COLOUR photographs capturing aspects of the Severn Valley Railway across four seasons are the focus of a new book.

Railway Moods: The Severn Valley Railway, which has been put together by railway enthusiast, Mike Heath, is a personal photographic journey along the 16-mile route.

Each picture is accompanied by information about what the reader can see and facts about the railway, as well as historical details.

The photographs capture some of the views, which can be seen from the steam engines as they travel from Kidderminster to Bridgnorth, including views of Bewdley, West Midland Safari Park and the River Severn.

Principal stations, including Bewdley, Arley and Highley, are also featured in the book, which offers an insight into the annual events that take place including Severn Valley in Bloom and the Santa Special days.

The book also contains pictures of a variety of locomotives, including the 6201 Princes Elizabeth and 60009 Union of South Africa.

Other photographs show the day-to-day running of the railway and the facilities available for visitors to the popular tourist attraction, as well as a picture that won the transport category in a photography magazine's Photographer of the Year competition.

The author, who is a keen photographer and railway enthusiast, has amassed a vast collection of photographs covering all aspects of the railway during the past 25 years.

His first book, which was published earlier this year, was titled West Yorkshire's Keighley and Worth Valley Railway.

Several personal anecdotes accompany the photographs, which offer information about when and how they were taken.

The Severn Valley book also includes pictures taken by his son, Karl, who can be spotted in several photographs.

Railway Moods: The Severn Valley Railway is priced £12.99 and is available from local bookshops or from publisher, Halsgrove, on 01884 243242 or by visiting www.halsgrove.com