Locomotives

Peter J. Coster    [Publisher:  Irwell Press  2003]    Hardback    164 pages

This is different to the other books in this series in that there is not a complete set of detailed biographies for the class. An appendix shows tabulated key dates and details for all class members, but mostly this book is a spectacular pictorial celebration of a truly great locomotive class. The text recalls their exploits drawing on the personal observations of the author as a lineside enthusiast and also the experiences of engineers who worked with the locomotives.

Hector Maxwell    [Publisher:  Transport Treasury  2020]    Softback    112 pages

A really classy collection of images of Bulleid's wartime mixed traffic design, all taken from the extensive photographic archive of the Transport Treasury. Superbly reproduced and printed, the locomotives are largely shown in their numerical order. The author writes with enthusiasm and includes much detail about the locomotives and quotes his references too, but I find it strange if not a little irritating that for nearly all of the images we are not told who the photographer was. Being hyper critical, the text is a bit verbose and gushy in places and the whole thing could have done with some editing for meaning and sense, but for all that it is far better to have this book in the world than not I think.

David Haydock    [Publisher:  Platform 5  2016]    Softback    240 pages

A complete listing of all French locomotives and Multiple Units, complete with good quality colour photographs, a detailed and colour coded series of maps of French railways and brief descriptions of individual lines.

Jeremy English    [Publisher:  Ian Allan  2014]    Hardback    128 pages

A nicely produced and well illustrated book describing the Atlantics in some detail, works drawing are included as is a small but effective section on the project tobuild a new example.

Dave Peel    [Publisher:  Kestrel Publishing  2013]    Softback    74 pages

A non technical but interesting account of locomotive testing on British Railways using dynamometer cars and indicator shelters, work which preceeded the establishment of the Derby test centre in 1967.

G.F. Bird    [Publisher:  Amberley Publishing  2014]    Softback    160 pages

A reprint of a book published as long ago as 1910, but with a modern introduction. Lots of well known names, Sturrock, Stirling and Ivatt and mainly illustrated by line drawings.

Frank Jones    [Publisher:  Lightmoor  1998]    Softback    112 pages

A really fascinating book, profusely illustrated and detailing all the locomotives which were sold out of the ownership of mainline companies into industry. A very wide variety of types were involved and several unique preserved locomotives owe their existence to the phenomenon, for example the Furness Railway Sharp Stewarts, one of which has just been rebuilt into its original form.