Britain was the pioneering force behind the birth of the steam locomotive. This authoritative visual reference spans over 150 years of railway history, featuring 85 class profiles, a comprehensive glossary and over 200 photographs.

Between 1900 and 1950, Americans built the most powerful steam locomotives of all time--enormous engines that powered a colossal industry. They were deceptively simple machines, yet, the more their technology was studied, the more obscure it became. Despite immense and sustained engineering efforts, steam locomotives remained grossly inefficient in their use of increasingly costly fuel and labor. In the end, they baffled their masters and, as soon as diesel-electric technology provided an alternative, steam locomotives disappeared from American railroads. Drawing on the work of eminent engineers and railroad managers of the day, this lavishly illustrated history chronicles the challenges, triumphs and failures of American steam locomotive development and operation.

Ken Gibbs tells the history of the engineering triumph that is a steam locomotive from the 1800s to the 1960s showing how each development changed the course of history.

British Steam Locomotives Before Preservation, covers the history in pictorial form of steam locomotives that are now preserved as part of the national collection. Those which can be found in private collections and the ones which adorn the various heritage railways which operate throughout Britain. The book looks at each subject both in its working life and during its subsequent preservation. The pictorial content covers a wide swathe of Britain during the years before the heritage locomotives, were earmarked for preservation.

do you want to know everything on steam locos, how they work? Read about the technology and lots of steam locos like the flying Scotsman. Compiled from Wikipedia pages and published by dr Googelberg.

Containing over 25,000 entries, this unique volume will be absolutely indispensable for all those with an interest in Britain in the twentieth century. Accessibly arranged by theme, with helpful introductions to each chapter, a huge range of topics is covered. There is a comprehensiveindex.