"Permanent way consists of the elements...which form the road on which railway vehicles run." Textbook of Science, Railway Appliances, 1878.
As you travel on the Irish railway network today, pause to think of the 175 years of it's history. The permanent way men, who walk the line, are custodians of the iarnrod that traverses the Irish landscape. This book explores this rich seam of social history, part of the hidden infrastructure which keeps the country moving.
With a different and fresh look at the human face of the railways, author Michael Barry brings his unique insight as a railway engineer to this fascinating part of Ireland's heritage. Illustrated by a splendid collection of historical photographs and engravings, this book tells the little-known story which lies at the heart of the railway. Highly readable, it skilfully interweaves the history with stories of the people who keep Ireland's railways on track.
