Little is known about S. N. Pike. He first published his three Mile by Mile guides in 1947. A facsimile edition of the guides was published by Aurum in 2011.
Peter's lifelong interest in railways and love of steam locomotives was rewarded in 1990 with the editorship of Steam Classic magazine. This led to a number of book commissions including Yesterday's Railways, Ultimate Train, Classic British Steam Locomotives and Fifty Famous British Locomotives. Peter contributed to every edition of the part-work British Steam Railways and, most recently, co-authored The Train Book for Dorling Kindersley. A member of several railway societies, he is also a shareholder in the 35025 Brocklebank Line Association which aims - one day! - to return the eponymous Southern Railway 'Merchant Navy' class Pacific to steam.