Comprehensive coverage and illustrations.

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Product Description

In 1948, the newly-created British Railways inherited more than 20,000 steam locomotives from the 'Big Four' companies and from the other smaller railways nationalised at the same time. Over the next 12 years, production of steam locomotives continued with, initially, many of the pre-nationalisation designs being continued before the introduction of the new BR Standard classes in 1951. A total of 999 BR Standards were constructed between then and the construction of the last new main line locomotive - '9F' No 92220 Evening Star - in 1960. In addition more than 750 ex-WD Austerity locomotives were also taken into stock. Despite these numbers, however, by the end of August 1968, with the exception of the three narrow gauge locomotives on the Vale of Rheidol, all BR-owned steam locomotives had been withdrawn, with the vast majority being consigned to scrap. Based around years of research, BR Steam Locomotives 1948-1968 is an exhaustive account of each and every steam locomotive operated by the nationalised railway between 1948 and 1968. Covering all the classes inherited in 1948 as well as those constructed post-nationalisation, the book enables the reader to identify precisely the history of each individual locomotive. Information provided includes technical data, modifications, date of construction, names, date of withdrawal and much else, thus proving the reader with a single-volume reference to the many thousands of steam locomotives operated between 1948 and the end of main line steam in 1968. Alongside the data, the book also includes illustrations portraying many of the classes. With its comprehensive coverage, BR Steam Locomotives 1948-1968 is destined to become the standard reference book to the subject.

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #38505 in Books
• Published on: 2005-03-18
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 320 pages

About the Author
Hugh Longworth lives in Twickenham. Based upon years of research, this is his first book for Ian Allan Publishing.

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Customer Reviews

Steam Buffs Dream
This book is the ultimate book for any steam enthusiast and loco spotter from British Railways steam era,with photographs,details of locomotive classes,from building to withdrawl or preservation,every single locomotive number is listed!.
A book no steam loving trainspotter should be without,i glad i got mine!.

a fine chronicle of british railways steam
When I was a lad one of my most prized possessions was a 1949 Ian Allan Combined Volume and I never quite got over its loss; up to the publication of Hugh Longworth's fine volume, that is.

Every steam locomotive owned by British Railways is covered with dimensions and historical accounts of all the classes together with details of the eventual fate of every loco. Very useful appendices include details of the longest and shortest survivals and monthly withdrawals with each loco listed under the month and year of withdrawal. This appendix in particular brought back the pain of seeing the wholesale slaughter of such noble beasts. 1962 was the watershed year and up to that point it had been possible to delude oneself that steam might survive for decades in Britain. It's still hard to credit the fact that the 20,000 locos that passed into BR ownership would all be gone twenty years later.

This book is surely a must have for all of those interested in British Railways steam. If I have any criticisms, it is the slight one that I would have preferred more photographs- perhaps many more but smaller. Several times I found myself searching for a photo of a particular class only to find there wasn't one present

Fantastic UK steam compendium
This is the book which I had been waiting years for. A very high quality book listing all UK steam engines 1948 - 1968 and their ultimate fate (with withdrawl dates by month). A terrific bargain at the Amazon price!