This book reviews the development of self-propelled passenger railway vehicles in 20th Century India across all the major gauges - broad, metre, 2' 6", and 2'. The story starts at the beginning of the century with steam railcars, but rapidly shifts to developments in internal-combustion and electric traction. During the colonial era, most vehicles were imported, but there were also ad hoc domestic designs. After independence, this becomes a story of successful domestic manufacture. The linkage of electric traction with the growth of Indian cities is also considered. Each vehicle is described and illustrated with photographs, most of which have not been published previously. HO scale diagrams are provided for modellers.

The author, Glyn Thomas, comes from a family with strong ties to the development of British colonial railways. Brought up in England, he currently leads Information Technology for a treatment centre in the US. Glyn is a keen modeller and is a National Model Railroad Association Master Model Railroader. He frequently contributes to hobby magazines, including Continental Modeller, Model Railroader, Model Railroad Craftsman, and NMRA Magazine.