Swindon Rail Scene: Hydraulics to HSTs

This book captures the railway industry in Swindon during a period of transition, from Western Region hydraulics to diesel electric power, with the arrival of HSTs. The works site, once a bustling hub, is now a shadow of its former past.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 96 pages
Publication date: 15 May 2021
Publisher: Amberley Publishing

From its Victorian beginnings to the deafening echoes of the final works hooter in 1986, Swindon played a pivotal role in the railway industry. Undoubtedly, this marked the end of an era; today, the works site stands as a mere shadow of its former glory, with the majestic 'A Shop' and the carriage and wagon shops east of the Gloucester line now lost to time. However, the arrival of electrification has brought about a remarkable transformation in the railway landscape. Spanning two decades, from the late 1960s to the late 1980s, the images captured in this book encapsulate not only the bustling works, stations, and yards during this period but also the scenic main line and the surrounding local areas, including Stratton St Margaret in the east, Wootton Bassett to the west, and Purton on the Gloucester line to the north. This was a time of transition, as Western Region hydraulics gave way to the powerful diesel electric power, culminating in the eventual arrival of the iconic HSTs in the area.

Weight: 300g
Dimension: 165 x 234 x 12 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781398100541