This original edition is a scarce book, and an important book in the history of railway literature. R F Fairlie was a Scottish railway engineer who trained at Crewe & Swindon Railway Works and later worked in Ireland & India as well as England & Wales. He is chiefly known for his invention of the Fairlie double bogie articulated locomotive, patented in 1864, which was particularly associated with tightly-curved and narrow gauge railways in mountainous settings. In fact, it was 'The Little Wonder' built in 1869 for the Festiniog Railway that made his name as the inventor of something special.