Nestled in the shadows of the Victorian Alps, the majestic Ovens and King River valleys first attracted prospectors during the 1850s gold rush. When the railway age arrived in the north east, iron roads were pushed through to the townships of Beechworth, Yackandandah, Bright and Whitfield. This book is the story of these fascinating railways, built to serve isolated settlements in the days of the horse and cart. AUTHOR: Author/photographer Nick Anchen was born with railways in the blood. His father and great grandfather were both railwaymen, so many stories were passed down through the family. Eventually, Nick joined what was left of the Victorian Railways in 1999, becoming a driver on Melbourne's suburban network. Over the years he heard many stories and yarns, told with great gusto by the drivers who had joined the job when the VR was a united system, with its own unique history and culture. Becoming a fireman on the Puffing Billy Railway added another dimension to his experience, and a taste of the steam days of old. The need to record Victoria's railway and social history for posterity led Nick to begin a career in publishing, and his first book, Puffing Billy: Spirit of the Dandenongs, was released in 2007 and rapidly became a best-seller. The success of this publication resulted in the production of a series of high quality books on a range of topics, including railway and aviation history.