Rails Around Preston - Mike Rhodes - Bog - Amberley Publishing - Plusbog.dk

The first railway to reach Preston was the North Union (NU), with a line from Wigan in October 1838. By the turn of the nineteenth century there were some seventy stations within a 15-mile radius of Preston, with approximately half of these still in use in 2022. The variety of motive power to be seen at Preston over the years would rival any station in the entire UK railway network.Mike Rhodes has recorded the railway scene in the locality for over sixty-five years and has been active with a camera since just before the curtain came down on BR steam in 1968, with nearby Lostock Hall MPD being the last functioning steam shed on BR. Here he explores the rails around Preston through fascinating images and informative captions.

Roaming the West Coast Rails - Derek Cross - Bog - Amberley Publishing - Plusbog.dk

The route from Euston to Carlisle has always been the ''Premier Line'' and, in Roaming the West Coast Rails , Derek Cross has captured its atmosphere and beauty during the transition from steam to the diesel and electric era.Dealing briefly with the construction of the lines, the reader gains insight into the work of the engineers who built them: Joseph Locke, who followed the natural contours of the countryside in long, sweeping curves, and the Stephensons, who cut straight through them straighter than Roman roads.An expert photographer can capture the beauty of both landscape and locomotives. Derek Cross is one of these and the 200 images contained in this book will bring back to life the memories of a ''Duchess'' storming Shap summit and show the younger enthusiast what working steam was really like.

The Heavy Water War - John Sadler - Bog - Amberley Publishing - Plusbog.dk

During the course of the Second World War, the Allies mounted a series of attempts to prevent Germany from manufacturing heavy water utilising hydroelectric plants in occupied Norway. These efforts comprised a mix of bomber and Commando raids. The overall aim was to stop Nazi Germany building a nuclear bomb. In fact, Hitler was never as close as the Allies thought, but the idea that his regime could construct and deploy such a device was the ultimate doomsday scenario, one that would have tilted the balance in favour of the Nazis. The mere threat might have been sufficient to force a negotiated peace with the perception of a Nazi bomb hanging over the world like a nuclear-powered sword of Damocles. Production, and therefore the Allied target, centred on the Vemork Power Station standing by the Rjukan Waterfall at Telemark.A series of daring raids – Operations Grouse, Freshman and Gunnerside – neutralised the plant’s capacity. In Operation Freshman, every single glider-borne paratrooper was either captured or killed. In February 1943, a force of SOE-trained Norwegian Commandos succeeded in sabotaging the plant’s production capacity. Further manufacturing effort was abandoned, and the Nazis attempted to spirit away the heavy water they had on the ferry SF Hydro. The Norwegians managed to sink the vessel in the deep waters of Lake Tinn.Using primary source material and published on the 80th anniversary of the sinking of the Hydro, The Heavy Water War tells a story of extraordinary courage and endurance. The stakes in any special forces raid in history have never been higher.

Rails Around Manchester - Mike Rhodes - Bog - Amberley Publishing - Plusbog.dk

Rails Around Rugby - Robert Hendry - Bog - Amberley Publishing - Plusbog.dk

Railways Around Rugby: Pre-Grouping to Rail Blue tells the story of change on the railway network in the Rugby area, covering a period spanning from before the Grouping of the Railways in 1923 to the BR Rail Blue era of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. During the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, The London & North Western Railway, The Great Central Railway and the Midland Railway all operated in and around Rugby. Rugby was served by two stations, Rugby and Rugby Central. The latter closed in 1969 and was an important railway junction on what became the West Coast Main Line, with routes to Birmingham and the North West and Scotland in one direction and to London Euston and Northampton in the other. The Great Central route from Sheffield and the East Midlands ran to London at Marylebone. By the 1960s, the West Coast Main Line was electrified around Rugby and the Great Central closed in the same decade, as well as the lines to Leamington, Leicester and Peterborough and the engine sheds at Rugby.In this book author Robert Hendry portrays the changing face of the railways around Rugby, utilising a wealth of rare and previously unpublished images.

British Recovery Vehicles - Bill Reid - Bog - Amberley Publishing - Plusbog.dk

A recovery vehicle, or breakdown wagon, is the type of truck you hope you will never need. Unfortunately, they are an integral part of everyday life and are to be seen in various forms attending breakdowns and road traffic accidents.From the beginnings of mechanised transport there has always been the need for towing disabled motor vehicles, and the earliest recovery was carried out by real horse power. In time, most urban and rural garages would have an old car converted as a towing vehicle, parked in a corner awaiting the call for help. As motor vehicles became larger, so did the recovery vehicles, right up to heavy lorry and bus conversions that could handle the transport of the time. Specialist recovery companies were set up for towing and transport of disabled vehicles, while local garages maintained an ability to deal with customer breakdowns and accidents. Recovery trucks have evolved into large multi-wheeled vehicles with up to five axles, equipped with custom-built equipment, including cranes and heavy-duty winches. Some of these vehicles are the most spectacular sights in road transport.Showing a wide variety of vehicles, Bill Reid celebrates Britain’s road recovery vehicles in a selection of rare and previously unpublished images.

Heavy Freight Locomotives - George Woods - Bog - Amberley Publishing - Plusbog.dk

In the 1970s the introduction of the merry-go-round coal trains required a far more powerful loco, leading to the 3300 hp Class 56 being built. For general freight services, the Class 60 was developed. Both these types suffered from reliability problems in their early years. Several large stone companies in Somerset became frustrated with the constant loco problems that BR were having and decided to order their own locos, choosing General Motors in the USA to supply them. This resulted in the Class 59, which started service in 1986 and proved to be so effective that other Railfreight operators followed suit and ordered what became Class 66. Eventually, more than 400 entered service.This book of mostly unpublished colour photographs, taken by George Woods between 1966 until 2019, show the locos hauling a variety of trains all over the BR system.

60009 Union of South Africa - - Bog - Amberley Publishing - Plusbog.dk

The A4 Pacific locomotive No. 60009 Union of South Africa has recently been retired and is destined to go into a museum. Here, this famous loco’s support crew share their memories and anecdotes of working to keep it running for the enjoyment of thousands of railway enthusiasts over the years.With experiences stretching back to 1966, when the loco was first purchased from British Railways, these stories are sometimes funny and sometimes serious; all offer a fascinating insight into what it takes to keep a magnificent machine on the rails. Supported by a range of previously unpublished images, this is a wonderful tribute to a terrific locomotive.

Newcastle in Photographs - Simon Mccabe - Bog - Amberley Publishing - Plusbog.dk

Newcastle, which lies on the north bank of the River Tyne, has been a major city in the north-east of England since the Middle Ages. The stone castle, from which it derives its name, still stands, and the city first became prosperous because of its coal trade, later developing as a centre for shipbuilding and other heavy engineering. Newcastle has retained much of its eighteenth- and nineteenth-century fabric while developing itself as a modern city in recent decades. Heavy industry has declined but the city has regenerated many areas, as well as building exciting new developments, attracting many to this thriving city.For those who are proud to live in Newcastle, as well as those visiting, this book is a must. Look through these photographs and you will quickly see why this city has such enduring appeal.

Teesside's Industrial Landscape - Peter Tucker - Bog - Amberley Publishing - Plusbog.dk

Teesside is a conurbation and industrial area in the north-east of England. Less well known than other significant industrial areas such as Tyneside, the Potteries and the Black Country, Teesside has a valuable industrial heritage. Based principally on the towns of Billingham, Middlesbrough, Redcar, Stockton-on-Tees and Thornaby, Teesside was a key area for engineering, iron and steel, shipbuilding and the production of chemicals.Today, chemicals and engineering are still important in an area that has been hit hard by industrial decline. Intrigued by the stark functional beauty of Teesside’s heavy industry, Peter Tucker began photographing the area’s industrial landscape in the 1990s.This book provides a valuable visual record of Hartlepool and Teesside’s heavy industry in recent times, plus some of the surprising, more conventionally attractive places in the area. It will be of immense interest for enthusiasts of local history, industry, photography and the north-east region.

Railways of the British Empire: Africa - Alon Siton - Bog - Amberley Publishing - Plusbog.dk

Long before Brexit, the Common Market and even the Commonwealth, Britannia truly did rule the waves. Perhaps more unsung is the fact that she also ruled the rails over much of the world, for Britain’s engineers effectively exported the Industrial Revolution and specifically the railway around the globe. This was especially true in that forerunner of the Commonwealth, the British Empire. In those parts of the world that were coloured pink on schoolroom maps, the rapidly expanding colonial railways were supplied by British companies like Neilson Reid, Bagnall, Kitson, Cravens and Cammell-Laird.This book tells the story of the expansion of the railways of the British Empire in Africa, featuring stunning photographs, contemporary maps, posters, travel brochures and extracts from other interesting documents.

Railways of the British Empire: The Indian Subcontinent - Alon Siton - Bog - Amberley Publishing - Plusbog.dk

Long before Brexit, the Common Market and even the Commonwealth, Britannia truly did rule the waves. Perhaps more unsung is the fact that she also ruled the rails over much of the world, for Britain’s engineers effectively exported the Industrial Revolution and specifically the railway around the globe. This was especially true of the forerunner of the Commonwealth, the British Empire. In those parts of the world that were coloured pink on schoolroom maps, the rapidly expanding colonial railways were supplied by British companies like Neilson Reid, Bagnall, Kitson, Cravens and Cammell-Laird.This book tells the story of the expansion of the railways of the British Empire in the Indian subcontinent, featuring stunning photographs, contemporary maps, posters, travel brochures and extracts from other interesting documents.

Railways of the British Empire: Australasia and Beyond - Colin Alexander - Bog - Amberley Publishing - Plusbog.dk

Long before Brexit, the Common Market and even the Commonwealth, Britannia truly did rule the waves. Perhaps more unsung is the fact that she also ruled the rails over much of the world, for Britain’s engineers effectively exported the Industrial Revolution and specifically the railway around the globe. This was especially true in that forerunner of the Commonwealth, the British Empire. In those parts of the world that were coloured pink on schoolroom maps, the rapidly expanding colonial railways were supplied by British companies like Neilson Reid, Bagnall, Kitson, Cravens and Cammell-Laird.This book tells the story of the expansion of the railways of the British Empire in Australasia and other areas beyond the Indian subcontinent and Africa, featuring stunning photographs, contemporary maps, posters, travel brochures and extracts from other interesting documents.

Tanfield Waggonway - Rob Langham - Bog - Amberley Publishing - Plusbog.dk

Dating back to the 1720s and still partly in use today as a preserved railway, the Tanfield Railway has a justifiable claim to be the world’s oldest railway, running on the trackbed that three hundred years ago was travelled over by horse-drawn coal waggons on wooden rails. This book charts the history of the Tanfield Railway, from its origins as part of a network of wooden waggonways that ran from coal pits to the River Tyne, through to the introduction of locomotives which, alongside the remaining gravity-worked rope inclined planes, attracted enthusiasts in its final years of operation in the 1960s. The book also covers the preservation of the three-mile-long section of the line from East Tanfield to Sunniside, which operates today as a steam railway.''

An Illustrated History of Butlins - Derek Tait - Bog - Amberley Publishing - Plusbog.dk

For over seventy-five years, Butlin''s have been entertaining families of all ages. Billy Butlin opened his first holiday camp in Skegness in 1936 and continued to expand with camps at Clacton, Ayr, Pwllheli, Bognor Regis, Mosney, Minehead and Barry Island. In post-war Britain, families could enjoy a holiday at Butlin''s for the equivalent of a week''s wage. Their slogan was ''Our True Intent is all for Your Delight''. Over the years, hundreds of thousands of people visited Butlin''s and many have wonderful memories of the friendly redcoats, the funfair rides, roller skating, boating, the talent contests and the beauty pageants.

Cornish Traction - Stephen Heginbotham - Bog - Amberley Publishing - Plusbog.dk

As the modernisation of the former British Railways moved forward into Railtrack and then Network Rail, various schemes to bring the West Country railway network up to date came… and went! Consequently, the far west of the network from Plymouth to Penzance became locked in a kind of time warp of semaphore signalling and cascaded rolling stock. During the last forty or so years, Cornwall has seen the demise of once common classes of locomotives and the introduction of the famous HSTs, Class 66s and Voyagers, though journey times have changed little – mainly due to the nature of the route, but the largest hindrance to an improved service is the lack of signals. The signalling was over-rationalised, though the issue was partially rectified with minor upgrade schemes.This book aims to bring back memories of traction once common, or not so common, on the rails of the Duchy of Cornwall.

Winter Railroading - Mike Danneman - Bog - Amberley Publishing - Plusbog.dk

As days get shorter and seasons change, winter arrives with snow and ice. No matter how brief the day or severe the weather, railroads continue to haul tonnage and passengers through landscapes cloaked in snowy white. Scenery takes on an added dimension when mercury plunges to uncomfortable temperatures. A crisp winter setting with a train running through it, beautifully lit with low winter sunlight, is just as captivating as a scene of heavily falling snow muffling sights and sounds of a massive train following a white pathway of hidden rails. Even when travel gets tough and the snow gets deep—and it hurts to breathe and your face and hands sting—hardy men and mighty machines keep the tracks clear.Snow season isn’t for everyone, but this stunning collection of original photographs will delight any railway fan whether they be warm at home or braving the elements.

Renewing Britain's Railways: Cumbria to Tyneside - Gordon D. Webster - Bog - Amberley Publishing - Plusbog.dk

Gordon D. Webster’s latest title examines the renewal – and revival – of railways in the north of England. In 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic changed the role of train travel in Britain forever. Gone were the swarms of rush-hour commuters to the city and the tourist season was dealt a very swift blow.New trains and new franchises signalled a new era on the East and West Coast main lines, only for trains to run empty as an emergency timetable took hold. Across the Pennines, the famous Settle & Carlisle line was devoid of its usual summer charter traffic, though ‘Staycation Express’ loco-hauled services proved a success.This photographic collection looks at the rails of the north before and after the pandemic in all their scenic glory. It also covers the heritage steam railways, which faced their biggest ever challenge during this extraordinary period in history.

Iron Empires - Michael Hiltzik - Bog - Amberley Publishing - Plusbog.dk

In 1869, when the final spike was driven into the Transcontinental Railroad, few were prepared for its seismic aftershocks. Once a hodgepodge of short, squabbling lines, America’s railways soon exploded into a titanic industry helmed by a pageant of speculators, crooks, and visionaries. The vicious competition between empire builders such as Cornelius Vanderbilt, Jay Gould, J. P. Morgan, and E. H. Harriman sparked stock market frenzies, panics, and crashes; provoked strikes that upended the relationship between management and labour; transformed the nation’s geography; and culminated in a ferocious two-man battle that shook the nation’s financial markets to their foundations and produced dramatic, lasting changes in the interplay of business and government.Spanning four decades and featuring some of the most iconic figures of the Gilded Age, Iron Empires reveals how the robber barons drove the United States into the twentieth century – and almost sent it off the rails.

Going Underground: The Black Country - Anthony Poulton Smith - Bog - Amberley Publishing - Plusbog.dk

Beneath the surface of the Black Country lies a little-known world that encompasses the history of the towns that historically make up this area in the boroughs of Dudley, Wolverhampton, Walsall and Sandwell. The area was associated with coal mining and metalworking for centuries, but during the Industrial Revolution it became known for the heavy manufacturing industries concentrated there and the pollution associated with them. The last coal mine closed in 1968 and much of the heavy industry has gone, but the Black Country still has a strong sense of identity today and the way of life in the past can be glimpsed in the Black Country Museum.In this book local historian Anthony Poulton-Smith takes readers on a tour of the Black Country underground, exploring natural and man-made caves, potholes, canal and railway tunnels, mines, hidden routes and cellars with a story to tell, passageways from houses, churches, hotels and pubs, former nuclear bunkers and old air-raid shelters. The stories include the bizarre and sad and this fascinating portrait of the Black Country will interest all those who know the area.

EMD Locomotives - Mike Danneman - Bog - Amberley Publishing - Plusbog.dk

Electro-Motive Division of General Motors was North America’s leading locomotive builder from 1945 to 1983. After the early years of custom-built motive power and trains, EMD took to the rails in a big way when it built its first freight locomotives in 1939. The FT locomotive put the future of steam locomotion on notice, and the classic bulldog nose styling became an icon of locomotive design. In 1949, the GP (for general purpose) was born of functionalism, with the Geeps morphing into a whole line of purely utilitarian freight locomotives that became staples on nearly every railroad in North America. Railroading’s desire for more horsepower introduced further refined series of locomotives with four-and-six-axle (and traction motor) versions available.Over the years, EMD locomotives have worn just about every colour of the spectrum. Within these pages is a vivid survey of thirty-five years of Mike Danneman photographs illustrating the EMD locomotive.

The Chinook - Rich Pittman - Bog - Amberley Publishing - Plusbog.dk

The Boeing CH-47 Chinook is an American twin-engine, tandem-rotor, heavy-lift helicopter. Its primary roles are troop movement, artillery placement, and battlefield resupply. With a top speed of 170 knots (196 mph, 315 km/h), the helicopter was faster than contemporary 1960s utility helicopters and attack helicopters, and is still one of the fastest helicopters in the US inventory. The CH-47 is among the heaviest lifting Western helicopters. Its name is from the Native American Chinook people.The Chinook was designed and initially produced by Boeing Vertol in the early 1960s; it is now produced by Boeing Rotorcraft Systems. It is one of the few aircraft of that era – along with the fixed-wing Lockheed C-130 Hercules cargo aircraft – that remain in production and frontline service, with over 1,200 built to date. The helicopter has been sold to sixteen nations with the U.S. Army and the Royal Air Force being its largest users.There is no mistaking the familiar wokka thump from the tandem rotor Chinooks rotor blades as it flies overhead. Often a crowd pleaser and fan favourite at air shows, Rich Pittman takes a look at origins of the tandem rotor through the early production, improved versions and operational history of the CH-47 heavy-lift helicopter.

North Western Railway of India - Alon Siton - Bog - Amberley Publishing - Plusbog.dk

The North Western Railway of India (NWR) was one of British India’s largest railway systems. Created out of the merger of several local Indian lines, the NWR was gradually extended and charged with the double duty of running civilian passenger trains between Delhi and the rest of the country, as well as implementing Britain’s own strategic plans beyond the border – from the North Western Frontier to distant Afghanistan. In 1947, following the end of the British rule in the Indian subcontinent, the NWR was divided between the newly formed independent states of India and Pakistan.Using rare and previously unpublished photos, maps and illustrations, this book tells the story of one of the most fascinating railways of the Indian Empire.

Secret Bolton - Ray Jefferson - Bog - Amberley Publishing - Plusbog.dk

Bolton has its roots in Lancashire where it was established as a textile town from the Middle Ages, but it was during the Industrial Revolution that it grew to become one of the major cotton manufacturing centres of the world. Engineering, paper making, bleaching, and dyeing followed, with thousands employed in the manufacture of textile machinery, steam engines, boilers, other heavy machinery, and tools in addition to the thousands employed in the spinning mills. As that heavy industry and textile manufacturing declined during the twentieth century, other more modern activities took their place and alongside the town’s surviving historic and industrial buildings a modern town has developed. Colourful stories lie behind the face of today’s Bolton, some of which are well known, although other events are well worth investigation. How exactly did the borough obtain a plentiful supply of clean drinking water during the period of its rapid expansion in the nineteenth century? What birth pangs accompanied the move towards local democracy after 1792? How is one street linked to two aviation tragedies? How did an American geologist come to make his mark and remain in Bolton for ever?With tales of remarkable characters, unusual events and surprising locations, Secret Bolton will appeal to all those with an interest in the history of this town in Greater Manchester.

Hills Tramroad: Blaenavon World Heritage Site - Chris Barber - Bog - Amberley Publishing - Plusbog.dk

Hill’s Tramroad was established in about 1817 by the Blaenavon ironmaster Thomas Hill to connect his ironworks with Llanfoist Wharf on the Brecknock & Abergavenny Canal. Trams loaded with pig iron were hauled by horses through a long tunnel to Pwlldu on the other side of the mountain. From there they were taken on a dramatic journey along a ledge cut into the hillside to reach Garnddyrys Forge, situated at an altitude of 1,100 feet above sea level.Here the pig iron was refined and converted into products such as bars, rails and plates, which were then loaded onto the trams to be hauled around to the front of the Blorenge Mountain and then lowered down a series of inclines to arrive at Llanfoist Wharf, where narrow boats were waiting to begin a two-day journey to Newport Docks.In this book, author Chris Barber takes the reader through the fascinating story of this early transport route, set within the Blaenavon Industrial Landscape World Heritage Site and the Brecon Beacons National Park.