Last Days of Steam on the Midland Region - Softcover

Malone, Roger

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1841149926 ISBN 13: 9781841149929

Publisher: Halsgrove, 2010

Synopsis

So writes the author in his introduction to this book.To some,
steam's demise in 1968 was merely a belated step towards
progress, but to the steam enthusiast, nurtured on the
sulphurous breath of these iron steeds, this last goodbye was a
time for reflection and regret. Throughout the mid-sixties, the
steam cull was relentless.TheWestern Region carried it out
with almost indecent haste,while the Southern Region held on
until 1967, along with the North East.
The Midland Region was the last to go. It had suffered serious
steam casualties as depot after depot closed, yet incredibly a
pocket of three Lancashire sheds survived to the last.The trio,
Carnforth, Lostock Hall (near Preston) and Rose Grove (near
Burnley) achieved almost celebrity status in 1968 as the
only steam motive power depots still operating in the whole
country.
Last Days of Steam on the Midland includes the author's
remarkable photographs taken during the period when, as he
poignantly puts it, `Time ticked towards an almost surreal
extinction of steam, with a countdown as cold as the steel of a
locomotive whose fire had been dropped for the last time.'
Over 150 photographs appear in the book including photographs
taken at the famous Barry scrapyard where so many
locomotives ended their days.
Anyone with an interest in railway history will be fascinated by
this unique pictorial memoir.

About this title

From the Author:

"August 4 was a perfect sunny day and, apart from the
fact we knew different, it still seemed steam could go on for
ever. But late in the afternoon the last surviving Britannia
Class Pacific, 'Oliver Cromwell', arrived on shed at Lostock
Hall after completing its part in an enthusiasts' special.
The polished lines of this simmering giant glinted magnificently
in the sun.This was my last image on the last day of
steam. It was over."

About the Author:

Roger Malone is a Devon-based
journalist during the week and, when
the opportunity arises, a steam railway
photographer during the weekend. When
not taking pictures he plagues his family
by playing guitar badly; a cunning ploy that
ensures his wife and three daughters
actively encourage him to leave the house
- thus allowing him to `bunk off ' domestic
duties and chase trains without a guilty
conscience! Without too much provocation
he will burst into a eulogy over the
steamy wonder of locomotive sheds -
and threaten anyone in earshot with a
slide show. His first book for Halsgrove
was Railway Moods - Devon followed by
Last Days of Steam on the Southern Region.

About this edition

• Publisher: Halsgrove
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 1841149926
• ISBN 13: 9781841149929
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 144