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Books > Sport & Leisure > Transport: general interest > Trains & railways: general interest
Progress on the nation's second transcontinental railroad slowed in
1873. The Northern Pacific's proposed middle-the 250 miles between
present Billings and Glendive, Montana-had yet to be surveyed, and
Sioux and Cheyenne Indians opposed construction through the
Yellowstone Valley, the heart of their hunting grounds. A previous
surveying expedition along the Yellowstone River in 1872 had
resulted in the death of a prominent member of the party, the
near-death of the railroad's chief engineer, the embarrassment of
the U.S. Army, and a public relations and financial disaster for
the Northern Pacific. Such is the backdrop for Custer and the 1873
Yellowstone Survey, the story of the expedition told through
documents selected and interpreted by historian M. John Lubetkin.
The U.S. Army was determined to punish the Sioux, and the Northern
Pacific desperately needed to complete its engineering work and
resume construction. The expedition mounted in 1873-larger than all
previous surveys combined-included "embedded" newspaper
correspondents and 1,600 infantry and cavalry, the latter led by
George Armstrong Custer. Lubetkin has gathered firsthand accounts
from the correspondents, diarists, and reporters who accompanied
this important expedition, including that of news correspondent
Samuel J. Barrows. Barrows's narrative-written in a series of
dispatches to the New York Tribune-provides a comprehensive, often
humorous description of events, and his proficiency with shorthand
enabled him to capture quotations and dialogue with an authenticity
unmatched by other writers on the survey. The expedition marched
west from the Missouri River in mid-June of 1873 and, in three
months, covered nearly 1,000, often grueling miles. Encompassing
the saga of transcontinental railroading, cultural conflict on the
northern plains, and an array of important Indian and
Anglo-American characters, Custer and the 1873 Yellowstone Survey
will fascinate Custer fans and anyone interested in the history of
the American West.
Gresley's B17s explores the career of this steam locomotive
passenger class from its introduction in 1928 to withdrawal in 1960
Designed by the London & North Eastern Railway's world-renowned
Chief Mechanical Engineer Sir Nigel Gresley, the engines were
predominantly employed in East Anglia - an area for which the class
was especially produced - and on the ex- Great Central Railway
routes. The book captures the vast majority of the 73 class members
at work, with over 180 superb colour and black and white images.
Some of the places included are: Liverpool Street station;
Stratford; Romford; Parkston; Ipswich; Norwich; Yarmouth; Neasden;
Leicester; Nottingham; Sheffield; Manchester; Doncaster. Split into
three sections, Gresley's B17s are illustrated in the LNER period,
the immediate post-war era, with Thompson renumbering, and through
to BR ownership. The photographs, which have been taken at
stations, sheds, lineside and workshops, are accompanied by
well-researched and informative captions. All 73 B17s ended their
life in the scrapyard and with two attempts currently underway to
produce new locomotives to the design, the book serves as a
reminder to their importance in the history if the LNER and steam
traction in Britain.
Shortlisted for the Crime Writer's Association Gold Dagger award
for non-fiction. In September 1970, two boys met in the playground
on their first day at secondary school in North London. They formed
what would be described at the Old Bailey thirty years later as 'a
unique and wicked bond'. Between 1982 and 1986, striking near
lonely railway stations in London and the Home Counties, their
partnership took them from rape to murder. Three police forces
pooled their resources to catch them in the biggest criminal
manhunt since the Yorkshire Ripper Enquiry. A Dangerous Place is
the first full-length account of the crimes of John Duffy and David
Mulcahy. Told by the son of one of the police officers who led the
enquiry, exhaustively researched and with unprecedented access,
this is the story of two of the most notorious serial killers of
the twentieth century and the times they operated in. It is the
story of the women who died at their hands. It is the story of the
women who survived them, and who had the courage to ensure justice
was done. And it is the story of a father, told by a son.
This story is unusual in that it documents not only the complete
restoration and reinstatement of both platforms of the former Great
Western Railway country station but also the building of a brand
new standard gauge running line with its own private station and
rolling stock. Even more remarkable is the fact that all of this
was achieved on a shoestring budget and by the sheer toil and
dedication of a tiny workforce. Although a private residence, the
best views and probably the best way of assessing the scale of the
project is to take a ride on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire
Railway between Cheltenham and Winchcombe. The summer floral
displays are not to be missed and you may even find yourself
running parallel to one or other of the various items of weird and
wonderful rolling stock.
George and Robert Stephenson are well known names in the canon of
railway history. Henry Booth (who designed Rocket's boiler) was the
world's first railway manager and was instrumental in the adoption
of Greenwich Mean Time. Timothy Hackworth, the Methodist
engine-wright from Shildon, established his own engineering firm,
which built one of the first locomotives to run in Russia. Although
his locomotive Novelty was a failure, John Ericsson found fame as
the designer of the USS Monitor. This book seeks to explore the
social history of the Rainhill Trials, who these engineers were and
the times they lived and worked in.
Over 140 photos accompanied by extended captions written by Robin
Atthill illustrate the beauty and variety of scenery that attracted
visitors and photographers from far and wide toi this legendary,
much-loved line. Atthill researched the history of the S&D in
depth and described the 'sturdy individuality' of a line that had
to deal with the challenges of difficult operating conditions and
fluctuating seasonal holiday traffic.
The perfect gift for every railway enthusiast. The history of
Britain's railways is a long and fascinating one, filled with
stories of grand endeavours, noted figures and record-breaking
feats. Julian Holland brings together a unique miscellany of
intriguing tales and engaging trivia - the perfect collection for
every railway enthusiast. Stories range from Bulleid's 'Chinese
Laundries', trainspotting trips in Wales and Scotland and
Liverpool's 'Dockers' Umbrella' to railway artists and clergy, a
railway-owned airline and railways that were never built. Find out
about * The Royal Scot's 11,000-mile journey in the USA and Canada
* A narrow gauge island railway in the middle of the Bristol
Channel * How the London & South Western Railway saved the
British Empire * Mallard's unbeaten world speed record of 1938 *
How to fly by Great Western Railway from Cardiff to Plymouth * The
75-mile network of narrow gauge railways on the Isle of Skye * How
another 4,500 miles of railway escaped closure by Dr Beeching All
Aboard is a delightful miscellany for every railway enthusiast,
filled with fascinating and obscure stories, facts and figures.
'We could hear the railway from my childhood home, even if we
couldn't see it for the smoke and fug ...' This is the story of the
boy who rode the railways. Stuart Samuel's first love is train
travel. His early adventures are on the lines around Halifax,
riding in the driver's cab. Later, adulthood takes a turn towards a
career as a parish priest, and he returns to his beloved Yorkshire.
But life as a young curate in Golcar is never short of surprises
... A warm and humorous story of the boy who rode the Yorkshire
railways Praise for Stuart Samuel: 'Very entertaining and well
written' -- 'I also love those older trains ... I am glad I read
this book'
WORCESTER LOCOMOTIVE SHED is the third in a series of in depth
studies of Western Region motive power depots. This provincial city
was a busy and fascinating rail centre with main line passenger and
freight services passing through alongside local passenger and
freight tripping duties that together provided an endless panorama
of railway activity. The Great Western Railway had a major
locomotive depot here and this book takes a detailed look at the
shed, how it functioned, its locomotives and its operational duties
during the latter days of steam. As well as official records
valuable detail and reminiscences have been gathered from former
footplate and shed staff ensuring that local custom and practice is
well recorded in the story. The depot's sub-sheds at Evesham,
Honeybourne, Kingham and Ledbury are also all covered in detail as
well as Worcester Locomotive Works. Worcester was also home to the
fondly remembered ex-GWR diesel railcars and it was their last
operational base at time of final withdrawal in 1962\. Their role
in the area is well covered in photographs and words. Taken
together the book is both a valuable historical record and a
fascinating and readable story of a large motive power depot in the
latter days of steam.
O.S. Nock continues his account of the GWR 4-4-0s with a further
look at G.J. Churchward and his programme of modernisation and
standardisation, particularly in boiler design, and his
introduction of the 'County' class - the last of the new GWR
designs. He goes on to describe the impact of two world wars; the
implications for the 4-4-0 classes post-Grouping, with particular
regard to the Cambrian section; the start of withdrawals in the
1920s and the introduction of the 1930 hybrids, nicknamed the
'Dukedogs'. Nock's trademark detailed text, accompanied by copious
photographs and locomotive layout diagrams, includes run logs and
his descriptions of footplate trips including a notable one made on
City of Truro.
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