|
Books > Sport & Leisure > Transport: general interest > Trains & railways: general interest
The British Rail corporate image and its Rail Blue livery was one
of the longest-lived colour schemes carried by the trains of
Britain in the forty-eight-year life of the nationalised railway
network. Launched in 1965, after Beeching, the then new corporate
image was an attempt by the BR design panel to raise the profile of
the railway system countrywide and to sweep away the dull steam-era
image as the swinging sixties got underway. By the mid-1970s,
virtually all BR locomotives and multiple units were carrying Rail
Blue livery, while most of the passenger coaches were in matching
blue/grey. As the British Rail network was sectorised from the late
1980s in preparation for eventual privatisation, new bold, bright
livery schemes for the fleet swept away the familiar, but by then
somewhat jaded BR image. The BR blue era is now looked upon with
affection as a golden age when the system was operated by an
immense variety of locomotives and rolling stock, all now part of
history in the same way that the steam era was viewed when the BR
blue era ruled on Britain's railways.
Union Pacific Railroad Heritage covers the history of this amazing
railroad that was founded in 1862 and completed the United States
first transcontinental railroad in 1869. With the need to develop
more powerful steam locomotives to handle the railroad's steep
gradients, the Union Pacific Railroad designed the 4-12-2
locomotive, 4-6-6-4 Challenger which influenced development of the
4-8-8-4 Big Boy, followed by the 6,600-horsepower Centennial diesel
locomotive, and 8,500-horsepower gas turbine electric locomotive.
The Union Pacific Railroad operated well-maintained passenger
trains including City of San Francisco, City of Los Angeles, City
of Portland, and City of Denver until May 1, 1971, when AMTRAK took
over United States intercity passenger service.
'A delightful book ... the perfect companion as you wait for the
8.10 from Hove' Observer After the Beeching cuts of the 1960s, many
railways were gradually shut down. Rural communities were isolated
and steam trains slowly gave way to diesel and electric traction.
But some people were not prepared to let the romance of train
travel die. Thanks to their efforts, many lines passed into
community ownership and are now booming with new armies of
dedicated volunteers. Andrew Martin meets these volunteer
enthusiasts, finding out just what it is about preserved railways
that makes people so devoted. From the inspiration for Thomas the
Tank Engine to John Betjeman's battle against encroaching
modernity, Steam Trains Today will take you on a heart-warming
journey across Britain from Aviemore to Epping.
The Brighton Atlantic locomotives were some of the most handsome
machines ever constructed at Brighton Works. They were signed by
the D. Earl Marsh, Locomotive Superintendent of the London Brighton
and South Coast Railway, and produced as two classes, the H1,
introduced in 1905-1906, and the H2, introduced in 1911-1912. The
Brighton Atlantic type has had a following among enthusiasts and
model engineers for over a century, with many fine examples of
models of these machines being constructed in all scales, both as
live steam and electric powered. Great interest is still there
today, with many models of these fine locomotives on show at model
engineering exhibitions and on smaller scale Brighton or Southern
layouts. The Bluebell Railway in East Sussex is currently
constructing a full-size replica of the last H2 Atlantic (Beachy
Head) in a workshop at Sheffield Park, using some parts from the
original locomotive and a rescued Great Northern Atlantic boiler.
The project to construct a replica machine has aroused a great deal
of public interest in this design of locomotive.At this time there
are no books available on the market for anyone who would like to
construct a model on, or take an interest in, the replica project
on the Bluebell Railway.
A facsimile edition of Bradshaw's Handbook of 1863, the book that
inspired the BBC television series 'Great British Railway
Journeys'. When Michael Portillo began the series 'Great British
Railway Journeys', a well-thumbed 150-year-old book shot back to
fame. The original Bradshaw's guides had been well known to
Victorian travellers and were produced when the British railway
network was at its peak and as tourism by rail became essential. It
was the first national tourist guide specifically organized around
railway journeys, and this beautifully illustrated facsimile
edition offers a glimpse through the carriage window at a Britain
long past.
Robert Ellis James-Robertson (always known as Ellis) was born in
Wales but lived at Worcester from the mid-1950s and travelled
extensively around the country building up a large railway
collection. In the 1960s a few of Ellis's photographs were
published in books and magazines and the credit 'R. E.
James-Robertson' may be familiar to some. This book of mainly
unpublished colour and black & white photographs has been
created entirely from Ellis's North Wales archives, it will appeal
to railway enthusiasts, modellers, and those interested in local
history. The time period covered is from the mid-1950s through to
the mid-1960s with steam being the predominant motive power. Much
of North Wales is covered and in addition to BR standard-gauge
lines, the narrow-gauge Penrhyn and Padarn slate systems are also
seen. Ellis and his wife Norah celebrated their diamond wedding
anniversary in 2013, and Ellis passed on in April 2015 aged 92.
Their daughters, Louisa and Fiona, contacted film-maker and author
Michael Clemens whose late father was a friend of Ellis's. Ellis's
collection lives on today at films shows around the country given
by the author and now in this second of a number of books using his
photographic archive.
Looking for a sustainable and stress-free way to explore Europe?
Hop on board the continent's railway network with this ultimate
guide to train travel. Whether you want to take it slow on the
scenic route or make the most of the newest high-speed services to
get straight to your destination, Lonely Planet's experts show you
how to plan your journey. Packed with detailed gatefold route maps
and insider tips, we cover everything from how to piece together a
long-distance trip to the must-see stops and best ways to book
value-for-money tickets. As airlines cut back flights and airfares
rise, now is the perfect time to take advantage of the increasing
overnight services and flexible fares being offered. We also reveal
the quirks of different operators and countries, such as luggage
allowances, rules and regulations, and what facilities are on
board. If you're looking for a more eco-friendly, convenient - and
sometimes quicker - way to get from A to B as you travel throughout
the continent, Lonely Planet's Guide to Train Travel in Europe will
equip you to make the most of your time and budget. high-speed
services in France, Italy, Germany, Switzerland and Spain scenic
local routes in key countries including the UK and Scandinavia
sleeper and long-distance services across the continent About
Lonely Planet: Lonely Planet is a leading travel media company and
the world's number one travel guidebook brand, providing both
inspiring and trustworthy information for every kind of traveller
since 1973. Over the past four decades, we've printed over 145
million guidebooks and grown a dedicated, passionate global
community of travellers. You'll also find our content online, on
mobile, video and in 14 languages, armchair and lifestyle books,
eBooks, and more.
On June 27, 1835, New Hampshire chartered the Boston & Maine
Railroad, and a juggernaut was born. By 1900, the B&M operated
some 2,300 miles of track in northern New England, having taken
over an astonishing forty-seven different railroads since its
inception. The B&M loomed particularly large in the Granite
State, where it controlled 96 percent of all tracks and was the
primary conveyance through the rugged heart of New England s most
formidable mountain range.
From the gravity-defying Mount Washington Cog Railway to logging
transport trains to the famous Depression-era Snow Train, "A
History of the Boston & Maine Railroad" traces the fascinating
history of New England's most renowned railway.
When was smoking banned on trains? Which actor restored kippers to
the menu of the Brighton Belle? What regular lineside event did
Dickens describe as 'a shave in the air'? Perfect for a trivia
night or a long trip, Train Teasers will both test your knowledge
of this country's rail system and enlighten you on the most
colourful aspects of its long history. Meet trunk murderers,
trainspotters, haters of railways, railway writers, Ministers for
Transport good and bad, railway cats, dogs and a railway penguin.
This is NOT a book for number-crunching nerds. Many of the answers
are guessable by the intelligent reader. It is a quiz, yes, but
also a cavalcade of historical incident and colour relating to a
system that was the making of modern Britain.
A luxury facsimile edition of Bradshaw’s Handbook of 1863, the
book that inspired the BBC television series ‘Great British
Railway Journeys’. The original Bradshaw's guides had been well
known to Victorian travellers and were produced when the British
railway network was at its peak and as tourism by rail became
essential. It was the first national tourist guide specifically
organised around railway journeys, and this luxuryleatherbound
facsimile edition is a true collector’s item, offering a glimpse
through the carriage window at a Britain long past.
For almost 50 years, High Speed Trains (HSTs) have been the
mainstay for express services for many operators in the UK. While
they were used extensively by British Rail - even being dubbed the
saviour of British Rail' - these trains have been used by other
operators as well, including East Coast, Midland Mainline, and
Virgin CrossCountry. However, following their mass withdrawal in
2018-19, when the Hitachi bi-mode units came on the scene, many of
the HSTs were put into storage, or, sadly, scrapped altogether.
Fortunately, not everyone followed suit. Some operators have been
reconsidering their potential in recent times. Colas Rail acquired
some to use as test trains operated for Network Rail, and
Locomotive Services Ltd have two dedicated charter sets that are
used throughout the UK. Illustrated with over 230 images, this book
follows on from HSTs: The Western Region. It shows HSTs over the
past 20-30 years, in numerous UK locations, highlighting why they
have served so long and why they should be saved.
For the latest No 30 edition of the Southern Way, the editor has
something very special in store for EMU enthusiasts - the fact that
this issue is due for release in April 2015 may be something of a
clue...but fans will just have to watch this space. Otherwise, the
latest issue includes the usual multifarious mixture of steam,
infrastructure, reminiscences and what can only be described as the
downright unusual. Just when you thought there was nothing new to
say about the Southern Railway, a whole new selection of
fascinating facts and photographs is released to delight all fans
of the Southern Way series.
Southern Way No 27 will be available in July 2014. Our ever-popular
mix of steam / electric / history / reminiscences as well as the
usual features abound and will delight all enthusiasts of the
Southern Region. This issue concentrates on infrastructure,
stations, yards and civil engineering, subjects we know from our
postbag are ever popular especially with the modeller. Look out
then for a veritable feast in both colour and black and white.
This title deals with the fascination and excitement of world
railway history, from Stephenson's Rocket to the modern age. With
splendid illustrations and a sparkling narrative, it charters the
fundamental stages and main events of railway history, from the
birth of steam locomotion to modern high-speed trains. Divided into
six sections, each chapter documents a significant period in the
development of the railways and tells the stories of the key men,
inventions, challenge and technological breakthroughs. 250 colour
photographs
|
|