British Rail in Action

British Rail in Action PDF Author: G. M. Kichenside
Publisher: David & Charles Publishers
ISBN: 9780715374276
Category : Locomotives
Languages : en
Pages : 94

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British Rail in Action

British Rail in Action PDF Author: G. M. Kichenside
Publisher: David & Charles Publishers
ISBN: 9780715374276
Category : Locomotives
Languages : en
Pages : 94

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Book Description


Steaming to Victory

Steaming to Victory PDF Author: Michael Williams
Publisher: Random House
ISBN: 1409051897
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 374

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Book Description
In the seven decades since the darkest moments of the Second World War it seems every tenebrous corner of the conflict has been laid bare, prodded and examined from every perspective of military and social history. But there is a story that has hitherto been largely overlooked. It is a tale of quiet heroism, a story of ordinary people who fought, with enormous self-sacrifice, not with tanks and guns, but with elbow grease and determination. It is the story of the British railways and, above all, the extraordinary men and women who kept them running from 1939 to 1945. Churchill himself certainly did not underestimate their importance to the wartime story when, in 1943, he praised ‘the unwavering courage and constant resourcefulness of railwaymen of all ranks in contributing so largely towards the final victory.’ And what a story it is. The railway system during the Second World War was the lifeline of the nation, replacing vulnerable road transport and merchant shipping. The railways mobilised troops, transported munitions, evacuated children from cities and kept vital food supplies moving where other forms of transport failed. Railwaymen and women performed outstanding acts of heroism. Nearly 400 workers were killed at their posts and another 2,400 injured in the line of duty. Another 3,500 railwaymen and women died in action. The trains themselves played just as vital a role. The famous Flying Scotsman train delivered its passengers to safety after being pounded by German bombers and strafed with gunfire from the air. There were astonishing feats of engineering restoring tracks within hours and bridges and viaducts within days. Trains transported millions to and from work each day and sheltered them on underground platforms at night, a refuge from the bombs above. Without the railways, there would have been no Dunkirk evacuation and no D-Day. Michael Williams, author of the celebrated book On the Slow Train, has written an important and timely book using original research and over a hundred new personal interviews. This is their story.

British Rail

British Rail PDF Author: Christian Wolmar
Publisher: Penguin UK
ISBN: 0241456215
Category : Transportation
Languages : en
Pages : 261

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Book Description
The authoritative and fascinating history of the rise and fall of the state-owned British Rail 'Wolmar's book is impeccably organised and makes a fast, enjoyable read' THE TIMES Literary Supplement________ British Rail wasn't how we're asked to remember it . . . From ancient rolling stock to patchy service, stale sandwiches to the wrong kind of snow, British Rail - our last great state-owned organisation to be privatised - has received a terrible press. But after its controversial 1948 creation, British Rail was actually an innovative powerhouse that over five decades transformed the UK, creating one of the fastest regular rail services in the world. Award-winning journalist Christian Wolmar takes us from promise to punchline, exploring British Rail's birth into post-war austerity, the many battles and struggles to evolve what many considered to be a dinosaur, and how, at the height of its success, the service was misunderstood and unfairly maligned, ruthlessly broken up and privatised._______ Praise for Christian Wolmar 'Wolmar is the high priest of railway studies' Literary Review 'The greatest expert on British trains' Guardian 'Our most eminent transport journalist' Spectator 'If the world's railways have a laureate, it is surely Christian Wolmar' Boston Globe 'Christian Wolmar is in love with the railways. He writes constantly and passionately about them. He is their wisest, most detailed historian and a constant prophet of their rebirth . . . if you love the hum of the wheels and of history, then Christian Wolmar is your man' Observer

British Rail 1974-1997

British Rail 1974-1997 PDF Author: Terence Richard Gourvish
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 9780199269099
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 770

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Book Description
Based on privileged access to the British Railway Board's rich archives, this book provides and authoritative account of the progress made by the British Railway System prior to its privatization. It offers a unique account of the last fifteen years of nationalized railways in Britain, and it sheds light on the current problems of privatized railway systems. This volume is divided into four complete and concise sections for complete study: 'Railways Under Labour (1974-1979)', 'The Thatcher Revolution (British Rail in the 1980's)', 'On The Threshold of Privatization: Running the Railways (1990-1994)', and 'Responding to Privatization (1981-1997)'. Author Terry Gourvish is considered Britain's leading railway historian.

Fire and Steam

Fire and Steam PDF Author: Christian Wolmar
Publisher: Atlantic Books
ISBN: 1848872615
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 332

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Book Description
Now in paperback, Fire and Steam tells the dramatic story of the people and events that shaped the world's first railway network, one of the most impressive engineering achievements in history. The opening of the pioneering Liverpool and Manchester Railway in 1830 marked the beginning of the railways' vital role in changing the face of Britain. Fire and Steam celebrates the vision and determination of the ambitious Victorian pioneers who developed this revolutionary transport system and the navvies who cut through the land to enable a country-wide network to emerge. The rise of the steam train allowed goods and people to circulate around Britain as never before, stimulating the growth of towns and industry, as well many of the facets of modern life, from fish and chips to professional football. From the early days of steam to electrification, via the railways' magnificent contribution in two world wars, the checkered history of British Rail, and the buoyant future of the train, Fire and Steam examines the social and economical importance of the railway and how it helped to form the Britain of today.

Diesels and Electrics in Action

Diesels and Electrics in Action PDF Author: Geoffrey Kichenside
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781446305812
Category : Transportation
Languages : en
Pages : 98

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Book Description
An edited photographic history of diesel and electric locomotives containing descriptions and quotes compiled by Geoffrey Kichenside.

Rail 125 in Action

Rail 125 in Action PDF Author: British Rail (Firm). Western Region
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780905466224
Category : Express trains
Languages : en
Pages : 24

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Book Description


The Later Years of British Rail 1980-1995: Freight Special

The Later Years of British Rail 1980-1995: Freight Special PDF Author: Patrick Bennett
Publisher: Amberley Publishing Limited
ISBN: 1398102946
Category : Transportation
Languages : en
Pages : 182

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Book Description
A terrific photographic tribute to freight traffic in the final period of the British Rail era of 1980-1995.

A picture history of British Rail diesels and electrics in action

A picture history of British Rail diesels and electrics in action PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Locomotives
Languages : en
Pages : 96

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"It Can Now be Revealed,"

Author: British Railways Press Office
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Arms transfers
Languages : en
Pages : 74

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Book Description