Eric Tonks spent years researching Britain's industrial railways - just like those serving the branches north of Melton Mowbray, which are described in detail in his republished book (1). I had the pleasure of meeting Eric in Birmingham in 1988/89, and certainly without his help it would have been impossible to write the first version of this chapter. Since then I have trawled the archives at Kew to add to that information. The new version of Chapter 17 complements Eric Tonks's republished book, which you will need if you have an interest in the iron mines and narrow gauge railways which fed these branches.

Page 254