THE FALL AND RISE OF STEAM. by Cooke, Brian - 1982

London: Jane's, 1982. 128 pp, oblong 8vo (8 9/16" H x 11 1/2" D). Profusely illustrated with b&w photographs. "One man's personal, photographic record of the steam locomotive's elimination from Britain's nationalised railway network and its subsequent reappearance as a source of recreation and pleasure. Brian Cooke brings to his subject a rare combination of the technique and skills of a professional creative photographer coupled with first-hand knowledge of the steam locomotive both on and off the footplate. His pictures remind us of steam's melancholy rundown, with emphasis on scenes in his native north-east England; they bring fresh glimpses of the unique Barry scrapyard which has proved such a valuable source of motive power for the increasingly ambitious preservation movement; and they conclude with a striking series of images of the steam locomotive in recent times at work and rest on and of BR tracks. Manifest in this remarkable collection of over 150 finely reproduced pictures are Brian Cooke's fresh approach to recording the drama of steam and his painstaking darkroom technique. Supported by a lively and often humourous commentary on steam locomotives and those who pursue them. Notes on equipment, materials and techniques used to make the photographs form the subject of a concise appendix." Soft corner crease on title page, minor edgewear to boards. Dust jacket has light wrinkling at top/bottom of spine and flap-folds, light creases at top of rear panel, minor rubbing.. First Edition. Hard Cover. Very Good+/Very Good. Illus. by Brian Cooke, photographer..