Steam Days

UK: Ian Allan Ltd. Very Good/Very Good. 1992. First Edition. Hard Cover. 4to 0711020736 Dust jacket complete, unclipped. Black cloth with bright gilt titling on spine. No ownership inscription. 112 pages clean and tight. In 1948 the newly Nationalised British Railways inherited some 20,000 steam locomotives and over the next decade constructed many more, including the 999 BR Standards. And yet, within 20 years of Nationalisation steam was no more on the main line. The seeds of the demise of steam were already present at Nationalisation, however, with the appearance of the first main line diesels and limited main line electrification. It was, none the less, the Modernisation Plan of 1955 that sounded the death knell of steam. For the next 13 years steam, along with many of the lines over which it operated, would be in an almost continuous decline until, in August 1968, BR operated its 'Farewell to Steam' specials. During this period Gerald T. Robinson travelled widely over the British Railways' network compiling a unique record of scenes that were soon to disappear for ever. In Steam Days the author has selected some 200 of his best transparencies to provide a colourful reminder of this period of transition. Through Gerald Robinson's superb illustrations it is possible to relive the great days of the steam railway - days when it seemed that steam traction would go on for ever and that the railway would continue to serve even the most remote country branch. Steam Days is an evocative portrait of a long lost scene. It will deservedly find its way on to the shelves of all lovers of the great days of steam. .