.
The book fills a gap not visited since the same authors included it in ‘British Railways Past and Present’ No. 5 The West Midlands in 1987. This area of the Black Country contains many interesting railways, and is given a volume to itself for the first time. This volume looks in detail at the former LMS Stour Valley line to Wolverhampton High Level station, with Bushbury shed and Oxley carriage depot; the former GWR Low Level station, the GWR locomotive works and Oxley shed Lines and yards around Bescot, Walsall to Rugeley, Lichfield and Sutton Coldfield Burton upon Trent and its network of brewery railways; the Midland Metro route from West Bromwich to Wolverhampton; the Trent Valley line through Tamworth and Lichfield, plus former Midland Railway lines around Tamworth Mineral and colliery lines
Both authors are ‘natives’ of the area covered by this book and its ‘next-door’ volume, No. 61 Birmingham which gives them an edge in ensuring accuracy and providing the historical background.