The Gwr Handbook

For many the GWR was synonymous with holidays by the sea in the West Country, but it was built to serve as a fast railway line to London, especially for the merchants and financiers of Bristol. Its operations stretched as far as Merseyside, it provided most services in Wales, and it was the main line to Cardiff, Bristol, Cornwall and Birmingham. This book, a classic first published in 2006, reveals the equipment, stations, network, shipping and air services, bus operations including Western National, and overall reach and history of the GWR. Forming part of a series, along with The LMS Handbook, The LNER Handbook and The Southern Railway Handbook, this new edition provides an authoritative and highly detailed reference of information about the GWR.

This book looks at the history and achievements of one of the greatest railway companies. The author includes photographs and diagrams illustrating the GWR's equipment, some railway stations, its network, shipping and air services, bus operations, including Western National. It also lists locomotives and includes some comparative timetables showing progress between 1923 and 1938.

The Southern Railway may not have been the most glamorous of the 'Big Four' companies that emerged from the grouping of 1923, but it was the great innovator. In the 1930s the Southern pioneered the first main-line electrification and created the largest electrified suburban railway network in the world. It was also one of the few to offer regular departures and the first to run true international services, introducing the 'Night Ferry' through-trains from London to Paris using special ferries. Forming part of a series, along with The GWR Handbook, The LMS Handbook and The LNER Handbook, this new edition provides an authoritative and highly detailed reference of information about the Southern Railway.

The Southern Railway has not always been seen as the most glamorous of the four companies that emerged from the grouping of 1923, but it was the great innovator. It was the Southern that created the largest electrified suburban railway network in the world before the Second World War, and pioneered the first main-line electrification in 1931. The Southern re-introduced the concept of services at even intervals, so that passengers did not need to carry a timetable. The Southern was also first with true international services, introducing the 'Night Ferry' through trains from London to Paris in 1936 using special train ferries. Its chief engineer in the later years, Oliver Bullied, not only designed electric as well as steam rolling stock, but many features of his locomotives were introduced on standard BR rolling stock. This extensively illustrated book, a sister title to LMS Handbook, LNER Handbook and GWR Handbook, provides a unique source for highly detailed reference information about the GWR: text, tabular details and photographs of its locomotives and rolling stock, its other equipment, its depots and some railway stations, and its network.

Renowned for its express locomotive Mallard setting a world speed record (126mph) for steam locomotives that endures to this day, the London & North Eastern Railway was the second largest of the 'Big Four' railway companies to emerge from the 1923 grouping and also the most diverse, with its prestigious high-speed trains from King's Cross balanced by an intensive suburban and commuter service from Liverpool Street and a high dependence on freight. Noted for its cautious board and thrifty management, the LNER gained a reputation for being poor but honest. Forming part of a series, along with The GWR Handbook, The LMS Handbook and The Southern Railway Handbook, this new edition provides an authoritative and highly detailed reference of information about the LNER.

A narrative history of the most iconic railway company of the great age of steam.

The Southern Railway may not have been the most glamorous of the ‘Big Four’ companies that emerged from the grouping of 1923, but it was the great innovator. In the 1930s the Southern pioneered the first main-line electrification and created the largest electrified suburban railway network in the world. It was also one of the few to offer regular departures and the first to run true international services, introducing the ‘Night Ferry’ through-trains from London to Paris using special ferries. Forming part of a series, along with The GWR Handbook, The LMS Handbook and The LNER Handbook, this new edition provides an authoritative and highly detailed reference of information about the Southern Railway.