New Transport Treasury Publishing Titles

[Bucoops]

19 hours ago, Strathwood said:

 

Just to show how easy it is to miss things how about the last paragraph, we can all fall foul...

 

Oops...

 

"That sortt of thing shouldn't happen in books or in articles if they are properly researched and it definitely shouldn't be a multiple event - that is dwn to poor work by the person preparing the article, even if it is simply an illustrated one with lots of explanatory captions and poor editing.  If you don't know, and haven't fully researched it, then don't write it."

 

Sorry,

 

Kevin

 

There's a big difference between a forum post and a curated work. Besides, I would happily overlook the the odd typo to learn more about the decades of industry experience that The Stationmaster has.

[MarkC]

On 09/05/2024 at 13:22, Robin Fell said:

This week's new publication:

Taking the Train from Darlington to Whitby

Drawing largely on steam-era images taken from the Transport Treasury collection, this book moves from the railway epicentre of Darlington to the industrial conurbations of Stockton and Middlesbrough and its concentration of loco sheds before heading east towards Redcar and Saltburn on the North Sea coast. The traveller then follows the stunning coastal route as far as Whitby before heading inland again for the dales and vales along the Esk Valley line via Grosmont and Battersby and also taking the opportunity to visit some of the more obscure and long closed railway locations en route. Most of the photographs were taken during times when steam was largely unchallenged on passenger and goods services throughout the area, but added to the mix are a few images of ‘first generation’ DMUs which were introduced onto the routes from 1957.

 

This looks very interesting indeed - are there plans to cover the rest of the Yorkshire coast lines too - Whitby to Scarborough & then Scarborough to Hull?

 

Mark

[Robin Fell]

On 19/05/2024 at 16:45, MarkC said:

This looks very interesting indeed - are there plans to cover the rest of the Yorkshire coast lines too - Whitby to Scarborough & then Scarborough to Hull?

 

Mark

Thanks Mark - We hope to do some more in the same area, but it depends on whether our material has already been used in existing books.

[Robin Fell]

Our three newest Totem titles:

Southern Region Multiple Unit Memories

Step into the world of British Rail’s Southern Region through the lens of Adrian Willats’s lifelong passion. Beginning with a chance encounter on a footbridge in 1978, Adrian’s journey into the realm of trains spans over four decades, encapsulating a shared enthusiasm with a dear friend and fellow enthusiast, Robert Martin.

In this meticulously curated collection of vibrant images, Adrian invites you to join him on a visual odyssey, offering a personal glimpse into the trains he’s encountered, photographed, and ridden throughout his enduring love affair with the railways.

 

North East Industrial

Embark on a captivating visual journey through the industrial heartlands of Northeast England with the remarkable collection of Neville Stead. From the smoky landscapes of Northumberland, the bustling quaysides of Tyneside, County Durham, and as far as Teesside, this volume presents an evocative exploration of Britain’s railways at their zenith.
Through meticulously curated images spanning from the 1930s to the mid-1980s, witness the enduring legacy of traditional industries etched into the rugged terrain. Each photograph unveils a rich tapestry of industrial heritage, from gaunt colliery headstocks to bustling shipyards.

 

LNER Steam in Scotland in the 1930s

The Scottish area of the LNER consisted of the former NBR and GNoSR territories, the NBR the larger owning approximately 1,370 miles of permanent way and over 1,000 locomotives. At the other end of the scale the GNoSR was the smaller with approximately 330 miles of track and about 120 locomotives with the added disadvantage of being isolated from the rest of the LNER system by 38 miles of running powers over LM&SR track from Aberdeen to Kinnaber Junction.

In addition to its substantial passenger traffic, the NBR brought to the LNER the revenue from their monopoly over the coal traffic in the Kingdom of Fife, whereas the GNoSR saw a steady revenue from its fish traffic out of the northern ports and the movement of large amounts of material connected with the Whisky industry.

 

 

Edited June 6 by Robin Fell

[Robin Fell]

Don't miss our latest issue of Southern Times

Southern Times Issue 8

 

Issue 8: Contents

N15 X-‘tra’ 5
The 1948 Southern Region Locomotive Building Programme. 7
Last train from All Hallows Howard Cook 12
Mr Drummond’s C14 and S14 Motor Tanks 19
Recollections at Exeter Central, Saturday 20 July 1963.
John Bradbeer 34
Visits to Point Pleasant signal box in the early 1970s.
Les Price 39
Stephen Townroe’s colour archive: In and Out of Works 45
First Generation / Heritage EMUs 55
Treasures from the Bluebell Railway Museum
Tony Hillman 60
Dick Hardy at Stewarts Lane 63
The South Eastern from Ashford to Dover and coastal
problems for William Cubitt Jeremy Clarke 69
From the Footplate 77

 

[phil gollin]

.

 

In Southern Times no. 8 they confirm that they are preparing a landscape format, approx 100 page softback book entitled "Mr Bulleid Tavern Cars"   -   ( hooray ! ! ! )

 

That should encourage a manufacturer to produce them.

 

.

[Robin Fell]

We have a new Flagship title available

The Atmospheric Eastern

From London Kings Cross to Fraserburgh, from bucolic branch lines to the hives of industry, the London & North Eastern Railway had it all. Its range of motive power was tremendous,
from Pugs pootling around goods yards to streamlined Pacifics streaking through the landscape. With good bits, bad bits and in some cases the downright ugly bits all adding to the atmosphere that stretched from the banks of the Thames to the northern coast of Scotland – the 6,500 route miles were full of contrast. Many of the inherited locomotives and rolling stock did well to survive into the Nationalised era – the LNER, as a company was never flush with cash. It was however full of new ideas, from steam railcars to electrification – not always successful – that was to capture the public’s attention. The sheer variety of motive power, rolling stock and goods traffic certainly contributed to the flavour of the times.

 

[Robin Fell]

Our latest title:

Mr Bulleid's Tavern Cars

More books have probably been written on the life and work of OVS Bulleid than likely any other CME from the steam age. His locomotives probably having received more than their fair share of criticism – and praise. Similarly it must not be forgotten that he also designed a considerable amount of passenger rolling stock the most controversial of which were the Tavern / Restaurant sets dating from 1949. Styled internally and to an extent externally in the form of ‘Ye Olde Inn’ and with the Restaurant cars having no windows to discourage diners from lingering after their meal, they courted controversy right from the first day they were presented to an unsuspecting public at Waterloo in May 1949. So were they really as bad as we have been led to believe? This is the first book devoted solely to just ‘eight pairs of carriages’ attempts to find out.

 

[robertcwp]

On 17/06/2024 at 15:58, Robin Fell said:

Our latest title:

Mr Bulleid's Tavern Cars

More books have probably been written on the life and work of OVS Bulleid than likely any other CME from the steam age. His locomotives probably having received more than their fair share of criticism – and praise. Similarly it must not be forgotten that he also designed a considerable amount of passenger rolling stock the most controversial of which were the Tavern / Restaurant sets dating from 1949. Styled internally and to an extent externally in the form of ‘Ye Olde Inn’ and with the Restaurant cars having no windows to discourage diners from lingering after their meal, they courted controversy right from the first day they were presented to an unsuspecting public at Waterloo in May 1949. So were they really as bad as we have been led to believe? This is the first book devoted solely to just ‘eight pairs of carriages’ attempts to find out.

 

I have read this new book and it is very interesting with lots of good photos. Well worth having if you are a coaching stock enthusiast.

 

Although the execution was flawed, in particular the restaurant trailers, the kitchen/buffet concept was sound and was the basis for conversions of other pre-nationalisation designs, notably SR and LMS, and the large and long-lived fleet of Mark 1 RB cars. The concept was also followed with Mark 3 loco-hauled and HST catering cars and the final catering cars built for BR, the Mark 4 ones which had a buffet counter and the capability to provide a full meal service.

 

Just a few small points to add or amend:

 

P22 - I have never managed to find photographic proof that a pair ran in either the South Yorkshireman or Norfolkman, but they might have done briefly.

P34 - there were 13 4 Buf units not 12. 14 buffet cars were constructed because the one in 3073 was lost due to enemy action and a replacement was built, which ended up in a different unit.

P58 - caption to photo on page 59 - as is noted elsewhere in the book, the Harwich-Liverpool trains required two sets so workings for five out of eight are accounted for, rather than four.

P78 - I think the image of a green Tavern car at Padstow that is referred to may be one that is in my collection (see below).

P84 - conversion to bottled gas began well before the kitchen buffets were rebuilt, with 7896 noted in the 1955 carriage working appendix as fitted for liquid gas. All except 7897 were listed thus in the Summer 1957 appendix. See photo below of 7893.

P88 - the SR retained responsibility for the Waterloo-Exeter sets for several years after the transfer of lines west of Salisbury to the WR and some rebuilt tavern car kitchen buffet cars were still in sets on that route in 1967, usually paired with a Mark 1 open. See below for photos.

 

It's possible that the ER had the tavern cars inflicted upon them because their stock had Pullman gangways and buckeye couplings. GWR and LMS stock would have required gangway adaptors.

 

There are some published photos of tavern cars in the Master Cutler.  Steam Days January 2006 Master Cutler article: northbound Master Cutler in July 1949 behind 60102 climbing between West Wycombe and Saunderton with 11 vehicles including a Bulleid Tavern Car pair (RKB/RCO). Page 215 in Named Trains on LNER Lines Part II (Yeadon, Book Law): southbound Master Cutler at Wembley Park, Monday 19 September 1949 behind 61188 includes a tavern car RKB running with a Gresley pantry third in teak finish and a crimson and cream Gresley open first, which the carriage workings indicate had 24 seats allocated for service of meals and not counted in the seating totals, so there was first class dining as well as third class. The remaining 18 seats in the FO might have had meals served as well..
 

There is also a photo in a Steam Days magazine of the White Rose with a tavern car pair, but I do not have a note of which edition.

 

In 'Cross-Country Steam' by Stanley Creer (IA 1979) there is a photo of the Bournemouth-Birkenhead train in 1954 including a tavern car pair.

 

Page 211 in Scenes from the Past Part 29 Woodhead Part Two (Foxline) has a photo of the Harwich boat train at Wharncliffe Wood behind 61132 with a tavern car pair in the formation.

 

S7893S_15-8-57 by Robert Carroll, on Flickr

Padstow by Robert Carroll, on Flickr

D821_Wimbledon_16-6-67 by Robert Carroll, on Flickr

D803_Wimbledon_26-5-67 by Robert Carroll, on Flickr

Edited June 22 by robertcwp
Add a bit.

[65179]

Also Steam Days July 2004 has a view of B17 61635 leaving Sheffield Victoria on 20 April 1950 with the Liverpool-Harwich featuring a Tavern Car set in the formation.

 

Simon

[stewartingram]

Do you know what livery they were in ?

[65179]

1 hour ago, stewartingram said:

Do you know what livery they were in ?

I've not seen any evidence to suggest the sets operating on the ER in 1949/50 in anything other than the full mock pub livery.

 

Simon

[robertcwp]

1 hour ago, 65179 said:

I've not seen any evidence to suggest the sets operating on the ER in 1949/50 in anything other than the full mock pub livery.

 

Simon

I concur, not that there is a great deal of evidence to go on.

 

In case it's of interest, this is the Master Cutler when it retained the Tavern RKB but had lost the accompanying RCO:

 

And the Harwich-Liverpool, still shown with the pair:

 

 

Thanks to John Marsh of Shipley MRS for the above information.

 

Unfortunately, I do not have the 1949-50 GN Main Line or GE workings.

[robertcwp]

14 hours ago, 65179 said:

Also Steam Days July 2004 has a view of B17 61635 leaving Sheffield Victoria on 20 April 1950 with the Liverpool-Harwich featuring a Tavern Car set in the formation.

 

Simon

Thanks for this. I had a look at the photo and agree it's a Tavern Car pair. This confirms that they lasted in some ER trains well into the Spring of 1950.

[65179]

2 hours ago, robertcwp said:

Thanks for this. I had a look at the photo and agree it's a Tavern Car pair. This confirms that they lasted in some ER trains well into the Spring of 1950.

 

Apologies if this is all in the new volume, but I've yet to see a copy.

 

The photo certainly fits in with the timeline that DW Winkworth produces in his article on the Tavern Cars in the Jan/Feb 1993 BackTrack.

 

He suggests that the Hotels Executive reported on 30th December 1949 that the 7.20am Leeds-Kings Cross and 3.50 Kings Cross-Leeds and the 8am HPQ-Liverpool C and 1.20pm Liverpool C - HPQ were still Tavern Car equipped on weekdays.  Later correspondence between Lord Inman of the Hotels Executive and Sir Eustace Missenden of the Railway Executive is reported thus:

 

27th January 1950 HE to RE: report (referred to above) transmitted

2nd February 1950 RE to HE: Assumed HE wished to retain tavern cars on ER

2nd March 1950 HE to RE: Please remove tavern as well as restaurant cars

7th March 1950 RE to HE: Still thinks a tavern Car coupled to an ordinary open third required on ER

30th March 1950 HE to RE: Please remove tavern car sets from ER

27th April 1950 RE to HE: Agreed to remove five sets from ER.

 

The fact that the summer GC carriage working book still lists a Tavern Car set in the Liverpool-Harwich would also seem to fit with them being withdrawn from the service in late April/early May and thus too late for the CWB to be modified.

 

Simon

 

[65179]

On 23/06/2024 at 15:38, 65179 said:

 

Apologies if this is all in the new volume, but I've yet to see a copy.

 

The photo certainly fits in with the timeline that DW Winkworth produces in his article on the Tavern Cars in the Jan/Feb 1993 BackTrack.

 

He suggests that the Hotels Executive reported on 30th December 1949 that the 7.20am Leeds-Kings Cross and 3.50 Kings Cross-Leeds and the 8am HPQ-Liverpool C and 1.20pm Liverpool C - HPQ were still Tavern Car equipped on weekdays.  Later correspondence between Lord Inman of the Hotels Executive and Sir Eustace Missenden of the Railway Executive is reported thus:

 

27th January 1950 HE to RE: report (referred to above) transmitted

2nd February 1950 RE to HE: Assumed HE wished to retain tavern cars on ER

2nd March 1950 HE to RE: Please remove tavern as well as restaurant cars

7th March 1950 RE to HE: Still thinks a tavern Car coupled to an ordinary open third required on ER

30th March 1950 HE to RE: Please remove tavern car sets from ER

27th April 1950 RE to HE: Agreed to remove five sets from ER.

 

The fact that the summer GC carriage working book still lists a Tavern Car set in the Liverpool-Harwich would also seem to fit with them being withdrawn from the service in late April/early May and thus too late for the CWB to be modified.

 

Simon

 

 

Bad form to quote my own post, but I've now obtained a copy of this book. It does a good job of bringing together lots of the information on these vehicles including the initial passenger reaction. Drawings and the odd colour view, including one in original livery, are welcome too. The book clearly draws on some material from the D W Winkworth article I quoted above, leaving me surprised that more wasn't said about when the sets moved off the ER.  The only thing the book really lacks is a photo or two of ER expresses with the  Tavern Cars in (although there are at least a couple of views of the Tavern cars themselves in such trains). 

 

Inevitably with this sort of topic, the author cannot necessarily know everyone it might be useful to consult and so material that would have been valuable isn't available to be included. Robert listed some of the known photos of tavern cars in ER expresses above. There's also a rather nice one of B1 61158 on a Liverpool-Harwich at Godley Jct ca.1949 in the Manchester Locomotive Society collection.

 

Regardless this is an interesting book and might actually spur me on to build my 2mm model!

 

Simon

[Robin Fell]

A new 'Times' book has arrived

Eastern Times Issue 4

This Issue includes:

Introduction 3
A Day to Remember 4-16
L.N.E.R. Locomotive Mileages and Availability in the War Years 17-23
Colwick – A forgotten great northern epicentre 24-37
The ‘Alpine’ Route –
linking Halifax, Bradford and Keighley (part 1) 38-50
The West Riding 51
A funny looking engine 52-53
My Trainspotting Odyssey – 1958 54-60
No. 2395 Britain’s mightiest locomotive 61-66
Eastern Region Totem Signs – the scarcest of them all 67-69
Deltic Days at Kings Cross 70-77
The Headshunt 78-80

 

 

Edited July 4 by Robin Fell

[Robin Fell]

We have two new titles for you:

 

Merseyside and West Cheshire

 

This selection of 160 images from the author’s camera, mostly in colour, takes a generous view of the Merseyside and West Cheshire boundaries. As well as Liverpool, Birkenhead and Chester, other featured locations include Allerton, Crewe, Frodsham, Garston, Helsby, Hooton, Moore, Northwich, Olive Mount, Runcorn, Warrington and Widnes, and there are also glimpses of Arpley, Bidston, Burscough, Cronton, Earlestown, Ellesmere Port, Padgate, Rock Ferry, Rufford, Southport, St Helens and Weaver Jct.

The trains pictured, more than half featuring steam locomotives, range from a steam-age Jinty 0-6-0T shunting coal trucks at the site of Liverpool’s original 1830 Crown Street station, to an electric tilting Advanced Passenger Train on the West Coast Main Line at Winwick Jct.

 

The Road to Privatisation

 

In the mid 1990s, our railway system arguably underwent the greatest period of upheaval since nationalisation, almost five decades earlier. And in a slightly ironic twist, that upheaval
represented a complete reversal of what had happened in 1948. Between 1994 and 1997, the unified system was broken up and transferred to the private sector - passenger services to 25
franchisees, freight operations to seven independent businesses, rolling stock to three leasing companies, and track, stations and other assets to a new infrastructure operator. And the upheaval continued in the years ahead, with franchises changing hands, and freight operators restructuring and consolidating. Whatever else one thinks about the privatisation process, it was undoubtedly a fascinating time on our railway network, with the BR sector identities and colour schemes giving way to those of the multiple new operators. Using images from the extensive collection of the late Colin Garratt, this book sets out to provide a visual record of that unique period of change.

 

[Robin Fell]

This week's new TTP title:

Waverley

Serving only a limited intermediate population scattered amongst a handful of towns in the Scottish Borders the Waverley route was always a difficult line to work and was never a great money spinner. However, the short sighted closure of the route in 1969 left a vast swath of country isolated with two of the larger towns having the dubious distinction of being further from the national rail network than any other settlement of comparable size in the UK. With the opening of the Borders Railway in 2015 part of this isolation has been rectified and there are hopes that further extensions will follow leading ultimately perhaps to the reinstatement of the whole 98 mile route. In this volume we feature images of the line in the 1950s and 1960s before the axe fell.

 

[Robin Fell]

We now have the new issue of Midland Times in stock.

Midland Times 5

CONTENTS
Introduction 3
LMS Accidents and Breakdown Cranes 4-9
Express freight on the former GSWR route 10-17
My Trainspotting Odyssey (part 2) 18-23
The carriage of goods by rail 24-27
Midland Railway ‘Flatiron’ 28-29
The Beyer-Ljungstrom Turbine Locomotive 30-33
LMS motive power depot codes after 1935 34-41
The Midland Railway’s Swansong 42-54
Collision at Chapel-en-le-Frith 55-57
Blackpool’s Railways 58-69
49509 at Huddersfield 70
Far reaches of the LMS 71-78
46246 at Cheddington 79
The Platform End 80

 

 

[Robin Fell]

Now available to order:

Warwickshire Railways

Embark on a nostalgic journey through the railways of Warwickshire with a seasoned enthusiast whose passion for steam locomotion spans decades. From the bustling platforms of Birmingham Snow Hill to the quaint charm of Fenny Compton, this captivating narrative weaves through the rich tapestry of Warwickshire’s railway history. Guided by vivid recollections and meticulously curated images from the Transport Treasury collection, immerse yourself in the bygone era of steam, semaphore signals, and the rhythmic clatter of iron wheels on tracks. Join the author as they traverse forgotten routes, explore hidden gems, and uncover the stories behind each railway line. With heartfelt acknowledgments to fellow enthusiasts, railway preservationists, and the unwavering support of family, this book is a testament to the enduring allure of steam travel and the enduring legacy of Warwickshire’s railways.

 

[Robin Fell]

Hot off the press: 

Tracking Down: In Search of BR Freight in the 1980s

 

Embark on a mesmerising journey through time and memory, where the click of a camera shutter captures more than just images—it preserves the essence of an era. In this enchanting volume, Craig’s lens becomes a time machine, whisking us back in time to the early 1980s to the smoke-blackened landscapes and bustling railways of Northeast England. From the coalfields of Southeast Northumberland to the industrial heartlands of Teesside, each photograph opens a portal to a bygone age. Feel the pulse of excitement as diesel locomotives thunder past, their engines echoing the spirit of an era on the brink of change. Through Craig’s masterful eye, we witness not just trains, but the soul of a region—a region shaped by its railways, its industries, and its people. With every turn of the page, we journey alongside Craig and his friends, soaking in the sights, sounds, and stories of a vanished world. This isn’t just a collection of photographs—it’s a tribute to resilience, a celebration of friendship, and a testament to the enduring magic of the rails. Join us on this unforgettable odyssey, where nostalgia meets innovation, and where every image is a window into a world we thought lost to time.