The two decades following the end of the Second World War was a period of great change in Britain. One of the most noticeable changes, apparent throughout the towns and countryside, was the switch from steam to diesel traction. It transformed the character of the railways, not only in the replacement of locomotives, but also in the enormous upheaval of infrastructure. Bill Reed's photographs capture all of this. The sight of grimy steam locomotives on turntables, trundling along branch lines, pausing in sleepy stations, waiting to be watered or coaled, and on the scrap lines, is now only to be witnessed in photographic archives such as this. Bill took the pictures when it was a privilege, not to mention a rarity, to have a decent camera. He also took them at time when it was not frowned upon, like it is today, to be interested in railways, and take pictures of locomotives. It was only natural for young lads to have a desire to gaze at the vast, almost human engines with awe, because maybe their dads, granddads or even great granddads had been part of building or working them. Looking back now, it is a shame that more locomotives and more pieces of infrastructure were not saved. Yet the 1950s and '60s was not a time for nostalgia and reflection; it was one, supposedly, for moving forward and embracing the new. But for those of us with an interest in Britain's great industrial and transport heritage, we have people like Bill Reed to thank for giving us a glimpse into the last years of this extraordinary era.

As can be imagined there are countless Sheffield pubs - past and present. Therefore, finding a unique, manageable angle on the subject to produce a book is difficult. Yet Peter Tuffrey has done just that featuring endless unique tales about the pubs themselves and the landlords and landladies running them. Trawling through literally thousands of newspapers cuttings from the Sheffield Star and Sheffield Telegraph pub files he has noted subjects and incidents ranging from pub closures to murders, from retirements to renovations and from pub bombings to pub ghosts. Many of Sheffield's pubs were built to coincide with the growth of the city's steel industry and to slake the thirsts of its workers. These pubs are pictured and documented in decline or just before demolition and it is a pity more were not saved to illustrate the city's rich industrial heritage. We see landlords, landladies and regulars posing outside and it just goes to show how important pubs were in terraced communities. Several pages are also given to the breweries once belching beer fumes across the city air and a number of the processes are depicted in photographs with pin sharp clarity. So, raise your glasses to this book - Sheffield Pubs, Landlords and Landladies.

In this second and final volume, the whole of the East Coast Main Line between King's Cross and Edinburgh Waverley stations is examined closely, with a particular emphasis on the ways and structures: the line, stations, connections, yards, and other physical features. Interposed are accounts of the traffic at the principal stations (including connecting and branch line services) with observations on changes over the period 1939 to 1959. Some emphasis is placed on freight traffic on account of its importance and, perhaps, its relative unfamiliarity to the reader. The lines, stations, and many other elements are described as they were in August 1939, but as some plans on which they are based are dated before the late 1930s, there may be marginal differences from the precise layout in 1939.

Once the industrial heartland of Britain, North East England had a bustling network of railways. Whether on the East Coast Main Line, local branches or industrial tracks, there was much of interest for the railway enthusiast. Over 200 colour and black-and-white photographs are presented here at a number of locations across the area, such as: Bishop Auckland, Darlington, Durham, Gateshead, Middlesbrough, Newcastle, Sunderland, and Stockton. The highly-evocative scenes have been captured by several well-known photographers at stations, sheds, workshops and the lineside. Many of the classes associated with the North East are included: Gresley A3, A4, D49, V2; Peppercorn A1 and K1; Thompson B1; Raven Q6 and Q7; Worsdell J27; War Department 'Austerity'; British Railways 9F. Several industrial locomotives are seen at work at places such as Ashington Colliery, Lambton Colliery, Pallion Shipyard, etc. Coupled with interesting and informative captions, North East Steam presents a vibrant, though sadly long-lost era of British history.

It has often been said that the world was horse-drawn before the introduction of electric tramways. So, the establishment of a new and relatively cheap mode of transport was a revelation to many people enabling them to travel, work and play beyond their immediate surroundings. The opening of a tramway route captured everyone's imagination, ensuring kids, and adults (and the occasional dog) would turn out to witness the event, always orchestrated by groups of local civic dignitaries. This book via breathtaking, pin sharp pictures - taken from rare postcards and exclusive glass plate negatives - lavishly illustrates the early years of tramways across Yorkshire, from Sheffield to Hull, from Doncaster to Keighley and areas in-between including, Rotherham, Bradford, Halifax, Huddersfield and Leeds. The onlooker today, besides being at one with the enthralled locals, celebrating their new tramway systems, will not resist being enchanted by the everyday street scenes and people going about their daily lives, examples of which abound page after page in this glimpse into a long-forgotten age.

Being an avid collector of old photographs, particularly those featuring railways, well-known Yorkshire writer Peter Tuffrey was aware of the vast photographic archives lurking in the depths of the Yorkshire Post newspaper. Recently renewing his contact with an old acquaintance and newspaper editor, Peter Charlton, the author was presented with a marvellous opportunity to select some of these photographs for use in Yorkshire Railways: From the Yorkshire Post Archives. Under a number of interesting chapter headings such as 'Views from the Lineside', 'Staff', 'Crashes', 'On Shed and Works' and 'Preserved Railways and Railway Stations', we see the many different ways Yorkshire people have been involved with railways, particularly in the days of steam. The lineside pictures have amazing clarity, having been scanned and enhanced expertly from large format glass plate negatives. But that is not to detract from the book's other pictures, which have been carefully composed and taken over the years by the Yorkshire Post's own reputable staff photographers. The picture captions are well-researched, informative and reflect Peter's eye for the unusual and eccentric.Yorkshire Railways not only provides interest for the real enthusiast but also for the social historians among us who want to look back and get the feel for how it really was in the days before Dr Beeching came along with his axe.

Nobody could have predicted in the first half of the Twentieth century that 'going to the flicks' would be rapidly superseded in later years by television. Buildings of all sizes and descriptions - some having only existed for a relatively short time - quickly became redundant and have struggled for survival or an alternative use since the demise. In the heavy industrial areas of West Yorkshire particularly Bradford and Leeds, there was a great need for entertainment. And in some ways it was only natural that the new film industry should give rise to purpose-built cinemas across the entire region. Although theatre-going declined with the growth of the cinemas, it is pleasing to note that live theatre is still very much alive today in a number of the towns and cities covered here. The various developments of screen and stage in West Yorkshire have been admirably captured over the years by the Yorkshire Post's able photographers and featured in this book. Using a simple A to Z format Peter Tuffrey has made it quick and easy to examine the history - and in some cases find a picture - of a favourite cinema or theatre.

In South West England a rich railway history was developed through the construction of various routes, the steam locomotives used and services offered. Last Years of South West Steam looks at the region in the 1950s and 1960s as steam traction came to an end. This is done using 230 evocative colour and black-and-white images. Covering over 9,000 square miles, South West England includes the counties: Cornwall; Devon; Dorset; Gloucestershire; Somerset; Wiltshire. A selection of the towns and cities present are: Bath; Bristol; Bournemouth; Cheltenham; Cirencester; Dawlish; Exeter; Exmouth; Gloucester; Liskeard; Newton Abbot; Penzance; Plymouth; Salisbury; Sidmouth; Swindon; Tavistock; Truro; Wadebridge; Weymouth; Yeovil. A number of important routes pass through the area, including the Great Western Main Line from Paddington to Penzance and the South Western Main Line between Waterloo and Weymouth. Several local lines and branches also connected places in the South West. Many of the locomotive classes that worked in the region are present. These were mainly ex-Great Western Railway designs, such as Collett’s ‘Castle’, ‘Hall’, ‘Grange’ and ‘Manor’ Class 4-6-0s or the numerous 5700 and 8750 Class 0-6-0PTs, 5101 and 6100 2-6-2Ts, whilst Churchward’s 2800 Class 2-8-0s and 4300 2-6-0s were still employed. Some ex-Southern Railway classes feature, such as the ‘West Country’ Pacifics, Maunsell’s ‘N’ Class 2-6-0, Drummond T9 Class 4-4-0, Adams 415 Class 4-4-2T, Drummond M7 Class 0-4-4T, etc. BR’s Standard Classes also assisted in the region at the end of steam. The locomotives are pictured at stations, junctions, points from the lineside and sheds, both large and small. Last Years of South West Steam chronicles the railways of the area in the final years of an increasingly distant time in English history.

Nottingham-based Bill Reed, now 78, was a fireman on steam locomotives in the early part of his working life, eventually graduating to being a driver on diesel-electrics. Much of his spare time has been taken up with photographing (in black and white and using colour slides) many aspects of railways throughout Great Britain, Europe (including the former Iron Curtain countries) and in the USA. In this selection he has used convenient vantage points on and off the East Coast main line to capture the Indian summer of steam. Many of the familiar classes of locomotives A1s, A2s, A3s, A4s (and their variants) are featured with pin point sharpness by Bill. But a few early diesels are featured too like the prototype Deltic. Familiar customs once associated with steam traction are brought to mind again in a collection of over 220 black and white images. An example is seen at Muskham Troughs where Gresley's thirsty engines picked up water in a seemingly primitive but effective way - in the middle of the track - to help speed them on to their respective destinations. This book is part of one man's life work of photographing the railways and his enthusiasm is evident in every picture.

From the mid-20th century, no other musical instrument developed faster or had a greater impact than the electric guitar. In Britain, many young lads became enthralled by the look and the sound, leading them to take up the guitar to entertain their peers. Several dozen were able to master the instrument sufficiently to gain national and international recognition, enjoying careers spanning decades which has resulted in a number being awarded Queen’s honours. British Guitarists 1952-1972: Electric Pioneers examines a number of musicians that were part of a first wave of new popular music in the second half of the 20th century. A focus is placed on the guitars, amplifiers and effects used by the artists. Starting from their early days, the book looks at the evolution of the guitarist’s equipment and how this has impacted on their music. The guitarists featured are: Martin Barre, Syd Barrett, Jeff Beck, Ritchie Blackmore, Marc Bolan, Joe Brown, Eric Clapton, Dave ‘Clem’ Clempson, Dave Davies, Lonnie Donegan, Andy Fairweather Low, Peter Frampton, Robert Fripp, David Gilmour, Peter Green, George Harrison, Tony Hicks, Steve Howe, Tony Iommi, Brian Jones, Paul Kossoff, Albert Lee, Alvin Lee, John Lennon, Phil Manzanera, Hank Marvin, John McLaughlin, Tony McPhee, Micky Moody, Jimmy Page, Alan Parker, Mike Pender, Andy Powell, Keith Richards, Mick Ronson, Mick Taylor, Pete Townshend, Bert Weedon, Ronnie Wood.

Investigative journalist Terry Nelson is divorced, depressed and disillusioned. He has abandoned his career to smoke copious amounts of crack cocaine and engage in meaningless sex in order to reach ‘pleasure’s cutting edge’. Obsessed with the beautiful yet vapid Paula, Terry is soon drawn into a shadowy underworld to fund their growing drug habits. Mikey, a Jamaican gangster, befriends Terry and recruits him as a driver for drug deals. This allows Terry access to large amounts of crack cocaine, as well as information about the local drugs scene. Peterfield – a once prosperous manufacturing hub in the North of England – has descended into extreme urban decay and become a place where the residents turn to sex and drugs to escape their dead-end, mundane existence. Drug dealers supplied by international crime gangs are only too pleased to meet the population’s needs and regenerate the area to further line their pockets. Terry is convinced the gangs are led by a mysterious figure – Bonique. Who is Bonique? This is the question that haunts Terry and threatens to destroy his life. As Terry searches for contacts to Bonique his life becomes increasingly violent and leads him to question the path he has chosen. A vigilante group is increasingly active, targeting suspected drug dealers and criminals plaguing Peterfield. Who are they and who are they led by? Terry’s relationship with his mother and father is very strained. Why is his father so distant? Does the reason involve an unidentified girl Terry witnessed arguing with his father when he was in his teens? Terry struggles to piece together any strands of information that might yield an answer. A Government Task Force arrives in Peterfield to break the drug gangs’ hold on the city. Terry’s involvement with drugs is taken advantage of by the organisation for information. The cash he’s paid keeps his drug habit financed. Terry’s Task Force handler, Mark, is reluctant to share information and appears to be hiding something. Can Terry pull together all the pieces and soothe his growing obsessions? Or will he lose control of the forces pulling him in the wrong direction, causing harm to himself and his family?

Comprising one-third of the land mass of mainland Britain, Scotland provided a diverse background for railway photographers to record the end of steam. As dieselisation radiated northward from Southern England, the country became a refuge for locomotives and many enthusiasts rushed with their cameras to record the demise of a great period in British history. Scottish Steam 1948-1967 presents this period using nearly 250 superb colour and black-and-white images. The focus is on the various locomotives serving under BR at this time. These ranged from old pre-Grouping locomotives still in service, to the many LNER and LMSR designs introduced to modernise the respective motive power stocks after 1923. After Nationalisation, many of the BR Standard Class varieties saw use in Scotland, whilst heavier freight duties were handled by ex-War Department ‘Austerity’ 2-8-0s that were brought into service under BR from the many war surplus engines. The locomotives have been pictured at locations across Scotland. From the cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow – including their environs – to places on the main lines radiating southward, such as Burnmouth and Beattock. Several sites on the Waverley route are included, in addition to the Ayrshire coast. Northward, Stirling, Alloa, Dundee, Aberdeen, Perth, etc., are featured, as is the West Highland and far north of Scotland – Thurso and Wick. The images have been taken at the lineside, stations, sheds, workshops and industrial locations. The book offers a fascinating record of the end of steam in Scotland.

On 22 May 1934 a zenith of locomotive construction in the UK was reached when an enormous new locomotive entered traffic for the London & North Eastern Railway Company. The impressive engine was P2 Class no. 2001 Cock o' the North and it was painstakingly erected to the designs of eminent locomotive engineer H.N. Gresley (later Sir) at the company's sprawling Doncaster Works.Cock o' the North was equipped with number of new and experimental features and this created quite a stir in the highly critical railway world and with the wider general public. These features included; Kylala-Chapelon (Kylchap) double blastpipe and chimney, Lentz poppet valves and rotary cam valve gear, A.C.F.I feedwater heater, V-shaped cab front, streamlined steam passages and a 50 sq. ft firebox grate area. No. 2001 also had a 2-8-2 or 'Mikado' wheel arrangement and, while it was not the first engine in Britain to have such configuration (the Gresley P1 Class locomotives of 1925 were the pioneers), Cock o' the North was the first engine intended for use on express passenger traffic to be built as a 'Mikado'.This book is the first one to feature the entire history of Cock o' the North as a single subject.With detailed research and a remarkable selection of photographs it examines and illustrates many aspects of the locomotive including: the name derivation, construction, trial runs, trial tests, the controversial rebuilding by Gresley's successor, Edward Thompson, the involvement in the Balby Bridge crash, and final withdrawal from service.Locomotive developments at home and abroad during the first half of the 20th century are also chartered as well as Nigel Gresley's rise from Great Northern Railway Company Locomotive Superintendent to LNER Chief Mechanical Engineer. Having understood Gresley's motivation behind building the locomotive, readers are then armed with enough information to ask themselves whether his bold experiment of building the largest steam passenger locomotive Britain has ever seen was a success and achieved the intentions of its creator.

The country houses of Yorkshire, steeped in a rich and colourful history and still existing for all to enjoy. This book tours round 32 of the most fascinating homes in the county and gives a unique insight into how they came to glory and how some have revived their fortunes in recent years, adapting to the modern world. There are stories of the men who built them, the people who lived there; those who served; those involved in restoration; and the great and the good who came to visit. The book shows the many varied ways in which houses have been modified for alternative uses, from zoos to rock concerts and museums. Featuring over 300 outstanding images, and produced in a beautiful art format, we see the houses in all their glory. They are amazing properties built from the dreams and wealth of great people who revealed their characters in the grand designs. The Yorkshire Country House is a beautifully written and produced book on an impressive scale and is to be admired as much as the glorious subject itself.

This album of 160 colour photographs was taken in the Southern Region of B.R., which was formerly the lines constituting the Southern Railway. Bill Reed took the pictures between 1958 and 1967 during a number of visits to stations, sheds and areas offering attractive vantage points of locomotives. From Greater London in the north, at sheds and stations including Bricklayers Arms, Feltham and Victoria, to Brighton, Southampton and Bournemouth on the south coast. Dover and Folkestone in the south east were visited as well as Exeter, Yeovil and Wadebridge on the south west. The Isle of Wight is also included as the area was incorporated into the S.R. upon Grouping and later the Southern Region of B.R. This book contains a selection of photographs taken on numerous branch lines around the region and these are particularly evocative of the final years of steam under B.R. operation. From a modern perspective they also give an indication why there was such an eagerness on the part of B.R. for their closure. Many of the lines utilized locomotives that had been in service for a number of years and were perhaps coming to the end of their life span.

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.

Sir William A. Stanier’s ‘Jubilee’ 5XP 4-6-0 Class served as the backbone of passenger services for the London Midland & Scottish Railway – as well as the successor London Midland Region of British Railways – for a number of years. Despite initial design flaws, the class went on to be well-liked by enginemen and enthusiasts alike. Stanier’s Jubilees follows the career of this 191-locomotive class from their introduction in 1934 to withdrawal in 1967. A number are featured during the LMSR period, whilst many are seen during the British Railways years. The engines are featured in over 200 excellent colour and black-and-white images. A wide area was worked by the Jubilee Class, ranging from the West Coast Main Line to the Midland Main Line, Glasgow-Perth-Aberdeen route and cross-country from York to Liverpool, in addition to Leeds-Bristol. The images included have been taken at stations, sheds, lineside and workshops. Accompanying the pictures are informative captions detailing the locomotive’s history, as well as other interesting details. Four locomotives were preserved following withdrawal at the end of steam and three are in steam at present. Hopefully, they will continue to be so and honour their fallen class mates, many of which are remembered here in this collection.

The pictures in this book were chosen from the many hundreds of 35mm colour slides Bill Reed took on and off the route stretching from London to Aberdeen. Station scenes, views on works and in sheds are featured. They roughly cover a period from 1951 to 1967 and depict the last gasp of steam before the introduction of diesels. As if on some imaginary journey, the book begins at King's Cross station wanders over to Liverpool Street steps into Great Eastern country then meanders north to finish at Aberdeen. It is noticeable that Bill has depicted marvellously the post WWII atmosphere on the railways when steam was on its last legs; the vast majority of the locomotives are in a very grimy condition and a number are seen on the scrap line. There is also evidence of how complicated and labour intensive it was to run a steam engine the vast coal hoppers and water tanks are examples to this submission. Looking back now at the 1950s and 1960s, Bill says he would have taken many more pictures of steam locomotives. But that is no matter, he has taken enough to give us more than a hint of what it was like in those last days.

One of the first areas to see the end of steam was the East of England – around 120 years after the first steam locomotives ran. Over this period, a rich history was developed through the construction of the various routes, the engines used and services offered. East of England Steam 1948-1963 examines the last years of steam in the region using over 200 excellent colour and black-and-white images from a number of sources. With an area over 7,000 square miles, the East of England region consists Bedfordshire; Cambridgeshire; Essex; Hertfordshire; Huntingdonshire; Norfolk; Suffolk. Some of the towns and cities incorporated in the area are: Norwich; Ipswich; Colchester; Cambridge; Peterborough; Bedford; Yarmouth; Ely; King’s Lynn; Lowestoft; March. The East Coast Main Line bordered the region in the west, whilst the two primary routes left Liverpool Street, London, to Ipswich, Norwich and the coast, and Cambridge, Ely and King’s Lynn. Being a predominantly rural area, there were several branch lines, many of which no longer exist. Great Eastern Railway locomotive classes are featured: B12; D16/3; E4; F4; F5; F6; J15; J17; J19; J20; N7. Also included are Gresley’s B17s, K3s and J39s, as well as Thompson’s B1/B2 and L1. Under British Railway many of the new Standard Class 7 ‘Britannia’ Pacifics took over on the main line expresses and boat trains and these are present. The Midland & Great Northern Joint Line benefitted from the introduction of Ivatt Class 4MT 2-6-0s during the final decade of the route’s existence. The locomotives are pictured at stations, junctions, points from the lineside and sheds, both large and small. East of England Steam 1948-1963 shows the railways enjoying their final years in an almost forgotten time of English history.

This collection of 168 colour photographs, which date from 1958 to 1967, features the Western Region of B.R., formerly the territory of the Great Western Railway, and its motive power. Bill Reed took the pictures during a number of visits to stations, sheds and to areas offering an attractive vantage point to shoot film. The engines have been pictured at various locations around the Western Region, ranging from; Barmouth and Aberystwyth in north west Wales to Whitland in the south west; Crewe and Wellington in the north east to London Paddington, Oxford and Princes Risborough in the south east. The places one would generally associate with the Western Region are also present and they comprise; Swindon (depot, station and works), Bristol, Exeter, Newton Abbot, Truro and Penzance.Bill has taken photographs of locomotives working on a number of branch lines around the Western Region and these are particularly evocative of the era. They also point to the future, in the form of the Beeching Report, when mass closures occurred eliminating these stations serving the local communities. The branch line stations featured are often deserted and the carriages partially empty.In some instances the stations would never serve many people, but others would lose passengers after the rise in motor car use in the wake of the Second World War. The W.R. attempted to entice passengers to some lines with diesel railcars, also reducing costs, and an example is seen in this collection at Kemble station. The G.W.R. had also tried this tactic with their own railcars and two have been captured at Worcester.

The B1 Class 4-6-0 locomotive was Edward Thompson's most enduring design. Built from 1942-1952, the class totalled 410 examples and was a familiar sight across former London & North Eastern Railway territory. Thompson's B1s presents many of the engines at work in the LNER and BR periods through 230 excellent colour and black and white images. The locomotives are pictured at locations such as: York, Newcastle, Darlington, Doncaster, Colchester, Grantham, King's Cross, Marylebone, Neasden, Nottingham, Edinburgh, Sheffield, Leicester, Hull, Fort William, Aberdeen, etc. The photographs, which have been taken at stations, sheds, lineside and workshops, are accompanied by well-researched and informative captions. Thompson's B1s celebrates the importance of the class in the history of the LNER and steam traction in Britain.

Great photography of locomotives on the East Midlands railways in the final years of steam traction compiled with thoroughly researched, informative captions, beautifully produced in hardback with rare and previously unseen images in colour and black and white. Composed of just over 6,000 square miles of land, the East Midlands enjoyed a diverse system of railways in the days of steam. These routes ranged from the main lines connecting the north and south of Britain to small branches, as well as cross-country and local lines. East Midlands Steam, 1950-1966, presents the twilight years of steam traction in the area with nearly 200 superb colour and black-and-white images. The book covers Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire and Rutland. In addition to the cities that appear – Derby, Leicester, Lincoln, and Nottingham – a number of large towns are included, such as Chesterfield, Grantham, Kettering, Loughborough, Mansfield, Northampton and Wellingborough, etc. With lines formerly operated by the London, Midland & Scottish Railway and London & North Eastern Railway, many locomotives of these companies are present, alongside the Standard Classes of British Railways With a rich industrial heritage in the region, a number of privately owned locomotives appear at work on several sites, such as collieries, quarries and power stations. The East Midlands was a busy and exciting place for steam enthusiasts to observe and record locomotives at work. In doing so, a wonderful era of British history has been captured. This collection has been assembled to celebrate those distant days.

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.

Sir Nigel Gresley's V2 Class 2-6-2 locomotive was developed during a period of great success for the London & North Eastern Railway company. The A3 Class and A4 Class Pacifics were breaking records and creating headlines across the globe when the first V2 appeared in 1936. The class was derived from the A3 and inherited many characteristics, such as power, speed and reliability. Employed on both express freight and passenger trains, the V2s soon joined the ranks of their illustrious forebears with both footplatemen and enthusiasts alike. Gresley's V2s documents the vast majority of the 184 locomotives built through evocative colour and black and white images, alongside well-researched captions. The engines appear from introduction in the mid-1930s through the war years and into ownership by British Railways. The photographs capture the V2s at work along the East Coast Main Line and elsewhere, such as the ex-Great Central Railway main line and into Scotland. Engines are seen from the lineside, in stations and on shed. A short section celebrates the only preserved V2, no. 4771 Green Arrow. Whilst the locomotive was operational for a number of years, from the late 2000s no. 4771 has been a static display at the National Railway Museum. There are currently plans to restore the engine at some point in the future, but in the meantime Gresley's V2s serves as reminder of the distinguished service the class provided to both the LNER and BR.

The Last Years of North West Steam contains over 250 stunning colour and black and white pictures that document the steam era drawing to a close in North West England. The area is taken as Crewe to Chester in the south and Carlisle in the north, visiting places in between such as Manchester, Liverpool, Stockport, Warrington, Wigan, Southport, Bolton, Bury, Preston, Blackburn, Burnley, Blackpool, Fleetwood, Lancaster and Carnforth. Beautiful scenes have been captured across the area by a number of highly-skilled amateur photographers. The images feature locomotives at stations, sheds, industrial sites and charming countryside locations. A good portion of the book features rare colour pictures and these are complemented by high-quality black and white photographs. This collection features many of the locomotive classes employed in the area, such as Stanier's Pacifics, Class Five and `Jubilee' 4-6-0s and 8F Class 2-8-0s, Hughes 2-6-0s, Fowler `Royal Scot' and `Patriot' 4-6-0s and 4F 0-6-0s. BR Standard Classes supplement these, whilst ex-London & North Western Railway 0-8-0s are also included, as are engines built for the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway and the Great Central Railway. `Foreign' locomotives from the London & North Eastern Railway and Great Western Railway further illustrate the diversity of the motive power scene. The images are accompanied by informative captions, describing the locomotives, the scene and other interesting details.