Peter Tuffrey

A transitional period existed following the announcement of British Railways’ Modernisation Plan in 1955 as steam engines operated alongside new diesel and electric forms of motive power. The East Midlands was particularly affected as diesel locomotives came to work the area’s expresses and freight trains. Diesel Multiple Units sought to halt declining branch line usage, though many eventually closed. Yet, some improvements in infrastructure were also seen. East Midlands Railways From Steam to Modern Traction uses around 200 excellent colour and black-and-white images to look at the changing scene in the 1950s and 1960s. The area’s lines were formerly operated by the London, Midland & Scottish Railway and the London & North Eastern Railway. Many of these companies’ locomotives could be seen, as well as British Railways’ Standard Classes. A number of new diesel classes and DMUs appeared and worked alongside these during the late 1950s and early 1960s. The locomotives are at locations across the East Midlands, which covers Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire and Rutland. Principal cities include Derby, Leicester, Lincoln and Nottingham, whilst there are several large towns, such as Chesterfield, Grantham, Kettering, Loughborough, Mansfield, Northampton, Wellingborough, etc. The pictures have been captured from the lineside, engine sheds, stations, marshalling yards and industrial locations. From the announcement of the Modernisation Plan to the end of steam services, just 13 years elapsed. Fortuitously, many enthusiast photographers were on hand to capture this important period of railway history

From the announcement of the Modernisation Plan to the end of steam services, just 13 years elapsed. A transitional period existed where steam engines operated alongside new diesel and electric forms of motive power. West Midlands Railways From Steam to Modern Traction uses around 200 excellent colour and black-and-white images to look at the changing scene in the 1950s and 1960s. The area's lines were formerly operated by the London, Midland & Scottish Railway and the Great Western Railway. Many of these companies' locomotives could be seen, as well as British Railways' Standard Classes. A number of new diesel classes and DMUs appeared and worked alongside these during the late 1950s and early 1960s. The West Midlands consists of Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire and the ceremonial West Midlands county. The primary cities are Birmingham, Coventry, Hereford, Lichfield, Stoke-on-Trent, Wolverhampton and Worcester. Large towns located in the area are Burton-on-Trent, Dudley, Kidderminster, Leamington Spa, Nuneaton, Rugby, Shrewsbury, Stafford, Stourbridge, Tamworth, Uttoxeter, etc. The pictures have been captured from the lineside, engine sheds, stations, marshalling yards and industrial locations. The West Midlands was a vibrant and exciting place for railway enthusiasts to record locomotives at work. This collection is presented to celebrate those days.

The Southern Railway was the smallest of the ‘Big Four’ companies created by the Railways Act 1921. Yet, this was not a hindrance, rather a benefit which helped the SR become one of the more innovative of the group. The Glorious Years of the Southern Railway looks at the company over the period 1923-1945 using nearly 230 high quality black-and-white photographs. These are collected into several sections: locomotives; electric traction; Isle of Wight Railway; carriages; Southampton Docks; stations; war effort. The SR was the only one of the ‘Big Four’ to be solely operational in England, but the company’s territory stretched from east to west in the south. The photographs have been taken in this area at many locations, including stations, the lineside, sheds and workshops. Several companies formed the SR: London, Brighton & South Coast Railway; London & South Western Railway; South Eastern & Chatham Railway; Isle of Wight Railway. A small section of the book recognises their history, whilst the rolling stock continued to be a feature of the SR in the years after formation. The motive power of the SR developed an identity under Maunsell with the ‘Lord Nelson’ Class 4-6-0s, ‘Schools’ Class 4-4-0s, U Class 2-6-0s and Q Class 0-6-0. Though constrained by the war, Bulleid revolutionised the SR’s locomotives with the introduction of the ‘Merchant Navy’ Class Pacifics, ‘West Country’ and ’Battle of Britain’ Pacifics and Q1Class 0-6-0. The SR continued to develop the constituents’ electrification schemes and by the 1930s could boast of operating the largest suburban network in the world. The company also instigated one of the first main line electrification schemes to Brighton which opened in January 1933. This work also saw the SR modernise with colour-light signalling which became the longest stretch used in Britain. Operational for just 25 years, the SR managed to achieve much in that period thanks to the company’s officers and employees. The Glorious Years of the Southern Railway celebrates this contribution to railway history.