Christian Wolmar has written for every national newspaper and appears frequently on TV and radio as a commentator on transport issues. His previous books include the widely-acclaimed The Subterranean Railway; Fire and Steam; Blood, Iron and Gold; Engines of War; The Great Railway Revolution; To the Edge of the World; and Railways and the Raj.

• 1: Starting slowly 2: The railway in the sky 3: The first cathedrals 4: A modicum of order 5: Breaching the City walls 6: Upstaging King's Cross - or not? 7: Southern invasion 8: The three sisters 9: The workers' station 10: A terminus too far 11: London's unique dozen 12: Settling down and dodging the bombs 13: Round London with Sir John Betjeman

Wolmar's history will delight train spotters but is also fascinating for the passengers who often pass through these great transport temples without a second thought.

Christian Wolmar has written for every national newspaper and appears frequently on TV and radio as a commentator on transport issues. His previous books include the widely-acclaimed The Subterranean Railway; Fire and Steam; Blood, Iron and Gold; Engines of War; The Great Railway Revolution; To the Edge of the World; and Railways and the Raj.

• 1: Starting slowly 2: The railway in the sky 3: The first cathedrals 4: A modicum of order 5: Breaching the City walls 6: Upstaging King's Cross - or not? 7: Southern invasion 8: The three sisters 9: The workers' station 10: A terminus too far 11: London's unique dozen 12: Settling down and dodging the bombs 13: Round London with Sir John Betjeman

Wolmar's history will delight train spotters but is also fascinating for the passengers who often pass through these great transport temples without a second thought.

Christian Wolmar has written for every national newspaper and appears frequently on TV and radio as a commentator on transport issues. His previous books include the widely-acclaimed The Subterranean Railway; Fire and Steam; Blood, Iron and Gold; Engines of War; The Great Railway Revolution; To the Edge of the World; and Railways and the Raj.

• 1: Starting slowly 2: The railway in the sky 3: The first cathedrals 4: A modicum of order 5: Breaching the City walls 6: Upstaging King's Cross - or not? 7: Southern invasion 8: The three sisters 9: The workers' station 10: A terminus too far 11: London's unique dozen 12: Settling down and dodging the bombs 13: Round London with Sir John Betjeman

Wolmar's history will delight train spotters but is also fascinating for the passengers who often pass through these great transport temples without a second thought.