The Great Western Steam Retreat: Chasing the Final Steam Trains in BR's Western Region, Wales and the Welsh Marches

In mid-1964, Keith Widdowson heard that the Western Region was determined to eliminate steam locomotives by December 1965. He focused on GWR steam power to catch runs with the last examples before their premature annihilation. The Great Western Steam Retreat documents Widdowson's teenage exploits, soundtracked by hits from the Beatles, the Kinks, and the Rolling Stones, throughout the Western Region and former Great Western Railway lines. It pays tribute to the train crews who managed to meet demanding timings in the face of declining cleanliness, poor quality of coal, and recruiting staff. This book completes the author's Steam Chase series and provides a snapshot into the camaraderie of the final years of steam alongside long-gone journeys that can never be recreated.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 06 January 2022
Publisher: The History Press Ltd

In mid-1964, Keith Widdowson caught wind of the Western Region's determined push to eliminate steam locomotives from its tracks by December 1965. Eager to witness the last glimpses of these iconic machines, the 17-year-old quickly focused on train services still operated by GWR steam power. His mission was to catch runs with the final examples before their premature demise.

The Great Western Steam Retreat vividly chronicles Widdowson's teenage adventures, set to the soundtrack of hits from The Beatles, The Kinks, and The Rolling Stones, as he traversed the Western Region and former Great Western Railway lines. He vividly documents the chaotic aftermath of this decision, paying tribute to the train crews who valiantly managed to meet demanding timetables despite declining cleanliness, subpar coal quality, and the significant challenge of recruiting both footplate and shed staff. This book serves as a fitting conclusion to the author's Steam Chase series, offering a poignant glimpse into the camaraderie that characterized the final years of steam alongside the irreplaceable journeys that have passed into history.

Weight: 548g
Dimension: 234 x 157 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780750998079