When this book arrived from the publisher, I was initially disappointed. It looked such a slim volume for the price. I need not have worried; every page was filled with high-quality photographs, all reproduced either in good colour or vibrant monochrome. And to cap it all, although the title specified 'Western Europe', that was stretched to include Mallets in the former Italian colony of Eritrea, and engines exported to Indonesia. These last were the most amazing examples of all, looking less like typical European narrow gauge engines than slightly shrunken versions of the massive machines to be found towards the end of steam in the USA. One (built by Dutch company Werkspoor) has apparently been preserved in the Dutch national railway museum in Utrecht. Looks as if I shall have to make a return visit... ( )