The Railway Phantoms - by Dennis Hamley

This is a powerful, atmospheric story, full of the sights, sounds and smells of steam railways, which provide an authentic backdrop to the ghostly happenings. The insinuations, whispers of presences as Rachel hears the lonely whistle blow, are well done.Dennis Hamley lovingly reconstructs the detailed life of his long-dead characters - the gritstone cottages and their red-mufflered inhabitants - with the clarity of imagination rather than the sentiment of the heritage industry. The book will appeal particularly to young people.

Dennis Hamley’s first children’s novel was published in 1974. Since then he has written many books for children and young adults. The War and Freddy was shortlisted for the Smarties Prize. After teaching and then training teachers he was County English Adviser for Hertfordshire for fourteen years. He lives in Oxford.