British Railways Diesel Electric Classes 44 To 46

Derby Works introduced the first mainline Diesel to UK service with the production of LMS 10000 in 1947, although mainline diesels had previously been tested on post-Grouping main lines prior to being exported. When British Railways' Modernization Plan of 1955 was initiated by a Pilot Scheme to identify the best features for a future standard diesel fleet, Derby Works upgraded the design to produce its Type 4 - later Class 44 - locomotive that ultimately spawned 193 locomotives encompassing 3 variants which powered trains throughout the UK network. Fred Kerr lived close to the Midland Main Line in Northamptonshire and observed the class from their introduction in May 1959 to their final withdrawal in the 1980s and has amassed a collection of images showing them working both freight and passenger duties throughout the UK but particularly on the Midland Main Line where the Class 45 variant held sway for nearly 25 years. This album contains images from his extensive collection and, supported by a brief text, reflects the history of the 3 variants by showing the variety of services which they powered and the wide range of locations where class members were to be found.

Derby Works introduced the first mainline Diesel to UK service with the production of LMS 10000 in 1947, although mainline diesels had previously been tested on post-Grouping main lines prior to being exported. When British Railways' Modernization Plan of 1955 was initiated by a Pilot Scheme to identify the best features for a future standard diesel fleet, Derby Works upgraded the design to produce its Type 4 - later Class 44 - locomotive that ultimately spawned 193 locomotives encompassing 3 variants which powered trains throughout the UK network. Fred Kerr lived close to the Midland Main Line in Northamptonshire and observed the class from their introduction in May 1959 to their final withdrawal in the 1980s and has amassed a collection of images showing them working both freight and passenger duties throughout the UK but particularly on the Midland Main Line where the Class 45 variant held sway for nearly 25 years. This album contains images from his extensive collection and, supported by a brief text, reflects the history of the 3 variants by showing the variety of services which they powered and the wide range of locations where class members were to be found.

The London Midland Region covered a huge part of England from London to the north and north west, from the Scottish borders into the south west. It served huge metropolitan cities and towns, supported heavy industry, and ran through areas of outstanding natural beauty such as the Peak District and Lake District. Modelling the Midland Region from 1948 is an essential guide to creating your own model based on the London Midland Region of the British Railways era. It covers the history of the London Midland Region; British Rail and LMS locomotives; passenger and goods rolling stock; structures and scenery unique to the region, and signalling and electrification. The authors of this book are trustees of the charity Famous Trains model railway and directors of its operating company Famous Trains Ltd. An essential guide to creating your own model based on the London Midland region, for all scales and levels of interest, and fully illustrated with 232 colour photographs and 15 diagrams.

As Britain moved from austerity to prosperity in the 1950s and 1960s, it became clear that British Railways needed to modernise its equipment and rationalise its network if it was to hold its own in the face of growing competition from road and air transport. After attempting to maintain pre-war networks and technology in the 1950s, a reversal of policy in the 1960s brought line closures, new liveries and the last breath of steam, as Dr Beeching and his successors strove to break even and build a new business from the old. From Britannia to the 'Blue Pullman', Evening Star to Inter-City, Greg Morse takes us through this turbulent twenty-year period, which started with drab prospects and ended with BR poised to launch the fastest diesel-powered train in the world.

After the Second World War, the drive for the modernisation of Britain's railways ushered in a new breed of locomotive: the Diesel. Diesel-powered trains had been around for some time, but faced with a coal crisis and the Clean Air Act in the 1950s, it was seen as a part of the solution for British Rail. This beautifully illustrated book, written by an expert on rail history, charts the rise and decline of Britain's diesel-powered locomotives. It covers a period of great change and experimentation, where the iconic steam engines that had dominated for a century were replaced by a series of modern diesels including the ill-fated 'Westerns' and the more successful 'Deltics'.

This comprehensive history of these unique locomotives covers everything from performance issues to sightings, detail differences and liveries. The Type 2 Bo-Bo Diesel-Electric Classes 21 & 29 locomotives were constructed by the North British Locomotive Company in the early 1960s. Used in the Scottish region of British Railway, they ran into numerous problems and were withdrawn from service within a decade. Due in part to their short careers, these locomotives remain something of a mystery to train enthusiasts. The scant information available on them is very often riddled with misinformation. This authoritative volume corrects the record, presenting the most comprehensive and accurate account of the NBL Classes 21 & 29. Fully illustrated with photographs and detailed line drawings, this volume offers individual locomotive histories, complete technical specifications, accident and fire damage reports, storage histories, and a complete account of their disposal at both private companies and Glasgow Works.