For over 150 years Britain's railways have relied on a system of semaphore signalling, but by 2020, all semaphore signals and lineside signal boxes will be gone. A Contemporary Perspective on GWR Signalling provides a unique record of the last operational mechanical signalling and infrastructure on Britain's railway network, as it applied to the former Great Western Railway (and lines owned jointly with other companies). It also includes a comprehensive explanation of what mechanical signalling is and how it works. Beautifully illustrated with over 400 contemporary images and with detailed information from a 2003-2014 survery, this is an essential resource for anyone with an interest in the traditional signalling systems of railways in Britain. The book covers: lineside signalling equipment - semaphore signals, brackets and gantries, and other variations; ways of working, from Absolute Block to Track Circuit Block (TCB); detailed coverage of the signal boxes and infrastructure on Network Rail, including routes through Shrewsbury, Hereford, Worcester, Cornwall, Chester and North Warwickshire; and diagrams of the major routes.

For over 150 years Britain's railways have relied on a system of semaphore signalling, but by 2020, all semaphore signals and lineside signal boxes will be gone. A Contemporary Perspective on GWR Signalling provides a unique record of the last operational mechanical signalling and infrastructure on Britain's railway network, as it applied to the former Great Western Railway (and lines owned jointly with other companies). It also includes a comprehensive explanation of what mechanical signalling is and how it works. Beautifully illustrated with over 400 contemporary images and with detailed information from a 2003-2014 survey, this is an essential resource for anyone with an interest in the traditional signalling systems of railways in Britain. The book covers: Lineside signalling equipment - semaphore signals, brackets and gantries, and other variations. Ways of working, from Absolute Block to Track Circuit Block (TCB). Detailed coverage of the signal boxes and infrastructure on Network Rail, including routes through Shrewsbury, Hereford, Worcester, Cornwall, Chester and North Warwickshire. Diagrams of the major routes.

For over 150 years Britain's railways have relied on a system of semaphore signalling, but by 2020, all semaphore signals and lineside signal boxes will be gone. In his previous book, author Allen Jackson covered the GWR lines; here, he continues his journey by providing a pictorial record of the last operational signalling and infrastructure on Britain's railway network, as it applied to the former London, Midland and Scottish Railway (and lines owned jointly with other companies). This first volume covers the routes of the following companies: Midland Railway; Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway; Furness Railway; Glasgow and South Western Railway, and North Staffordshire Railway. Beautifully illustrated with over 400 contemporary images and with detailed information from a 2003-2014 survey, this is an essential resource for anyone with an interest in the traditional signalling systems of railways in Britain.

For over 150 years Britain's railways have relied on a system of semaphore signalling, but by 2020, all semaphore signals and lineside signal boxes will be gone. In his previous book, author Allen Jackson covered the GWR lines; here, he continues his journey by providing a pictorial record of the last operational signalling and infrastructure on Britain's railway network, as it applied to the former London, Midland and Scottish Railway (and lines owned jointly with other companies). This second volume covers the routes of the London and North Western Railway, the Caledonian Railway and the Highland Railway. Beautifully illustrated with over 400 contemporary colour photographs and with detailed information from a 2003-2014 survey, this is an essential resource for railway enthusiasts, rail historians, railway modellers and anyone interested in this aspect of Britain's heritage.

GWR; Great Western Railway; George Jackson Churchward; Boilers; Valves; GWR 4-6-0; De Glehn Compound; 4-4-2 Atlantic; Star Class; Scissors Valve Gear; L&NWR; London and North Western Railway; WWII; LNER; London and North Eastern Railway; LMSR; London Midland and Scottish Railway; Castle Class; Cheltenham Spa Express; King Class; Shrivenham Collision; 1948 Locomotive Exchanges; railway preservation; William Dean; Swindon; steam engine; Belpaire locomotive firebox; 5043 Earl of Mount Edgecumbe; R.M. Deeley; Lode Star; North Star; Dog Star; Evening Star; Morning Star; Polar Star; Red Star; Rising Star; Royal Star; Shooting Star; Western Star; Swallowfield Park; Knight of the Garter; Knight of the Thistle; Knight of the Patrick; Knight of the Bath; Knight of St. John; Knight of the Golden Fleece; Knight of the Black Eagle; Knight of Liège; Knight of the Grand Cross; Knight Templar; Knight Commander; William Stanier; Caerphilly Castle; Caldicot Castle; Cardiff Castle; Carmarthen Castle; Chepstow Castle; Pembroke Castle; Pendennis Castle; Powderham Castle; Warwick Castle; Windsor Castle; Midgham derailment; King Edward VII; King William IV; King George IV; King George III; King George II; King George I; King William III; King James II; King Charles II; King Charles I; King James I; King Edward VI; King Edward VIII; King Henry VII; King Richard III; King Edward V; King Edward IV; King Henry VI; King Henry V; King Henry IV; King Richard II; King Edward III; King Edward II; King Edward I; King Henry III; King John; King Richard I; King Henry II; King Stephen; steam locomotive; British Railways; Shakespeare Express; The Bristolian; Cornish Riviera Express; Cheltenham Flyer

The name 'Great Western Railway' immediately conjures up images of Stars, Castles and Kings, the legendary express passenger locomotives that were the envy of the world in their day. However, the Swindon empire also produced extensive fleets of all-purpose tank engines - everyday reliable workhorses and unsung heroes - which were standout classics in their own right. The most distinctive and immediately recognizable type in terms of shape, all but unique to the GWR, was the six-coupled pannier tank. With hundreds of photographs throughout, Great Western Railway Pannier Tanks covers the supremely innovative pannier tank designs of GWR chief mechanical engineer Charles Benjamin Collett, the appearance of the 5700 class in 1929, and the 5400, 6400, 7400 and 9400 classes. Also, the demise of the panniers in British Railways service and the 5700s that marked the end of Western Region steam, followed by a second life beneath the streets - 5700 class panniers on London Underground. Also covers Panniers in preservation, plus cinema and TV roles and even a Royal Train duty. Superbly illustrated with 260 colour and black & white photographs.

An examination of four hundred years of railways in Shropshire, from the primitive wagonways of the pre-railway age to the county's current rail network and services. Fully illustrated with almost two hundred monochrome and colour photos, Shropshire Railways is an ideal resource for anyone with an interest in this county with its rich railway history, and home to one of Britain's top heritage railways. Including detailed route maps and a survey of timetables over the years, the book covers the pre-railway age and the coming of the main lines, with the opening of the Shrewsbury and Chester railway in 1848; the 'grouping' of the railway companies from 1923 - the Great Western Railway (GWR) and London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) era in the county; the British Railways period from 1948-1994 - nationalization and modernization, passenger and freight trains, and locomotive sheds; the minor lines, the industrial railways and the heritage railways; privatization and the current main line scene. Illustrated with 205 colour and black & white photographs and maps.