Bob Reid's Railway Revolution describes the life and career of the first Bob Reid, always known as Bob Reid One, and the history of the railways since nationalisation. It shows how the organisational changes he forced through when Chief Executive from 1980 to 1990 turned British Rail into one of the best railways in Europe. His reforms, described as revolutionary, saw Inter-City become profitable, the creation of Network SouthEast and for the first time in 30 years, a growth in passenger numbers and freight.

This book is a companion to the work West Coast Main Line Locomotive Haulage and gives a flavour of the many varieties of locomotives and other rolling stock that have operated over the East Coast Main Line, including details of its creation and operation. Utilizing over 20 maps and drawings, useful information on line speeds and gradients is also provided. It explores the usage of both diesels and electric locos on this line, and ends with a reflection on what the future may hold for this invaluable route. With over 150 images, this volume is an all-encompassing look at locomotive haulage on the ECML.

The Southern Railway, today headquartered at Chennai, Tamil Nadu, is the earliest of the seventeen zones of the Indian railway that is vital in connecting the different regions of this vast country. Originally, it dates from British rule in India when the Great Southern India Railway Co. was established with its headquarters in Britain, running an impressive 1,121 miles of track. Unique in its revenue being derived from passengers and not freight, today more than five million passengers travel on what used to be the South Indian Railway network every year. This famous account was originally published by South Indian Railway Co. Ltd in 1900. Culturally important, it is the classic guide to visiting the south of India and travelling on this illustrious railway. Providing a detailed description of the railway itself, it also divulges useful information for travellers, outlines the tourist routes and itineraries and contains fascinating insights in to the country itself, from general history and religions to sport and architecture.

In the early 1980s, Ravenscraig steel works was the biggest source of rail freight north of the border, handling iron ore, coal, lime and scrap, as well as semi-finished and finished products. Opencast coal was thriving and would even lead to some lines re-opening later in the decade. Wagonload freight was still providing a service on some rural lines, not least the Far North line where many intermediate stations still handled general freight, such as seed potatoes and fertiliser. Today, Ravenscraig is a distant memory and coal is no longer carried by rail anywhere in Scotland. Wagonload freight has also disappeared, despite some attempts to revive the concept in the early 2000s. However, in a few areas, rail freight has done well. The cement works at Oxwellmains is a big user of rail and Grangemouth refinery still produces three trainload flows. Intermodal traffic has grown substantially, with several regular Anglo-Scottish flows on the West and East Coast main lines as well as internal movements to Aberdeen and Inverness. Illustrated with over 160 photographs, many of which are previously unpublished, this volume looks at the changing face of rail freight in Scotland. It details the changes in traction, rolling stock and railway infrastructure over four decades.

Like so many youngsters in the 1950s and 1960s Alan Clarke was a keen railway enthusiast and spnt a number of years out and about with his ABC Combined Volume and his camera at various rail related locations up and down the country. Living in the middle of the country enabled young Alan to visit a number of British Railway's regions thereby gathering a wider range of locomotive numbers and types. Faithfully underlining them in his combine volume and when pocket money allowed taking pictures as he went along. These pictures form the basis for this second volume of reminiscences of years gone but not forgotten. The development of Alan's photographic skills unfolds before us in these evocative black and white images. Each image is accompanied by a detailed caption. The photographs are arranged in sections, one for each trip, with an explanatory introduction to each. The quality hardback Silver Link Silk Editions are limited print runs and are not intended to be available for long, so grab them while you can!

Covering almost every line in the country, this acclaimed series of books juxtaposes photographs of the same railway location separated in time by just a few years, or maybe a century or more. Sometimes the result is dereliction or disappearance, in others a transformation into a modern high-speed railway. In both cases, the contrasts are intriguing and informative. This volume includes: the Great Western main line over the South Devon banks; Great Western lines in North Devon; the Exeter and Plymouth areas; the Southern in East Devon; the Southern's 'Withered Arm' route to Plymouth; and, preserved lines: the Paignton & Dartmouth Steam Railway, Dart Valley Railway and Seaton Tramway.

Produced annually by the team from Modern Railways - the leading monthly rail magazine, The Modern Railway 2021 offers a comprehensive review of the UK rail industry, together with an overview of events in Europe. With contributions from Roger Ford, Tony Miles, Alan Williams and other members of the team, The Modern Railway 2021 provides an in-depth examination of: Policy and finance, Infrastructure maintenance and renewal, Train operation (passenger and freight), Major projects now under way including the recently confirmed HS2, Rolling stock manufacturing and maintenance, Signalling and telecommunications, Customer interface and support, Light rail and Metro systems as well as European developments. And in addition to editorial coverage of all the main players and projects, The publication includes a comprehensive directory of almost 3,000 suppliers and businesses involved in all aspects of the UK rail industry.

The Black Country is an area immediately to the west of Birmingham heavily associated with the Industrial Revolution. The townships are fiercely partisan and in typical fashion have fought hard for their railway connections. The main presence was provided by the GWR and the LNWR with routes between the major centres. Other minor concerns were represented by local industries. Given the industrial nature of the area, it has been neglected by photographers and over the last fifty years Steve Burdett has uncovered and recorded a system that was decimated in the Beeching Report. As a result, a variety of locations including Stourbridge, Wolverhampton, Walsall and Bescot are included in this photographic tour around the region. In recent years, an enlightened transport policy has seen an improvement in infrastructure and services including the Midland Metro with more to follow. A variety of motive power is to be seen within this fascinating collection.

Evolving from the horse-drawn stage coaches that they soon eclipsed, railway carriages steadily grew in sophistication so that by the end of the nineteenth century the railway passenger travelled in comfortable rolling stock of a design familiar to many until the 1960s. While modern trains look different from those built more than a century ago, even today the facilities are not so dissimilar from those enjoyed by our Victorian ancestors.

This book describes the development of the railway carriage from those early days to the present, highlighting some of the key developments in the history, design and construction of carriages. It also looks at the innovations that made life easier for the passenger, such as the introduction of heating, lavatories and restaurant and buffet facilities, as well as the differences in comfort between the various classes of traveller.

Norfolk has enjoyed loco-hauled passenger trains for many years, with Great Yarmouth being a popular destination for summer holiday services from London, the Midlands, and the North. While these summer Saturday' services gained a significant following from enthusiasts and lineside photographers alike, they have not been the only workings to bring unusual traction to the area. The fleet of diesel units based at Norwich Crown Point depot has often been stretched, with augmentation required to cover services on the Norfolk and Suffolk branches, and for special events. A wide range of locomotives have been used over the years on local services to Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft. These culminated in the hugely popular Greater Anglia short set', featuring daily workings from DRS Class 37s. They finally ended in September 2019, with the arrival of a large fleet of new Stadler units, and disability regulations requiring the withdrawal of the outdated Mk2 coaches. With 180 colour images, this title celebrates these workings from inception in summer 1994 to their finale 25 years later.

The West Coast Main Line and the line from Kilmarnock south to Gretna were both built to ensure that passenger services from Scotland would connect to towns and cities in England and, more importantly, that it would open up markets for both manufactured goods and mineral traffic, principally coal, which at that time was required in vast quantities for both industrial and domestic use. The line south from Glasgow to Stranraer was to provide a connection with the ferries for both goods and passengers to and from Ireland. Lines to multiple destinations on the Clyde Coast connected with ferries to various islands for an ever-increasing volume of commuter traffic. The various changes to motive power, liveries and services over the last 30 years are reflected in the illustrations, which also record the demise of the once huge volume of coal traffic. South of Edinburgh, there is a look at the Borders Railway, which, when it was opened in 2015, was the longest line to be reopened within the UK. With over 170 colour photographs, this book takes the reader on a journey throughout the south and west of Scotland.

Very few diaries of directors and senior managers of the Big Four railways have survived to enter the public domain. There are, however, two notable Southern Railway diarists whose records have been available in archives for some years, but have been largely ignored by historians; Southern Railway General Manager Gilbert Szlumper and Director Leopold Amery. Their remarkable diaries are addressed in this insightful book, which gives a slightly different view of the company in contrast to the almost sanitised histories by some writers. The surviving diaries of Szlumper are far from complete. They begin in 1936 and continue into the war years, but there are several gaps. Throughout, Szlumper comments on individuals and developments, revealing little-known facts and the circumstances that meant he could never truly achieve his potential. Formally retiring in 1942, he died in 1969, after which his diaries entered the public domain. Leopold Amery was director of the Southern Railway from 1932. A Birmingham Member of Parliament for many years, he was a statesman of some stature, his high offices including Secretary of State for the Colonies in the 1920s. In his autobiography, Amery writes very little on the railway, although he does comment on its family atmosphere. His diaries, which are in the public domain in a Cambridge University archive, have been published in two volumes but Amerys fascinating business activities were omitted by the publisher, and like Szlumper he comments on individuals and developments. The diary information of these two exceptional men has been supplemented by information from the railway, state archives and other sources, and many of the photographs have never been published before.

The heart of the British railway system was London. Traffic was drawn and dispersed to places in Scotland, Wales, Ireland and all over England, not forgetting the intense suburban services for commuters to the capital. As a result, the area was fascinating for the rail enthusiast owing to the various locomotives at work there. The Last Years of London Steam celebrates the years 1948-1967 when steam still ruled in the capital using over 200 high-quality colour and black-and-white images. Many of the 'Big Four' companies' designs are featured: Great Western Railway; London Midland & Scottish Railway; London & North Eastern Railway; Southern Railway. In addition, there are survivors from before Grouping which were still employed, as well as the Standard Classes of British Railways. London Transport also used steam locomotives to the early 1970s and examples are included in this collection. Many locations around London are featured, including the great termini - King's Cross, Euston, Marylebone, Paddington, Liverpool Street, Waterloo and Victoria - whilst looking at local stations, junctions and general points from the lineside. Also, the locomotives have been caught at the major sheds in the capital - Nine Elms, Old Oak Common, Neasden, Willesden, Bricklayers Arms, Stratford, etc. As the capital was such a diverse railway environment, The Last Years of London Steam offers an engrossing record of those lost glorious days.

In the mid-1980s, one of British Rail's major customers of heavy block trains, Foster Yeoman, suggested the unusual arrangement of running its services with locomotives owned by them, rather than BR. Disappointment in the Class 56s on its routes led Foster Yeoman to look elsewhere for locomotives. They eventually agreed a deal with the US firm General Motors to provide them with the locos designated as Class 59s. The Class 59s surpassed everyone's expectations and other customers unhappy with the Class 56s decided to purchase the Class 59s as well. The locos are now over 30 years old and are still performing the work they were designed for. With over 230 images, this book shows the Class 59s through the years across the United Kingdom.

The post of Station Master, like others on the modern railway, has disappeared, and details of the many and varied responsibilities and everyday jobs that went with it will disappear too if they are not recorded. David Holmes became an SM in the 1960s, so is eminently qualified to describe the development and duties of this once very prestigious grade.

The second of two volumes covering the railways of the South East, this book focuses on Kent. It details a wide range of different trains including heavy aggregate, inter-regional passenger, test trains, the Orient Express, newspaper and mail trains, railtour excursions, engineers' trains, weed killers and intermodal, steel, coal and nuclear flask traffic. An extensive range of locomotive classes in different liveries, many now consigned to history, are shown at work on main lines and branch lines in the 'Garden of England'. Over 180 colour photographs, the vast majority of which have never been published before, serve to illustrate the variety found in a corner of the country often regarded as a mainly multiple unit commuter carrying environment. The pictures are complemented by informative captions detailing each particular train and its working along with some of the infrastructure found along the routes covered. 180 colour photographs

The preserved heritage museum railways of Britain are thriving. Not only is there continuing nostalgia for the steam locomotives of a bygone era, but a growing number of diesel locos and multiple units, both in use and under restoration on site, make the different lines ever more attractive to the modern enthusiast. This book contains a multitude of information to help the reader find and enjoy these lines, including maps, mileages (miles and chains), gradient profiles and tables of locomotives and multiple units. Details of steam locomotives are covered, together with the often-overlooked ex-industrial steam and diesel locomotives. The information provided here also includes the statuses and current liveries of rolling stock at each of the featured railways, as well as details of future plans for expansion and refreshment facilities. Lavishly illustrated with colour photographs showing some of the best locations for lineside and station photography, this book is a vital guidebook for anyone looking to explore Britain's preserved railways.

The Midwestern state of Illinois, known as the Prairie State, is not known for its varied topography, but this mostly flat land was indeed very conducive to the construction of railroads. It is located at a place where east meets west as railroads interchange huge amounts of traffic at Chicago, the railroad capital of the nation. Because it hosts smaller industrial cities and huge agricultural areas in the northern and central parts of the state, combined with coal, petroleum and other natural resources in the south, it's no surprise that today the 'Land of Lincoln' is criss-crossed by 7,151 miles of rail lines. Illinois is also at the centre of the nation's rail network, and an incredible variety of railroad companies can be seen traversing the state. Through a collection of incredible colour photos, Mike Danneman takes the reader on a tour of the railroads of Illinois - from Chicago to Chester, and from the tunnel at East Dubuque to the high bridge at Metropolis.

The year 1963 will always be remembered as the one when the Sixties really started to swing. The Beatles and Rolling Stones were topping the charts while the mini-skirt and the Mini car had become the latest fashion accessories. For those with an interest in railways however, 1963 was memorable for the publication by Her Majesty's Stationery Office of Part 1 of the report 'The Reshaping of British Railways' by Dr Richard Beeching, then chairman of the British Railways Board. The term 'reshaping' was somewhat of a euphemism as the report envisaged a radical reduction in the national rail network. Hundreds of stations were to be closed to both freight and passenger traffic, along with thousands of miles of track, while several thousand staff would be made redundant. This series is intended as a record of how the proposals affecting passenger services throughout England, Scotland and Wales were ruthlessly implemented over a ten-year period. Since then, despite the introduction of modern high-speed rolling stock and much track rationalisation, the extent of our rail network has remained basically the same. Train services today are therefore still very much Dr Beeching's legacy. In addition he bequeathed to the nation a linear network of derelict land which could be put to other purposes, including that of heritage railway. The passenger rail network in each regional volume before and after Beeching is shown using maps, text and illustrations. Featuring the lines listed for closure including: Swansea Victoria - Craven Arms - Shrewsbury Gloucester Central - Hereford Carmarthen - Aberystwyth Cardiff Clarence Road - Cardiff General Abercynon - Aberdare Low Level Porth - Maerdy Caerphilly - Senghenydd Barry - Bridgend Bridgend - Treherbert Cardiff - Coryton