Modern Traction in the North of England

In the last years of British Rail and the first years of privatisation, John Whiteley photographed a photographic survey of modern traction in the North of England. The photographs cover the period from the early 1960s to the 1990s, including the London Midland and North Eastern Regions and Rail Blue. Sectorisation in the 1980s brought visible changes, and privatisation in the 1990s accelerated this process. The area covered ranges from northern Derbyshire and northern Cheshire to Yorkshire, Lancashire, Cumbria, and up to the Scottish border, as well as in and around Manchester and Liverpool.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 96 pages
Publication date: 15 January 2024
Publisher: Amberley Publishing

In the final years of British Rail and the early years of privatisation, John Whiteley offers a comprehensive photographic survey of contemporary transportation in the North of England. The photographs span from the early 1960s to the 1990s, capturing a pivotal era in the region's railway history.

At the outset of this period, British Rail was divided into regions, with the North of England covered by the London Midland Region and North Eastern Region. During the 1960s, Rail Blue emerged as the dominant livery, defining the visual identity of the railways in the region.

The 1980s marked a significant era of sectorisation in the railways, bringing about visible changes in liveries and motive power. This process gained momentum in the 1990s, during the decade of privatisation, which saw the introduction of new liveries and the retirement of older locomotives.

The survey encompasses a vast area, stretching from northern Derbyshire and northern Cheshire, including Chester, to Yorkshire, Lancashire, Cumbria, and even reaching up to the Scottish border. It also includes depots and stations in and around Manchester and Liverpool, providing a comprehensive view of the region's railway network during this transformative period.

This photographic survey offers a captivating glimpse into the evolution of transportation in the North of England, capturing the transition from British Rail to privatisation and the subsequent changes that shaped the region's railways. It will be of interest to railway enthusiasts, historians, and anyone with a passion for the history of transportation in this part of the country.

Weight: 308g
Dimension: 165 x 234 x 9 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781398116627