Diesels South West The early hydraulic years In photographs

Diesels South West The early hydraulic years In photographs

The Western Region were early to eliminate steam, in comparison with most other parts of British Railways, and uniquely chose hydraulic transmission for their new motive power. This resulted in a very distinctive look for the dieselised Western, which in the event lasted only a short time before national policy and dwindling traffic saw all of their unique classes eliminated. Michael Messenger, well known for his beautiful steam railway photographs, was one of the relatively few photographers who didn't hang up their cameras with the arrival of the new motive power, and this wonderful collection of images is the result. Influenced by favourite locations to some extent, this is a stunning collection of pictures of what everything looked like in the early years of diesels, before traditional railway routes and infrastructure contracted and changed, and before the state of the new motive power became deplorably dirty. The book takes us on a journey from Saint Erth in the far West up to North Devon and down to the Dorset coast, covering both Southern and Western routes. All sorts of trains are recorded, including branch line freight and passenger workings, milk trains, the various types of DMUs in use, expresses and the sad "last rites" on branches as they closed. The book is full of really lovely photographs, well composed, informative and mostly taken before the mid 1960s. A few only of these pictures have ever been seen in print before.