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.

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.

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?

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 majority of South Yorkshire's twenty-first century residents are oblivious to the unique and fascinating Sand House that graced Doncaster from the mid-1850s until the Second World War. It was created by excavating the ground from around a massive block of sandstone and then hollowing out rooms within, in order to create a 40-metre-long, 12-metre-wide residence equipped with all the mod cons that a wealthy Victorian businessman would want. And yet there is nothing to be seen now of this incredible Sand House. The two authors show how the idea for the Sand House arose from its creators' combined business interests of property development and sand extraction. From its modest beginnings as a two-up-two-down dwelling, it grew to become a ten-roomed mansion, complete with stable and ballroom. Not only dances but other major social events took place in the house and its 'sunken garden'; guests were allowed to explore the property's extensive tunnels and admire the abundance of carvings hewn from the sandstone within. The Sand House's sad demise in the mid-twentieth century means that this marvellous creation is no longer available for visitors to admire, but its story lives on through the pages of this book.

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.

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 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.

Gresley's D49s follows the career of this important class which ran in service between 1927 and 1961. Introduced by the London & North Eastern Railway for intermediate passenger trains, the engines were designed by the world-renowned locomotive designer Sir Nigel Gresley. Some of the class members featured poppet valves with rotary cam valve gear. This offered improvements over conventional piston valves. The D49s were employed in the North East of England and Scotland and the engines are pictured at a number of locations in these areas, such as stations, sheds, from the lineside, as well as workshops. The images span both the LNER period and British Railways ownership and consist of nearly 200 high quality colour and black-and-white photographs. A large number of the 76 class members are included in both eras. One D49 4-4-0 has been preserved and is at present under overhaul. Whilst this occurs, this collection can serve as an interesting reminder of the D49s and a distant era well worth remembering.

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.

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.

Using well over 200 pin sharp photographs and informative text, the book will feature many aspects of railway development in Yorkshire prior to the Grouping of railways in 1923 as well as the years afterwards, up to 1948, and the establishment of British Railways. There is an impressive geographical spread across the region, including the West, East and North Ridings. Included is an outstanding collection of photographs gathered from postcards, original prints, and from glass plate negatives. The captions are well researched and written in a non railway jargon manner, for the enjoyment of a wide audience. The pictures should be of interest well beyond the average railway enthusiast as they form strong social history in portraying such themes as contemporary life, changing fashion in dress (male and female), advertising slogans of the period and excessive numbers of railway staff at many stations. They also show the varied styles of station, bridge and viaduct architecture as well as the way communities have changed. - A lavish reasonably-priced, hardback book, roughly covering the railway period in Yorkshire 1900- 1948 - Besides locomotives, stations, bridges, viaducts and other railway subjects are illustrated - Nothing has been gathered together in such a large sized book hitherto - Over 200 pin sharp photographs beautifully printed - A wealth of facts and figures useful to social historians and railway enthusiasts alike - A fantastic glimpse into Yorkshire's railway world in the first half of the 20th century.

Nigel Gresley built his Pacific class of locomotives to deal with increasing demands from passenger traffic. Some Pacifics started as Class A1s but were eventually rebuilt to Class A3 specifications. Others were built as A3s from the outset. Suffice to say the A3s underwent a number of significant alterations during their lifetime extending from 1922 to the mid 1960s. Gresley's A3s documents many members of the class in well-researched captions. These are set against photographs which appear in a chronological sequence. We learn how many different tenders were coupled to a locomotive; how they were converted from right hand to left hand drive; the many colour schemes employed; and latterly how trough deflectors were fitted to a number of engines. A finale to book is a section on the Flying Scotsman - a world-renowned engine that started as an A1 but was subsequently converted to A3. The engine has recently undergone a major overhaul and brought crowds out in their thousands when it appeared on an inaugural run. This is surely testament to the longevity of Gresley's great locomotives. - Many of these great locomotives were built and maintained in Yorkshire at Doncaster Works - A large number of colour photographs not hitherto seen previously - Evocative black and white pictures - The locomotives are seen all along the East Coast Main line, travelling on Scottish routes and the old Great Central line hauling many named trains. They are also depicted on shed and in works. - A lavish and aptly sized book that does justice to these much revered and sadly missed locomotives

One hundred years have passed from the formation of the largest British railway company – the London Midland & Scottish Railway. This was also the biggest transport concern in the world at the time. The LMSR was able to serve passengers and customers to a high standard up to the Second World War. During the conflict the LMSR made a valuable contribution to the war effort in terms of motive power provision, movement of goods and war materials. The Glorious Years of the LMS examines the company over the period 1923-1947 using over 250 high-quality black-and-white images. These are split into several sections: locomotives; carriages; war work; road vehicles; stations. The LMSR’s territory spread across much of England, Scotland and into Wales and the photographs have been taken at a number of locations. These include stations, lineside, sheds and workshops. Several companies constituted the LMSR, including the London & North Western Railway, Midland Railway, Caledonian Railway, Glasgow & South Western Railway, etc. Locomotives from these are included in the collection, alongside those of Sir Henry Fowler – Royal Scot 4-6-0, 4P 4-4-0, etc. – and Sir William Stanier. The latter’s designs are most associated with the LMSR and include Jubilee 4-6-0, Class 5 4-6-0, 8F 2-8-0, Princess Royal and Coronation Class Pacifics. The LMSR was an early pioneer of steel-panelled coaching stock and also experimented with different types of carriages – cocktail bar, club car, lounge. Luxurious sets were built for the Royal Scot and Coronation Scot named trains, whilst the company provided new Royal Train saloons in the early 1940s. At the time of Grouping, road transport was increasing and the LMSR was keen to keep the competition at bay. A fleet of nearly 30,000 vehicles was developed, ranging from horse-drawn drays to vans, lorries and specialised trucks, particularly for containerised traffic. The LMSR also branched into bus services. The LMSR existed for just 25 years and during that time the company, the officers and employees were able to create a lasting legacy of hard work, achievement and innovation.

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.

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.

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.

British Rail Standard Pacifics features steam locomotives in the Britannia,Duke of Gloucester, and Clan classes. - There are photographs of every Britannia class locomotive, the Duke of Gloucester and all the Clan class engines. - A book of this nature has not been seen hitherto. - There is a considerable number of evocative colour pictures as well as an abundance of pin-sharp black and white images. - The total number of pictures is around 300. - The captions are well researched and informative. - The Britannia class locomotives are seen in various locations up and down the country: in London, the West Country, East Anglia, North West, Yorkshire and many other areas. The Clan Class are mainly seen operating in Scotland but a few are seen south of the Border. - Many engines are depicted undertaking a variety of duties as well as being captured on shed. Several are seen on works and on the scrap line. - The book will be of interest to both rail enthusiasts and social historians alike.

The book concentrates on the London Midland Region in the final years of steam traction covering the period 1948 to 1966. All major London Midland Region towns and cities are represented. - A fascinating collection of hitherto unpublished black and white photographs by former Senior British Medical Council researcher, Ben Brooksbank. - Over 275 photographs are included. - The photographs show remarkable clarity even though photographic materials were difficult to obtain during the immediate post-war period. - Many different classes of locomotives are featured, ranging from the old Midland and LNWR engines ready for withdrawal in the late 1940s, the ex- MR Johnson 0-6-0s which would survive a little longer, the Fowler classes quietly going about their business, the Stanier Class 5 and 8Fs covered in grime, but still efficient, while a bit of 'glamour' is provided by (some) neatly turned out named 'Jubilee' 4-6-0s and 'Coronation' Pacifics. The next generation of locomotives - the BR Standards - also appear, with the 'Britannia' Pacifics included along with Class 5 4-6-0s, Class 4 4-6-0s, Class 4 2-6- 0s, Class 3 2-6-2Ts and the heavy freight 9F 2-10-0s. - Photographs have been taken from the line-side, on station platforms, on shed, around a number of Works and along lines which have long since disappeared. - The captions are well researched and include locomotive details as well as historical information about the various routes, stations and other architectural features

Arthur Henry Peppercorn, OBE (29 January 1889 - 3 March 1951) was the last Chief Mechanical Engineer (CME) of the London and North Eastern Railway. Peppercorn finished several projects which were started by his predecessor Edward Thompson, but most popular were his LNER Peppercorn Class A1 and the LNER Peppercorn Class A2 . These were known as some of the best British steam locomotives ever in service. Upon nationalisation and the foundation of British Railways, he continued in essentially the same job, now titled "Chief Mechanical Engineer, Eastern and North Eastern Regions"; he retired at the end of 1949, two years after nationalisation. Only one of his famous Pacific locomotives, a LNER Peppercorn Class A2, 60532 Blue Peter, was preserved, but none of the LNER Peppercorn Class A1. However, a brand new A1, 60163 Tornado, built as the next in the class, has been constructed. It moved under its own steam for the first time in August 2008. The book will detail Peppercorn's life with as many personal pictures as possible. It will include black and white and colour pictures of 49 of his A1 locomotives and 15 of his A2 locomotives. The pictures will show the locomotives under construction, from the lineside and on shed.