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Great Western Railway Stars, Castles and Kings

Great Western Railway Stars, Castles and Kings examines the history and workings of these legendary classes of passenger steam locomotives, the first of which, the North Star, was built in 1906.

Richly illustrated with over 200 photographs, the book includes illustrated explanations of how Great Western Railway steam engines work; details of the engines' work on named expresses and in ordinary service; overview of the survivors, heritage organizations and their futures; technical specifications and timelines of each class and finally, GWR and British Rail Motive Power Depot codes and train head codes.

Specificaties

Castles: The Final Years 1954-1965

A lovely photographic album which concentrates on the final decade of operation for the 'Castles', from 1954 when they were in their golden years to the withdrawal of the final members of the class from the Western Region in 1965, and includes some illustrious names such as Caerphilly Castle and Pendennis Castle.

Following an informative introduction outlining the development of the class, the book is illustrated with 'Castles' year by year throughout the region, showing wide variations in the class and its operations.

The book contains approximately 200 mono and 30 colour photographs, most of which are previously unpublished and drawn from the archives of the Great Western Society at Didcot, and accompanied by extended captions.
The photographs also include detailed close ups of Pendennis Castle currently being restored at Didcot.

Specificaties

Great Western - Eight Coupled Heavy Freight Locomotives (Locomotive Portfolio)

The first of a series of 'Locomotive Profiles' to be published by Pen & Sword. It describes the conception, design, building and operation of the fleet of powerful locomotives built in the first half of the twentieth century to meet the demands of the growing South Wales coal and steel industries and the West Midlands area served by the Great Western Railway.

Whilst concentrating mainly on the standard designs of the great locomotive engineer, George Jackson Churchward, the 28XX and 47XX 2-8-0 locomotives, it also covers the 2-8-0 and 2-8-2 tank engines designed for the South Wales Valleys mining areas and coal exports through Newport, Cardiff, Barry and Swansea Docks, and other 2-8-0 locomotives acquired by the Great Western to cope with the increased industrial needs during both world wars - the RODs, Swindon built 8Fs, WDs and American S160s.

The book also covers the earliest designs of the Barry and Port Talbot Railways intended to cope with the valley coal traffic. The book is copiously illustrated with 150 black and white and 50 coloured photographs and is a comprehensive record of some outstanding freight locomotives, many of the oldest engines still operating to the end of steam on British Railways in the mid 1960s, sixty years after they were designed.

Specificaties

Great Western - Grange Class Locomotives - Their Design and Development (Locomotive Portfolio)

Churchward proposed a 5ft 8in wheeled 4-6-0 for mixed traffic duties in 1901 and it was seriously considered in 1905, but it took until 1936 before his successor, Charles Collett, realised the plan by persuading the GWR Board to replace many of the 43XX moguls with modern standard mixed traffic engines that bore a remarkable likeness to the Churchward proposal.

David Maidment has written another in his series of 'Locomotive Portfolios' for Pen & Sword to coincide with the construction of a new 'Grange' at Llangollen from GW standard parts to fill the gap left by the total withdrawal and scrapping of one of that railway's most popular classes - to their crews at the very least.
As well as covering the type's design and construction, the author deals comprehensively with the allocation and operation of the eighty locomotives and in particular has researched their performance and illustrated it with many examples of recorded logs from the 1930s as well as in more recent times.
As in previous volumes, the author has added his own personal experiences with the engines and has sourced more than 250 photos, over 40 of which are in colour.

Specificaties

Great Western - Large Wheeled Outside Framed 4-4-0 Tender Locomotives (Locomotive Portfolio)

This volume extensively covers the large-wheeled outside frame classes of 4-4-0 tender locomotives that were once in service on the Great Western Railway. Specifically, it delves into the Atbara, Badminton, City, and Flower Classes, providing comprehensive details on each class. The book is enriched with high-quality pictures, diagrams, and lists of names and numbers.

Offering valuable insights for model makers, the publication meticulously documents mechanical and livery changes that occurred from the 1900s to the early 1930s. During this period, all locomotives from these classes, except the preserved 3440, City of Truro, were eventually withdrawn and scrapped.

Specificaties

Great Western Castle Class 4-6-0 Locomotives - The Final Years 1960- 1965 (Locomotive Portfolio)

The author's second volume about the Great Western's classic express locomotives covers their final six years in British Railways service. In 1960 the Castles, many now modernised with double chimneys and 4-row superheaters, were still in charge of most of the Western Region's expresses, but by the summer of 1963 their regular express work was limited to the London - Worcester route.
Their declining numbers in the last couple of years covered special summer and relief trains, parcels and freight work, deputising for failed or unavailable diesels and a flurry of excursions and railtours where their prowess could still be demonstrated.

The author worked and lived alongside them in these years and the book includes much of his own personal experience on the footplate, on their trains and on shed. The book recaps briefly their first 25 years and covers their history, operation and performance in their final years and is copiously illustrated including over 100 colour photographs.

Specificaties

Great Western Castle Class 4-6-0 Locomotives 1923-1959 (Locomotive Portfolio)

The Great Western Castles were one of the most successful locomotive designs of the twentieth century in terms of both performance and efficiency. Designed by Charles Collett in 1923, based on the 1907 Churchward 'Star' class, 155 were constructed almost continuously, apart from the war years, between 1923 and 1950, in addition to fifteen rebuilt 'Stars' and one rebuilt from the Great Bear pacific.
Many were modernised with increased superheat and double-chimneys in the late 1950s and the class continued to be the mainstay of all Western Region express passenger services to the West Country, South Wales, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and the West Midlands until replaced by the WR diesel hydraulic fleet in the early 1960s.

This book covers their design in a chapter written by Bob Meanley, who masterminded the restoration at Tyseley Works of the Castles Earl of Mount Edgcumbe and Clun Castle, and their history, operation and performance from the high speed of the 1930s through to their rejuvenation in the 1950s, leaving experience of their last years and preservation to another volume.
David Maidment had close experience of the class when working at Old Oak Common between 1957 and 1962 and includes his personal experiences there and on the road from his first encounter with one as a six-year old boy. The book includes 350 photographs, some 40 in colour, and 23 detailed Swindon technical drawings.

Specificaties

Great Western Halls & Modified Halls (Locomotive Portfolio)

The gradual growth of the railways in Britain during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, in both passenger and freight traffic, saw the requirement for a more powerful and versatile type of motive power - mixed traffic locomotives.
The construction of Great Western Halls and Modified Halls gave the Great Western a superb all round locomotive, and for thirty-six years they operated passenger and freight services over the Great Western, and later Western, Region.

The Hall class were among the largest mixed traffic steam locomotives running throughout the country, and this book is the first serious volume to focus on them in fifty years.
The book charts the history of both classes, from their construction and withdrawal, to their design, development and eventual scrapping. With over 200 black and white and colour photographs, accompanied by informative captions, many members of the class are excellently illustrated. It will appeal greatly to those interested in the history of Great Western Locomotive development.

Specificaties

Great Western Manor Class (Locomotive Portfolio)

The 30 Manor class 4-6-0s were designed by CB Collett in 1938, and built by the Great Western, and the Western Region at Swindon in two batches, 20 in 1938/9, and 10 in 1950.
In order to save money the first 20 members of the class were built using parts from withdrawn 4300 class 2-6-0s, and were coupled to refurbished Churchward 3,500 gallon tenders. The lighter 4-6-0s Manors were given 'blue' route classification which allowed them to work over many secondary lines.
The construction of the Manors completed the final stage of Collett's plan to provide a full range of 4-6-0 tender locomotives for Great Western passenger services.

Over the years the Manors saw extensive use on services in the South West, West Wales and ex-Cambrian Lines in North Wales. They provided motive power for both the 'Pembroke Coast Express' and the 'Cambrian Coast Express'.
Many of the class lasted to the end of steam traction on the Western Region, with the last examples being withdrawn in November 1965. Remarkably of the original 30 members of the class no fewer than 9 have survived.

In this book, author Laurence Waters charts the history of the class from their construction at Swindon in 1938, right through to the final withdrawals in 1965. Using many previously unpublished black and white, and colour photographs, accompanied by informative captions, each member of the class is illustrated.
This book should appeal to those interested in the history of Great Western Locomotive development as well as modellers of the Great Western and Western Region.

Specificaties

Great Western Railway Pannier Tanks

The name 'Great Western Railway' immediately conjures up images of Stars, Castles and Kings, the legendary express passenger locomotives that were the envy of the world in their day.
However, the Swindon empire also produced extensive fleets of all-purpose tank engines - everyday reliable workhorses and unsung heroes - which were also standout classics in their own right. The most distinctive and immediately recognizable type in terms of shape, all but unique to the GWR, was the six-coupled pannier tank.

With hundreds of photographs throughout, "Great Western Railway Pannier Tanks" covers:
- The supremely innovative pannier tank designs of GWR chief mechanical engineer Charles Benjamin Collett
- The appearance of the 5700 class in 1929
- The 5400, 6400, 7400 and 9400 classes
- The demise of the panniers in British Railways service and the 5700s that marked the end of Western Region steam
- A second life beneath the streets - 5700 class panniers on London Underground
- Panniers in preservation, plus cinema and TV roles and even a Royal Train duty.

Specificaties

Great Western Saint Class Locomotives (Locomotive Portfolio)

Churchward's 2 cylinder Saint Class 4-6-0s were arguably one of the most important locomotive developments of the twentieth century. The seventy-seven members of the class were so successful that most of the other railway companies in the UK used the same 2 cylinder 4-6-0 formula in the design of their own mixed traffic locomotives.

Over the years the Saints saw a number of modifications, with many of the class passing into BR ownership. The last member of the class, no. 2920 Saint Martin, was withdrawn from service in 1953 and was sadly not preserved.
However, the Great Western Society are now constructing a replica Saint at Didcot Railway Centre. Numbered 2999 it will be named Lady of Legend.

In this book author Laurence Waters charts the remarkable history of the class from the construction of the prototype Saint at Swindon in 1902, right through to the final withdrawals in 1953. Using many previously unpublished black and white photographs, accompanied by informative captions, each member of the class is illustrated.

This book should appeal to those interested in the history of Great Western Locomotive development as well as modellers of the Great Western and Western Region.

Specificaties

Great Western Star Class Locomotives (Locomotive Portfolio)

Designed by G.J. Churchward, no. 40 was constructed at Swindon in April 1906. It was Swindons first 4 cylinder simple engine and was the forerunner of Churchwards famous 4 cylinder Star Class 4-6-0s. Initially built as a 4-4-2 Atlantic, no. 40 was named North Star in September 1906, rebuilt as a 4-6-0 in 1909, and renumbered 4000 in 1913.

Including no. 40, the Star class eventually numbered seventy-three locomotives, all built at Swindon in batches between 1906 and 1923. In service the Stars proved to be both free-running and reliable locomotives, and for many years were used to haul the Great Westerns top link services, including the world-famous Cornish Riviera Express.

The introduction of the Collett Castle Class 4-6-0s in 1923, and the King Class 4-6-0s in 1927, saw the Stars relegated to secondary passenger, freight and parcels services. A number of Stars were rebuilt by Collett as Castles, including the prototype no. 4000 North Star, but the remaining Stars continued to give good service.
At Nationalisation in 1948, no less than 47 of these fine locomotives passed into Western Region ownership, the last example, no.4056 Princess Margaret, being withdrawn in October 1957.

In this book, Laurence Waters charts the history of the class from the prototype, right through to the final workings in October 1957. Using many previously unpublished photographs from the Great Western Trust photographic collection, accompanied by informative captions, every member of the Class is illustrated.

Specificaties

GWR Locomotives: The Hall Class

A fascinating illustrated insight into this iconic Hall Class of locomotuves used by the Great Western Railway. The Hall class 4-6-0, itself a development of the celebrated Saint class, represents the precursor of thousands of mixed traffic 4-6-0 engines that were built for Britain's railways and were the breadwinners in all types of work and conditions.

The 328 examples of the Hall class and the Modified Hall class powered Britain through the Second World War, as well as providing the bulk of the revenue-earning services on both the GWR and BR.
We are fortunate that both Halls and Modified Halls survived into preservation and their proud story continues with an assured future on many heritage lines.

Specificaties

GWR Locomotives: The Manor Class

A fascinating illustrated insight into this iconic Manor Class of locomotuves used by the Great Western Railway. The Manor class 4-6-0s were introduced for lightly laid lines and so were popular on the Cambrian Coast Express as well as the Newcastle-Swansea port-to-port express. Although only thirty were ever built, almost one third of the class has survived in preservation, such is the fondness felt for it by enthusiasts.

One dedicated group spent fifteen years restoring Foxcote Manor from scrapyard condition and there are other instances of such sacrifice and hard work, allowing these engines to live on.
We are fortunate that these locomotives survive into preservation and their proud story continues with an assured future on many heritage lines.

Specificaties

GWR Locomotives: The Prairies

Known as the Prairies, these tank engines of the 2-6-2T variety were some of Churchward's earliest designs and were the precursor for successful variations of one of the classes - numbered 51XX until 1949.
There were two basic types, the smaller type for branch lines and the larger type mostly for outer suburban work in London and Birmingham, but also used as banking engines at Sapperton, Rattery, Hemerdon and Dainton inclines.
The smaller 45XX class started off as a class of seventy-five engines, but were eventually developed by Collett into a class more than double the size. They saw service on the St Ives portion of the Cornish Riviera Express and the Pwllheli portion of the Cambrian Coast Express.

Profusely illustrated throughout and packed with technical detail, Allen Jackson tells the story of the Great Western Railway's Prairie class locomotives.

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