Midland Main Lines to St Pancras and Cross Country
Midland Main Lines to St Pancras and Cross Country

Author: John Palmer

Publisher: Casemate Publishers

Published: 2017-02-28

Total Pages: 348

ISBN-13: 1473885590

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The history of British Railways in the late 1950s/early 1960s is characterized by change; massive change, as its management attempted to meet statutory obligations against a background of social, economic and political influences. The Modernisation Plan of 1955 paved the way for the electrification of the route from Manchester to London Euston, with a consequential effect of the Midland route services via Derby needing to be enhanced and improved. That eventually resulted in the arrival of class 7 steam motive power and later also benefitted the cross country Midland route. This book details, year by year, the changes that took place and provides an insight into the reasons why decisions were taken, and how the railway management was faced with a vast range of technological, natural, socioeconomic challenges to be overcome, whilst also trying to meet the day-to-day needs of the operational railway.In addition to tracing the history of the routes, the book includes performance logs of typical journeys along difficult sections, recollections of railway men working in various departments and for enthusiasts a list of rare and unusual locomotive workings. The book is profusely illustrated with black and white, as well as color, photographs and also includes a comprehensive range of maps.

The Battle for Transportation Supremacy
The Battle for Transportation Supremacy

Author: Lawrence Walsh

Publisher: iUniverse

Published: 2014-07-03

Total Pages: 247

ISBN-13: 1491727381

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Nowhere in all of North America is the competition for passenger travel more intense than in the 450-mile-long Northeast Corridor. In The Battle for Transportation Supremacy, author Lawrence Walsh examines the struggles of transportation companies during the past 170 years as they aimed to be the leader and considers how that leadership is tough to attain and tougher still to hold on to. This study discusses how the southern half of this corridor-New York City to Washington, DC-is dominated by passenger rail travel, although the commercial airlines, buses, and even rental planes and cars are contenders. The northern half has, until very recently, been the domain of commercial airlines and buses. While rail passenger travel was once the dominant player, as were overnight steamships, both slipped away in importance. The overnight steamships disappeared completely, and the rail companies almost did as well. Walsh then details how rail travel surged back to the point where faster and more frequent electrified trains are once again in vogue and enjoying a major renaissance. He examines the environmental, fiscal, and technology factors that caused this and looks at today's titans of transportation. Including a host of illustrations, The Battle for Transportation Supremacy shows how history is, in part, a prologue to the future. Will a major success on the corridor's northern half be the model to further higher speed rail in the United States?

The Great Central Railway
The Great Central Railway

Author: John Palmer

Publisher: Pen and Sword Transport

Published: 2021-01-30

Total Pages: 547

ISBN-13: 1526777908

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“Sets out to address what really happened . . . through its LNER days and into British Railways custodianship . . . A well-researched and presented tome.” —Key Model World For generations of railway enthusiasts and more lately for social historians, the life and times of the former Great Central Railway and in particular its extension towards London in the 1890s and closure seventy years later, have generated considerable interest and controversy. Although many books have been written about the Railway, the majority in recent times have concentrated upon providing a photographic record and a nostalgic look in retrospect to what was generally perceived as happier times for the route. None of the books have presented the outcome from thorough research into the business aspects of the Railway and its successive private (LNER) and public (BR) ownerships through war and peace, and times of industrial, social and political change, that influenced and shaped the demand for a railway service. While retaining a strong railway theme throughout, the book identifies the role played by successive governments, the electricity and coal industries and the effect of social change that, together resulted in a case for closure. The content of the book replaces much supposition with fact and places on record what really happened. The final part of the book acknowledges the fine work over half a century of volunteers dedicated to saving a section of the line in Leicestershire. “A valuable addition to the social and political history of railways.” —The Railway Correspondence and Travel Society