British Railways in the 1960s: Western Region

After the Second World War, Britain's railways were in a state of disrepair, and the Big Four railway companies were nationalized in 1948. British Railways embarked on a program to build new Standard steam locomotives to replace older types, but this was superseded by the 1955 scheme to dieselize and electrify many lines. The Geoff Plumb Collection is a photographic account of the last few years of the steam locomotives, their decline, and replacement during the transition years. The photos cover large parts of the country and reflect real life and real times.

Format: Hardback
Length: 176 pages
Publication date: 29 June 2021
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd

After the Second World War, Britain's railways were in a state of disrepair, requiring extensive investment and modernization. The Big Four railway companies were nationalized in 1948, and the newly formed British Railways embarked on a program to build new Standard steam locomotives to replace older types. These began to enter service in 1951. However, this program was superseded by the 1955 scheme to dieselize and electrify many lines, leading to the last Standard-type locomotive being built in 1960. By 1968, steam locomotives had been completely withdrawn from the BR network.

This series of books, known as The Geoff Plumb Collection, is a photographic account of the final years of steam locomotives in Britain. Each book focuses on one of the former Big Four railway companies, including the Southern Railway, London Midland & Scottish Railway, Great Western Railway, and London & North Eastern Railway, along with some images of the Scottish lines operated by the LMS and LNER. While the books do not provide a comprehensive history of the railways, they aim to illustrate how things were during a relatively recent period and provide informative captions that convey a sense of occasion, such as the last run of a locomotive type or the closure of a particular line.

The photographs in the collection cover a significant portion of the country, although it was not possible to capture every location due to the limited timeframe and financial constraints faced by the author during his schoolboy years. Despite the limitations of the equipment available at the time, the photographs accurately depict real life and real-time scenes.

In essence, this collection offers a glimpse into a bygone era, providing a unique perspective on the decline and replacement of steam locomotives in Britain's railways during the transition years. The photographs, accompanied by detailed captions, offer a valuable resource for railway enthusiasts and historians alike, allowing them to appreciate the beauty and significance of these iconic machines.

Weight: 990g
Dimension: 259 x 248 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781473823952