The East Coast Main Line


Book Description

With a wealth of previously unpublished images, Adam Head captures the first major part of the famous East Coast Main Line.




History of the East Coast Main Line


Book Description

Since the mid-nineteenth century the East Coast Main Line has been one of the major routes from London to northern England and to Scotland. It has seen some of the greatest achievements in the railways, most notably the 'Flying Scotsman' becoming, in 1934, the first locomotive in the world to exceed 100mph and the 'Mallard' in 1938 claiming the as-yet-unbroken world speed record for steam locomotives of 126mph. The East Coast Main Line not only made history by facilitating an ever-faster link between two capital cities, it also provided an international stage for Britain's engineering marvels, inspiring many generations of schoolboys and adults alike. That was to continue after the end of the steam era on British Railways, with diesel and then electric traction setting a series of new records over the route. This new book looks at how the London-Edinburgh line became the world's fastest steam railway and how its proud and unique heritage is appreciated and celebrated today more than ever before. Superbly illustrated with over 300 colour and black & white photographs.




The East Coast Main Line 1939-1959 (Volume 2)


Book Description

• The first detailed study of this huge mainline through its operational history • Features extended commentaries from the authors, rich in detail • Superbly illustrated with black and white photographs, many never seen before In this second and final volume, the whole of the East Coast Main Line between King’s Cross and Edinburgh Waverley stations is examined closely, with a particular emphasis on the ways and structures: the line, stations, connections, yards, and other physical features. Interposed are accounts of the traffic at the principal stations – including connecting and branch line services – with observations on changes over the period 1939 to 1959. Some emphasis is placed on freight traffic on account of its importance and, perhaps, its relative unfamiliarity to the reader. The lines, stations and many other elements are described as they were in August 1939, but as some plans on which they are based are dated before the late 1930s, there may be marginal differences from the precise layout in 1939.




Train Doctor


Book Description

Train Doctor is the story of Roger Senior's career in the railway industry, from 1968 when the author joined British Railways, until his retirement from Great North Eastern Railway.The book takes you from the 1970s period, with its first generation Diesels, through to privatisation in 1994 and the electrified East Coast main line.This will be of interest to enthusiasts and modern railway historians, with its inside look at the railway industry during a time of considerable change.The author began his career with first generation diesel classes, on the Eastern Region, of what was then British Railways and went on to work with the High Speed Train Fleet, when they were first introduced to main line service, in the 1970s.This is a story of troubleshooting, with many different types of modern traction over a period of twenty-five years, an insight in to the trials and tribulations of keeping the railway running, in all weathers and at all costs.Roger Senior later worked with electric traction, both before and after privatisation, on the East Coast main line, finishing his career with Great North Eastern Railway as the Resident Engineer for the refurbishment of the MK1V fleet known as the Mallard project.




Electrifying the East Coast Route


Book Description

This sequel to Speed on the East Coast Main Line is a history of British Rail's largest investment programme for 25 years - the electrification of the East Coast Main Line, which will be completed in May 1991. The book covers its engineering, locomotive rolling-stock and signalling.




The Lancashire Derbyshire and East Coast Railway


Book Description

In the days when coal was king, an ambitious plan was laid for an east-to-west cross country rail route, connecting the Manchester Ship Canal at Warrington to a new dock near the small east coast village of Sutton-on-Sea. Grandly titled The Lancashire, Derbyshire and East Coast Railway, history was to show that this line would reach neither Warrington nor Sutton-on-Sea with only the Chesterfield to Pyewipe Junction section and a branch to Sheffield ever being completed. Taken over by the G.C.R. in 1907, the route was primarily a coal-carrying railway, although it did have a passenger service that lasted until 1955. Discover the former LD&ECR, the self-styled 'Dukeries Route' and its branches, through the lenses of photographers from over 100 years. From the main line between Chesterfield and Lincoln, the Beighton Branch, the Sheffield District Railway and the Mansfield Railway, to the motive power depots at Chesterfield, Tuxford and Langwith Junction. This is a photographic journey bringing you the story of the railway from the early days to its final days, including the last coal train to use the route.




British Industrial Steam Locomotives


Book Description

The first steam locomotives used on any British railway, worked in industry. The use of new and second hand former main line locomotives, was once a widespread aspect of the railways of Britain. This volume covers many of the once numerous manufacturers who constructed steam locomotives for industry and contractors from the 19th to the mid 20th centuries. David Mather has spent many years researching and collecting photographs across Britain, of most of the different locomotive types that once worked in industry. This book is designed to be both a record of these various manufacturers and a useful guide to those researching and modelling industrial steam.




Nothing Like It In the World


Book Description

The story of the men who build the transcontinental railroad in the 1860's.




Modelling the East Coast Main Line in the British Railways Era


Book Description

Modelling the East Coast Main Line in the British Railways Era follows the construction of an East Coast Main Line layout in 00 gauge, based on the Little Bytham prototype. Little Bytham, nestled in rural Lincolnshire, is the station nearest to where the fastest steam exploits in the country were achieved. Nearby, the Flying Scotsman became the first steam locomotive to reach 100 miles per hour, Papyrus broke the world speed record for a non-streamlined locomotive, and Mallard set the current world speed record for a steam locomotive. This practical guide escorts the reader through all aspects of constructing an East Coast Main Line layout and topics include baseboard construction, track laying and ballasting; wiring and making signals; modelling scenery, buildings, locomotives, carriages and wagons and how to plan an operation sequence.The book also covers research, planning and preparation; constructional procedures, methods and techniques applicable to all scales, gauges, and time periods, and is a practical guide to all aspects of constructing an East Coast Main Line layout. Lavishly illustrated with over 600 colour photographs including step-by-step sequences.




House of Commons - Committee of Public Accounts: High Speed 2: A Review of Early Programme Preparation - HC 478


Book Description

The Department for Transport has yet to present a convincing strategic case for High Speed 2. It has not yet demonstrated that this is the best way to spend £50 billion on rail investment in these constrained times, and that the improved connectivity will promote growth in the regions rather than sucking even more activity into London. The pattern so far has been for costs to spiral - from more than £16 billion to £21 billion plus for phase one - and the estimated benefits to dwindle. The Department has been making huge spending decisions on the basis of fragile numbers, out-of-date data and assumptions which do not reflect real life, such as assuming business travellers do not work on trains using modern technology. The Department has ambitious and unrealistic, plans for passing the Bill for High Speed 2. The timetable is much tighter than for either High Speed 1 or Crossrail, despite the fact High Speed 2 is a much larger programme. Not allowing enough time for preparation undermines projects from the start. A rushed approach contributed to the failure of the InterCity West Coast franchise award. The Department has increased its High Speed rail team, but getting the right mix of skills is challenging and the Department lacks the commercial skills necessary to protect taxpayers' interest on a programme of this size