Steam Memories No 2 - Rails in Transition

Steam Memories No 2 - Rails in Transition

It is impossible to describe in a few words the monumental change that took place on Britain’s railways in the ten years between 1959 and 1968. The single word ‘Revolution’ might be the closest summary for in those short years branch lines, secondary lines and even main lines closed, both before and in consequence of the Beeching report, freight diminished at an alarming rate and diesel units took over branch and secondary working.

More was to come in the first years of the 1960s, the principal steam classes were retired on the Western, Midland and Eastern regions to be replaced by diesel and electric power; the latter a foretaste of what would be the norm by the end of the century.

The Karen collection is the work of one man who photographed the scene in those years. Frightening to think that without exception every one of the trains, locomotives, carriages and wagons depicted have been consigned to operational history, although a few may still survive as preserved items.

This is a book that records the change from the old railway as it was slowly dragged, sometimes unwillingly, into the 20th and towards the 21st century.

Hardback, 80 pages, 82 colour photographs