Colonel Stephens Light Railway Locomotives

Holman Fred Stephens (1868-1931) was an engineer and manager of light railways, which were not an assemblage of second-hand mainline equipment but of fit-for-purpose, new material. However, due to the inability to raise sufficient capital, he resorted to the second-hand market, becoming a master at building and running railways with the minimum of capital. Inadequate engineering facilities handicapped the mechanical performance of his railways, leading to limited standardization and a glorious kaleidoscope of locomotives, with each locomotive name being more important than its number.

Format: Hardback
Length: 176 pages
Publication date: 12 September 2023
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd

Holman Fred Stephens (1868-1931) established himself as an engineer and manager of the comprehensive light railway system that emerged as a result of Victorian theorists' vision to provide affordable transportation to rural areas that had yet to benefit from cheaper modes of travel. These theorists viewed a light railway as a purposeful and modern system, composed of new materials rather than a collection of second-hand mainline equipment of questionable quality. However, this ideal theory did not withstand the widespread challenge of securing sufficient capital to construct and equip a light railway that would yield a reasonable profit. Consequently, recourse was taken to the second-hand market. Stephens became an expert in the art of building and operating railways with minimal capital. Unfortunately, the history of the mechanical performance of his railways was often hindered by inadequate engineering facilities, which left staff struggling to operate a diverse range of locomotive types. While limited standardization was practiced, expediency often prevailed, leading to a splendid array of locomotives. Stephens held a unique perspective, considering a locomotive's name to be of greater significance than its numerical designation. This diversity was further enriched by Stephens' belief that a locomotive's name should reflect its character and history, rather than merely serving as a numerical identifier.

Weight: 1016g
Dimension: 259 x 248 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781399023436