The Leader Project: Fiasco Or Triumph? - Softcover

Robertson, Kevin

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0860936287 ISBN 13: 9780860936282

Publisher: Crecy Publishing, 2009

Synopsis

In January 1958, following on from the policy established by the Modernisation Plan of 1955, the first of the Western Region's new diesel-hydraulic class was delivered. A press run was arranged for 17th February 1958, when D600 hauled a 340 ton train between London Paddington and Bristol Temple Meads with stops at Reading, Didcot and Swindon. The twin engine reliability came in handy when one of the engines cut out soon after leaving Bristol on the return run; the last 100 miles back to London were on one engine only. D600 was the first of a pilot scheme of A1A-A1a locomotives that were then followed by a further batch of 71 B-B locomotives delivered between July 1958 and June 1962. Designed to replace steam on the WR's express services, there were the inevitable teething problems with the new technology and, for many who grew up with steam, there was a particular delight in seeing the errant hydraulics being rescued by the steam locomotives that the diesels had been bought to replace. With the locomotives named after, with two exceptions, ships of the Royal Navy, it was inevitable that the class became nicknamed the 'Warships'. The pilot scheme quintet proved to have relatively short lives, being withdrawn in 1967 (although one languished at Barry until June 1980) and the remainder of the type were withdrawn, as increasingly non-standard, between August 1968 and December 1972. Two of the type survive in preservation. Fully illustrated, this is a fascinating addition to the respected Heyday series and will provide useful additional information on one of the first diesel hydraulic locomotives to enter service on the Western Region.

About this title

About the Author

Kevin Robertson had his first article on the local railway published when he was just 14. He took up full-time writing in 1982 and since then has had numerous books on the railway scene published, including The Leader Project: Fiasco or Triumph? which was published by Ian Allan Publishing in 2007 to critical and commercial acclaim. He has written a wide selection of books for the Ian Allan list, and is a particular expert on all things relating to the Southern Region. Kevin also runs his own publishing company, Noodle Books, and currently lives in Corhampton in Hampshire.

Edition details

• Publisher: Crecy Publishing
• Publication date: 2009
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0860936287
• ISBN 13: 9780860936282
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 160