A fascinating collection of photographs of the last steam locomotives to run on Bristol and Somerset's railways.

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.

A history of post second world war steam locomotive design and construction in Great Britain, the perfect gift for railroad history buffs. After WWII the existing railway companies were all put into the control of the newly formed British Transport Commission and that government organization spawned British Railways, which came into being on January 1st 1948. The railway infrastructure had suffered badly during the war years and most of the steam locomotives were “tired” and badly maintained and or life expired. Although the management of British Railways was already planning to replace steam power with diesel and electric engines, they still decided to build more steam locomotives as a stop gap. Some 999 Standard locomotives were built in twelve classes ranging from super powerful express and freight engines to suburban tank locomotives. The locomotives were mainly in good order when the directive came in 1968 to end steam, some trains were only eight years old. There still exists a fleet of forty-six preserved Standards of which 75% are in working order in and around the UKs preserved railways, furthermore three new build standard locomotives are proposed. Steam fans who were around in the 1960s all remember the “Standards.”

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.

This collection of historic photographs showcases the steam trains of England’s Southern Railway from Devon and Cornwall to Wimbledon and beyond. Train enthusiast Don Benn photographed steam locomotives along England’s Southern Railway from 1960 until steam engines were retired in 1967. In his most prolific years, between 1961 and 1963, Benn captured the last of the classic ex Southern Railway designs, such as the King Arthurs, Lord Nelson and Schools classes. Beloved trains such as the Bournemouth Belle and Lymington Pier boat trains are shown to good effect. The 150 black and white photos presented in this volume, many published here for the first time, span the Southern Region from the east to the ‘withered arm’ in Devon and Cornwall. Special focus is paid to the areas just south and south west of London, including such historic locations as the footpaths at South Croydon and Wimbledon.