Diesel Locomotives - Great Britain: Illustrated Illustrated History Books & Guides (1/2)

British Diesel Locomotives

The rapid dieselisation of Britain's railways meant that many designs of locomotives were introduced from various manufacturers. Some were highly successful and generated a very enthusiastic following that continues today.

"British Diesel Locomotives" is a superb collection of black-and-white photographs, supported by David's usual meticulously researched and well-written captions, that portrays important locomotive classes.
From the Deltics, the Warships and the Westerns to the Class 50s and 47s and even including the humble but essential multiple units, this book will remind readers of a fascinating evolutionary period for Britain's railways.

Product details

Author:	David Hucknall
Details:	160 pages, 9.7 x 6.7 x 0.31 in (24.5 x 17 x 0.8 cm), paperback
Illustrations:	many b&w photos
Language:	English
Publisher:	The History Press Ltd (GB, 2012)
ISBN:	9780752476506

Diesel Locomotives on Scottish Railways

"Diesel Locomotives on Scottish Railways" covers most of Scotland from Thurso in the far north to the border with England, from 1974 until the present day. The book covers diesel locomotives from Class 20s up to the most powerful Class 70s.

In Scotland from the late 1950s, various prototype diesel locos were tried out with different degrees of success. Some were destined to be withdrawn very early while others have continued in service and are still going today, such as the occasional example of a Class 20 or Class 47.
One of the most common early diesels in Scotland was the English Electric Class 37, which could be found working almost anywhere. A few still work in Scotland.

Possibly the best of the early diesels was the Class 55 - the Deltics. They were introduced from May 1961 on the East Coast Main Line and also worked north of Edinburgh to the Central belt towards the end of their careers.

In this book, author Colin J. Howat shows a wide variety of diesel locomotives in action on Scotland's railways.

Product details

Author:	Colin J. Howat
Details:	96 pages, 9.25 x 6.5 in (23.5 x 16.5 cm), paperback
Illustrations:	180 b&w and color photos
Language:	English
Publisher:	Amberley Publishing (GB, 2018)
ISBN:	9781445676227

Diesel Shunters - The Unsung Heroes of Britain's Railways

Hugh Llewelyn has travelled throughout Britain to gather this collection of his photographs of the diesel shunters. In addition to the main classes deployed by British Railways from the 1940s up to the present time, he also covers many of the rarer engines to be found working the docks and industrial centres.
The shunters are shown in great detail and the images include not only the preserved examples, but also many of the neglected engines either in storage or abandoned. The result is a fabulous visual reference for rail enthusiasts with a wealth of detail for model makers.

Product details

Author:	Hugh Llewelyn
Details:	96 pages, 9.25 x 6.5 x 0.31 in (23.5 x 16.5 x 0.8 cm), paperback
Illustrations:	180 b&w and color photos
Language:	English
Publisher:	Amberley Publishing (GB, 2014)
ISBN:	9781445639468

Looking Back at Sulzer Locomotives

A full-colour photographic album depicting the various classes of locomotives on British Railways that enjoyed Sulzer power. Inside we cover Classes 47, 44, 45, 46, 33, 27, 26, 25, and 24, not forgetting the seldom seen BRCW prototype Lion. Coverage is from their earliest days up to the scrap yard.

Additional chapters show various Sulzer types double-heading, or in distress and some splendid night-time photography displays the locomotives after dark. Many rare livery variations are covered along with informative captions to interest both the enthusiast and modeller alike.

Product details

Author:	Kevin Derrick
Details:	96 pages, 9.25 x 6.5 in (23.5 x 16.5 cm), paperback
Illustrations:	120 b&w and color photos
Language:	English
Publisher:	Amberley Publishing (GB, 2016)
ISBN:	9781445660554

Modern Locomotives of the United Kingdom

Post privatisation, locomotive haulage of passenger trains has not been favoured and most additions to the passenger fleet have been in the form of diesel and electric multiple units. However, new locomotive types have also been introduced and "Modern Locomotives of the UK" provides their story from conception, to ordering, construction, testing, delivery and entry into traffic.
Included are chapters on each of the new Classes: 66, 67, 68, 70 and 88 examining areas such as teething troubles, regular operations, liveries and names.

It will also feature the Class 59s the first privately owned locos on the network in 1986 and the forerunner to the Class 66. Also covered are the major rebuilds of ex-BR classes such as the 57s, both types of 73/9 and also the GBRf Class 56 project. Those existing locos fitted with new engines like MTU HST power cars and VP185 HST power cars are also included as are refurbishment projects like the 20/3s, 91/1s and ERTMS 97/3.
There is also a section on rebuilding projects and new loco orders that were mooted but never happened such as re-engineering the Class 60s, Caterpillar engines for Class 37s and the 'Green Goat' Class 20.

This book is a comprehensive and authoritative survey of the locomotives of the post -privatisation era and will be welcomed by all those interested in the current railway scene in Britain.

Product details

Author:	Pip Dunn
Details:	256 pages, 11.4 x 8.7 x 0.59 in (29 x 22 x 1.5 cm), hardback
Illustrations:	200+ b&w and color photos
Language:	English
Publisher:	Crecy Publishing (GB, 2019)
ISBN:	9780860936961

North Wessex Diesels

This book is a pictorial record of diesel-powered freight and passenger services throughout the area surrounding the North Wessex Downs. Roughly bounded by Oxford, Swindon, Reading, Pewsey and Basingstoke and covering over 140 route miles, this is a region of gently rolling countryside and contrasting light industrial scenes.

The period featured covers fifteen years leading up to the wholesale introduction of electric trains on major routes, when the much-loved InterCity 125 High Speed Trains still held sway on express passenger services, and Class 59 locomotives dominated the prolific aggregates traffic from the Mendips.
Photographs depict the changing seasons and a variety of motive power, operator liveries and traffic types including stone, oil, bitumen, cement, steel, coal, china clay, fly ash, automotive and infrastructure trains.

Product details

Author:	Kevin Smith
Details:	96 pages, 9.25 x 6.5 x 0.31 in (23.5 x 16.5 x 0.8 cm), paperback
Illustrations:	180 b&w and color photos
Language:	English
Publisher:	Amberley Publishing (GB, 2020)
ISBN:	9781445693828

Preserved Shunters

British Rail operated thousands of different shunt engines during its time, many being built by private companies and others by BR themselves. Sadly, most have now been withdrawn; however, a large number have been saved for posterity by many different preservation groups and sites.

Here, Andrew Cole shows many of these saved shunters, capturing them in varying states from abandoned wrecks through to gleaming masterpieces. Many are still invaluable at the sites at which they are based.
The book covers classes 01 to 14 and shows them in a wide variety of different liveries and at a wide variety of locations around the country. It also gives a brief outline of how the locomotives ended up in preservation.
It is a tribute to the hard work and dedication of the organisations responsible for the upkeep and restoration of these valuable shunt engines, allowing future generations to enjoy and appreciate them.

Product details

Author:	Andrew Cole
Details:	96 pages, 9.25 x 6.5 in (23.5 x 16.5 cm), paperback
Illustrations:	180 b&w and color photos
Language:	English
Publisher:	Amberley Publishing (GB, 2021)
ISBN:	9781398106505