RECOMMENDED READING

The Final Three Steam Depots of
British Railways

“Steam-The Grand Finale”  

 

is a landmark publication chronicling the last 8 months of steam on the British Railways main line and all of which came to a close in August 1968 in an area in Lancashire centred around the final three steam motive power depots of Lostock Hall, Rose Grove and Carnforth.

 

Sub-titled “A 40th anniversary tribute to the final men & machines”, this book is actually published by the same team that produces the highly popular “Heritage Railway” magazine and has been written by former Prestonian, Alan Castle, who was particularly fortunate in being able to view the proceedings at first-hand some 40 years ago.

Packed from cover-to-cover with mostly previously unpublished material, the book contains no fewer than 270 top class photographs by leading names of the time in railway photography - ALL taken in 1968, many in colour and the majority of which have also never previously been seen in print.   Furthermore, numerous interviews with drivers, firemen and engine shed staff at the final three depots have resulted in this highly authoritative and absorbing account of events in a year that saw the final whistle sound on an era dating back more than 150 years.

Consisting of 132-pages of high quality paper, no compromises have been in production, but despite this, the book still manages to retail at only just over a quarter of the price of some of the similarly-themed publications produced to commemorate the final End of Steam. Not unsurprisingly, therefore, in respect of its particular topic, “Steam-The Grand Finale” quietly, but rightfully, assumed its place during the 40th Anniversary of the End of Steam commemorations as the definitive market leader publication and, as a consequence of which, copies remain consistently difficult to track down.

 

 

Now available direct from the publishers, at the absolute bargain price of only £5.00 including delivery.

 

Visit
http://www.mortonsbooks.co.uk/steamgrand.htm