Phil Braithwaite

Swindon-born William A. Stanier joined Great Western Railway as a fifteen-year-old trainee and began rising swiftly through the ranks. In 1904, he was appointed assistant to the divisional locomotive superintendent in London, and by 1931 he was chief mechanical engineer of the London Midland & Scottish Railway. The LMS locomotives were in a poor state, with some dating back to the 1800s, and Stanier was charged with updating the company with new and more powerful locomotives. His iconic designs in steam and diesel dominated British railways from the 1930s to the end of steam in 1968. During the Second World War, Stanier was seconded to the Ministry of Supply as a consultant, and in 1943 he was knighted and appointed a fellow of the Royal Society. He retired in 1944. 'Sir William A. Stanier FRS' is a photographic celebration of his extraordinary life in rail.

Over fifty years ago, main line steam in Britain ceased to exist: the last ‘official’ date was 11 August 1968. At the time, British Railways’ plan was that this was to be the end of steam traction – although a special dispensation was given for Britannia Class 4-6-2 No. 70013 Oliver Cromwell to travel under its own steam into preservation on the 12th and 13th of that month. We now know that this was not quite the end; that, in fact, steam locomotives would eventually return to the main lines on highly popular ‘specials’.New in paperback, packed with over 200 rare photographs, Remembering Steam takes a look back at the days and years that led up to the end of steam on Britain’s railways.

After steam finished on the main line on 11 August 1968, something had to take its place; something modern, less difficult to maintain, and that was a natural progression. ‘Modernisation’ was the word. British Railways – and later privatised companies – developed other methods of providing power. In the follow-up to Remembering Steam, Paul Hurley and Phil Braithwaite take the reader back down memory lane, exploring traction from the very first locomotive to the latest colourful multiple units, and of course the preserved locomotives, lovingly restored to their former glory and working heritage lines across the country. With over 200 never-before-seen photographs, paired with fond and nostalgic captions, The Changing Railways of Britain is a book not to be missed.