More than 150 years of history has been tightly packed into a new book documenting Gravesham’s ever-changing railway network.

Between Downs and Thames: Railways of Gravesend, the Hoo Peninsular and Isle of Grain marks Rob Poole’s writing debut, and it’s certainly an ambitious start.

The 68-year-old, of York Road in Northfleet, has used his lifelong love of trains to put together what seems to be an unprecedented collection of stories, facts and anecdotes about the railway in his borough and beyond.

He said: “It was something I had meant to do for a very long time. Nobody had ever done it, and I thought it was about time somebody did.

“From the age of two I grew up with model train sets and I was also a member of the local train-spotting clubs. Now I’m the chairman of the Gravesend Railway Enthusiasts Society.”

The society was formed in 1970 and offers its members day trips, a magazine subscription, meetings, coach tours and an annual model railway exhibition.

Regular meetings with guest speakers take place at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Windmill Street, Gravesend, and annual membership costs £18. It is fair to say that Mr Poole has dedicated a lot of free time to the railway over the years, and much of his professional career was spent working on the London Underground.

Gravesend certainly has great links into the capital, and — despite the perception that commuters don’t think much of the service — they are getting better all the time.

"Gravesend is the place to be. It might not seem like it, but there are certainly a lot of people living here" Rob Poole

Mr Poole said: “We have got an excellent train service around here and there’s every chance we could get Crossrail and Thameslink.

“Gravesend is the place to be. It might not seem like it, but there are certainly a lot of people living here.”

The town’s station has welcomed a new cycle hub, had a £19m overhaul of its platforms and lines in 2013 and was equipped with a high speed service in 2009.

It has certainly come a long way since it opened in 1849, having been designed by architect Samuel Beazley, who is given attention in Mr Poole’s book.

Described as “a bit of a character”, Mr Beazley also came up with the look of the capital’s Lyceum Theatre, St James’ Theatre and the City of London Theatre.

Mr Beazley, who was also a playwright and an author, went on to design theatres in Birmingham and Dublin, even going so far as Brazil and India. Gravesend station was considered one of the best in the country for a time and welcomed the most high profile of guests on a number of occasions.

Mr Poole said: “Kaiser Wilhelm II used the line here. He came to Gravesend in 1898 and he would come at night, hoping he wouldn’t be recognised, but his visit got out to the public.

“Queen Victoria also came here and used the line. The railway was much used by royalty.”

Mr Poole’s book also covers the opening and subsequent closure of a second Gravesend station, Gravesend West, the site of which is now the focus of a housing development and an effort to regenerate the town’s historic pier.

Having already sold more than 100 copies, Mr Poole is delighted with the response his work has had and a second order for more copies has been placed.

Between Downs and Thames: Railways of Gravesend, the Hoo Peninsular and Isle of Grain is available online from Amazon and publisher Completely Novel and there is also a copy in Gravesend Library.