British Railways in Colour: Steam for Sale

The steam locomotive was the first "machine" to transport people faster than animals had, and it led to enormous social and economic change, finally becoming a cult object in itself. The passion associated with the affinity surrounding the steam engine willingly surpasses all reason and has led to a myriad of heartfelt prose. This book aims to get close to the heart of the matter, combining technical knowledge with nostalgia and photographs dedicated to this unique form of power.

This book is a compilation of the author's personal experiences in the sixties and features hundreds of previously unpublished colour and black & white photos of BR steam locos. Peter Nicholson sought out BR locos wherever they could be seen – starting from the usual spotters' locations on station platforms, progressing to engine shed visits and railway workshops, then on railtours and haunts away from the national networks such as the Isle of Wight and looking for former main line locos after disposal by BR – in museums, on the first preserved lines, in industrial service, and awaiting their fate in scrapyards. The quest culminated in the last days of scheduled BR steam in August 1968. All photos, black & white and colour, were taken in the period up to the final day – 11 August 1968. In the author's case though, that last day was not on the lineside of the Settle & Carlisle with everyone else for the final special (a week after the end of regular scheduled steam services), but in the less-publicised private yard of Coral’s coal merchants, Southampton Docks, where an old London & South Western Railway dock tank was still at work! The subject is strictly ‘main line’ steam locos - those owned or formerly owned by British Railways or its constituent companies, the ‘Big Four (GWR, SR, LMS and LNER) and their predecessors. Surprisingly, perhaps, no other book has looked at BR steam locos in their differing environments as this would do.