Railway Correspondence & Travel Society

The Railway Correspondence & Travel Society has been the compiler and publisher of several seminal series of works which cover in order of completeness the histories of locomotives of (1) the London & North Eastern Railway in some 19 separate parts (all of which have volume numbers and some of which are divided into parts); (2) the Great Western Railway (with similar bibliographical complexity); (3) the Southern Railway (2 volumes for the Southern Railway as such, plus further volumes for its constituents); (4) British Railways on an almost class by class basis; and (5) the London Midland & Scottish Railway which is work in progress on three fronts: (a) volumes on specific aspects of design between 1923 and 1947, such as boilers, non-steam motive power, etc and (b) the locomotives of specific pre-grouping railways, notably the Highland, (c) specific locomotive classes. Unfortunately due to living in the ash pit of bibliography (Norfolk) this page is not as complete as KPJ would have wished, before his final disposal. The Locomotive Magazine "project" has thrown up another deficiency of this page: namely that the Locomotive Stock Books were not listed herein, but were in Jones. An excellent Backtrack article serves to illuminate some of the deficiences of Steamindex..

Each locomotive type is described in considerable depth, and all significant modifications are recorded. Numbers, including changes, names, dates of completion and withdrawal are all tabulated. Details of where the locomotives were allocated and worked are recorded to varying degrees. Most possible variants are illustrated, although the quality of reproduction is sometimes barely adequate. It is, however, worth stressing that the bulk of this effort has been performed on a voluntary basis. Needless to say, much has been culled to form the backbone of works of far less stature.

Most conform to a common style which has tended to be upgraded with time: the GWR series is dominated by centre-stapled booklets; the LNER by thin card covered volumes and the later series by (mainly thin) bound volumes. They are mines of information, yet fail to be appreciated by the bulk of public librarians who would sooner retain trivial picture books whilst ignoring these vital volumes. Imagine if public libraries kept picture books of stage productions and failed to acquire copies of the plays. The bulk of the Great Western series were available at New Barnfield in Hertfordshire (in course of movement to accommodate an incinerator (for books preseumably): none are available in Norfolk which makes a complete mockery of the so-called free library service (it is probable that Scots would be able to borrow such volumes free from charge). Perhaps the Society should consider making some of its material available via the Internet, notably the rare volumes on the Great Western.

The coaching stock of British Railways: classification, allocations, formations, detailed variations, hauled stocks. P. Mallaband and L.J. Bowles. Kenilworth, RCTS, [1972].
Ottley 10655 which list four editions up to 1978 with different paginations and second supplement lists up to a 9th edition in 1985 and a further four editions with Bowles as sole author and a changed title and publisher (Ian Allan)

A detailed history of British Railways standard steam locomotives. Volume one: background to standardisation and the Pacific classes. Paul Chancellor and Peter Gilbert. Lincoln: RCTS, 1994.
P.J. Chancellor contributed the Pacific classes (pp 45 et seq)

A detailed history of British Railways standard steam locomotives.Volume 2 The 4-6-0 and 2-6-0 Classes. John Walford. Peterborough,  280pp
At nationalisation half of the medium sized mixed traffic fleet was over age with some engines very elderly indeed. Riddles team produced five 4-6-0 and 2-6-0 classes to address this challenge totalling 452 engines, half of the total BR standard locomotives built. Three were based on LMSR designs from Stanier (Cl 5s) and Ivatt (Cl 4 and 2) with the "unfinished" look of the Ivatt 4 pleasingly tidied up. All the new standard classes except the Cl 2 achieved an endearing sense of balance from extending down the high running plate to the front buffer beam and sloping the underside of the cab sheet. These features allowed much pipework to be hidden whilst still achieving improved maintenance access. This long awaited book by John Walford presents complete design, modifications, livery, allocation and use information for each engine. A fascinating and absorbing review of British railway operations four decades ago. Size 214 x 276mm, casebound, 278 pages, 279 illustrations including 17 in colour. Reviewed in Backtrack, 2004, 18, 253.

A detailed history of British Railways Standard Steam Locomotives, Vol. 3: The Tank Engine Classes. Paul Chancellor. Long Stratton (in Norfolk - makes no difference), 1997. 164pp. 183 photographs
Reviewed by Arnold Tortellia in Backtrack, 1998, 12, 174

A detailed history of British Railways Standard steam locomotives. Vol. 4. The 9F 2-10-0 Class. John Walford and Paul Harrison. Railway Correspondence & Travel Society.

A detailed history of British Railways Standard steam locomotives. Vol. 5. The end of an era. Railway Correspondence & Travel Society. John Walford. 208pp.
Very well received in what is comparable to the concluding volumes in the LNER and GWR series: that is a tying-up of loose ends, but in this case the whole issue of building standard steam locomotives when other forms of traction should have been developed is considered.

Locomotives of the Great Western Railway

Gerry Beale reviewed Part 14 in British Railways Journal No. 47 (1993) page 332: "Recently published is the fourteenth – and positively the final – part of the monumental History of The Locomotives of the Great Western Railway brought out over many years by the RCTS. The idea that the society should embark on such a project - no less than the complete history of all the locomotives of the GWR - was first put before the membership in February 1949. Initially, the approach to the project was cautious, but such was the response that it was decided to proceed with the publication in serial form rather than in a single volume (which was considered!). In June 1951, with the aid of a subscription list to defray the cost of a coloured frontispiece, the first section duly appeared.

The last of the twelve parts initially proposed appeared in 1974 but as so many ex-GWR locomotives have survived in preservation a further volume was introduced to bring their story up to 1983 along with supplementary information and additional rare illustrations. Indeed several of the parts when first published contained details of matters which, at the time of publication, were still current, and these have now to be read with due regard to their publication date. Additional information relating to these parts was included in the final Part 12.

The newest volume covers the prolific naming policy of the GWR, the stories behind the names, the reasons for particular choices, the subjects commemorated and the personalities honoured. Further details are also included of the travels of the 108 locomotives 'called-up' for war service, the numerous steam railmotors and auto-trains and the services they worked. There are in excess of 150 ex-GWR locomotives preserved and details are given of the engines themselves and the trials and tribulations involved with preserving and operating some of them. Additional information to Parts 1-12 is also listed.

The book contains 190 pages including 94 illustrations. Whilst the information contained therein is doubtless of the highest accuracy, the appearance of the book is not as pleasing to the reviewer [KPJ finds the lead-type used by Amadeus Press for BRJ at that time to be somewhat worn!]. The typography, layout, etc. is quite obviously produced using modern technology, in particular, modern typefaces produced on computer typesetters give a result which is sadly lacking when compared with the earlier parts printed by the old letterpress method.

This might seem nitpicking but for the reviewer this latest part seems to lack the visual harmony and dignity of the earlier ones which, in view of the status of the series, is disappointing. That said, the book is an essential purchase for all students of the GWR, particularly those who have the previous 13 parts.

Part 14 has been compiled by F. K. Davies who is the only surviving member of the team that set out to publish the work over forty years ago. Other authors in the team have acquired almost legendary status amongst locomotive enthusiasts, including H.M. Le Fleming, J.N. Maskelyne and P.J.T. (Phil) Reed, F.K. Davies, and F.J. Tabor. One other member of the team who should be recalled is N.J. Allcock whose exhaustive work on the engine records then held at Swindon provided much of the basis of the entire work. Allcock had received official permission to publish the locomotive history of the GWR and, except for the Second World War, this would have been done in 1940. His records were subsequently made available to the society and it might therefore be claimed that the RCTS History of The Locomotives of the Great Western Railway is in fact the successor to the officially sanctioned history, ranking it alongside 'MacDermot'.

The locomotives of the Great Western Railway. Part 1. Preliminary survey. RCTS, 1951. 62 p. + col. front. + 27 plates. (incl. 3 folding), 89 illus., 3 diagrs., 2 tables.
The Preliminary survey is in itself a locomotive history. The following is the Introduction:
The locomotive history of the Great Western Railway is without parallel in providing a sequence of continuous development ranging over more than one hundred years. Formed in 1835, the Great Western Railway survived the years of the railway mania, emerged successfully from the Battle of the Gauges, and alone of the major companies retained its title after the amalgamation which followed the Railways Act of 1921. Thus in 1935 it was able honestly to celebrate its centenary, still bearing the name under which it was incorporated. This unique continuity in the management of a railway company of such magnitude presents the student of locomotive history with a most absorbing subject.
In his pursuit of information, the locomotive enthusiast found invaluable the works of the late E. L. Ahrons and his contribution, completed by the late A.C.W. Lowe, to MacDermot's History of the Great Western Railway. The official history ended just before the grouping, in 1921, and the series G.W.R. Locomotives, 1921-1935, published in the Railway Observer, was designed to carry on where the G.W.R.'s own book left off. At the same time this new venture provided statistical information based on and in agreement with the official Annual Returns, on which also are based the Locomotive Stock Books which have covered the period to 1949. In addition, an authoritative series of contributions from Messrs. F.K. Davies and F.J. Tabor have, over a period of years, dealt more specifically with various classes and features of G.W.R. practice.
It was gradually realised, however, that such a vast subject could never be fully covered in the Railway Observer, and when the G.W.R. lost its identity with the coming of British Railways on 1st January, 1948, it was decided that the available information could only be presented satisfactorily in a separate publication. It was also realised that the magnitude of the work would be too great a burden for one author. Nor was this desirable, for within the Railway Correspondence and Travel Society it was known that there were different members who were capable of contributing various sections, and a team consisting of Messrs. N. J. Allcock, F. K. Davies, H. M. Le Fleming, J.N. Maskelyne, P.J.T. Reed and F.J. Tabor has been responsible for the present publication, with considerable assistance from Mr. S.T.T. Geary in furnishing data on monthly and annual stock totals and related items; other specialists will be called in when appropriate.
Except in one instance, no section can be attributed solely to one author; but it is necessary to mention the exceptional help given by Mr. N.J. Allcock, whose research into the Engine Records at Swindon has been most exhaustive. He had received official permission to publish the Locomotive History of the G.W.R., and except for the war, this would have been done in 1940, but he has now kindly made his records available to the Society, with the result that authentic details of many classes can be published for the first time, while minor inaccuracies and deficiencies in earlier accounts which his investigations have revealed, can now be made good. In short, Mr. Allcock's co-operation makes it possible to present a complete and accurate history of G.W.R. engines on a scale not yet attempted.
Acknowledgements are also due to the Western Region of British Railways and to the old Great Western Railway Company for permission given to Mr. Allcock and the other members of the team to inspect the records at Swindon ; and the team would like to pay a special tribute to the staff of the Engine Records Office, who have always been most helpful and patient. Publication of the information is made with official permission and approval.
It is intended to deal with Great Western engines proper in suitable groups according to wheel formula in a series of parts to show the principal dimensions of each class, further particulars of building, rebuilding and withdrawal dates and other such data. Engines acquired by absorption or amalgamation will be described in further parts, under the names of the former owning companies. All these parts will be prepared for binding if desired, into larger volumes. The present part forms the introduction to the whole series and as such provides the complete basis of the history of G.W.R. locomotives; the chronological survey gives a full explanation of the numbering system applied to G.W. locomotives in addition to a concise account of locomotive development and the Works lists with the introductory notes provide a more detailed list of the actual engines built, whilst the other chapters round off the summarised story which will be expanded in the parts dealing with the respective types or classes. The section listing the dates on which each G.W.R. financial year ended will also be used in subsequent parts when dealing with building and withdrawal dates.
In conclusion, acknowledgement is made for the assistance given by numerous members of the Railway Correspondence and Travel Society in preparing the work for the printer, checking proofs, preparing photographs, etc., and it is the earnest hope of all connected with the production that a new standard of locomotive history has been reached which will in turn obtain the support of every true lover of the Great Western locomotive.

The locomotives of the Great Western Railway. Part 2. Broad gauge. Cheam (Surrey), RCTS, 1952. B 56 p + col. front. + 32 plates. 106 illus., 3 diagrs.,tables.
Compiled by P.J.T. Reed and includes several paintings which he had executed: unfortunately only the frontispiece is reproduced in colour. Reviewed briefly in Locomotive Mag., 1853, 59, 130. It is stated that G.F. Bird's Broad gauge locomotive history of the Great Western Railway published in the Locomotive Magazine between 1901 and 1903 (Volumes 6 to 8) based his drawings upon those prepared by E.T. Lane in 1848/9..
The locomotives of the Great Western Railway. Part 3. Absorbed engines, 1854-1921. Croxley Green (Herts)., RCTS, 1956. C 101 p. + col. front. + 59 plates (incl. 1 folding). 186 illus., (incl. 72 line drawings: s. els.), l6 diagrs., tables, map.
Main Author was P.J.T. Reed: what were his qualifications to query the mighty Ahrons?
The locomotives of the Great Western Railway. Part 4. Six-wheeled tender engines. Cheam (Surrey), RCTS, 1956. D 93 p. + col. front. + 54 plates. 160 illus. (incl. 9 line drawings: s els.) tables.
Prepared mainly by F.J. Tabor with asssitance of those acknowledged in Preliminary Survey
The locomotives of the Great Western Railway. Part 5. Six-coupled tank engines. Kings Heath (Birmingham), RCTS 1958. E 96 p + col. front. + 37 plates. 146 illus., (incl. 9 line drawings: s. els), 4 diagrs., tables.
Restricted, almost entirely, to the 0-6-0 type; also 56XX. Reviewed in Locomotive Mag., 1958, 64, 160..
The locomotives of the Great Western Railway. Part 6. Four-coupled tank engines. Kings Heath (Birmingham): RCTS, 1959. F 50 p. + col. front. + 26 plates. 98 illus. (incl. 6 line drawings: s. els.), 3 diagrs., tables.
The locomotives of the Great Western Railway. Part 7. Dean's larger tender engines. Cheam (Surrey), RCTS 1954. G 53 p. + front. + 32 plates. 98 illus. (incl. 6 line drawings: s. els.), 2 diagrs., tables.
The locomotives of the Great Western Railway. Part 8. Modern passenger classes. Cheam (Surrey) RCTS 1953. H 40 p. + 24 plates. 73 illus., tables.
The locomotives of the Great Western Railway. Part 8. Modern passenger classes. Solihull (Warwickshire) RCTS, 2nd ed. 1960. H 40 p. + 24 plates. 73 illus., tables.
The 4-6-0, 4-4-2 and 4-6-2 designs.
The locomotives of the Great Western Railway. Part 9. Standard two-cylinder classes. Solihull (Warwickshire): R.C.TS., 1962. J 56 p. + front. + 28 plates. 87 illus. (incl. line drawing: s. el), 11 diagrs. (s. els.), tables.
Excludes 4-6-0s (see above) but includes 4-4-2Ts and many varieties of 2-6-2Ts
The locomotives of the Great Western Railway. Part 10. Absorbed engines, 1922-1947. Lichfield (Staffs): RCTS, 1966. K 280 p. + col. front. + 138 plates. 464 illus. (incl.. 16 line drawings: s. els.) 7 diagrs. (s. els.) tables, 4 maps.
925 locomotives absorbed in January 1923. This could almost be called a history of locomotives in Wales and is a major work in itself. Most of the types covered are tank engines (only the Cambrian Railways contributed a considerable number of 4-4-0 and 0-6-0 tender engines). Authors included F.K. Davies, J.M. Firth, J.H. Lucking and R..E. Thomas and an editorial team which include N.J. Allcock and A.C. Sterndale  (painting of B&M 0-6-0ST No. 20 piloting Cambrian No. 48 near Talerddig) for coloured frontispiece) co-ordinated by P.J.T. Reed. D.S.M. Barrie contributed the historical introductions. Reviewed by J. Skillern in J. Rly Canal Hist. Soc., 1966, 12. 71 who noted extremely high standard and complex nature of task.
The locomotives of the Great Western Railway. Part  11. The rail motor vehicles and internal combustion locomotives. Cheam (Surrey), RCTS, 2nd ed. 1956, L 26 p. + front. + 12 plates. 36 illus., 2 diagrs., 7 tables.
First published 1952.
The locomotives of the Great Western Railway. Part 12. A chronological and statistical survey. RCTS, 1974. 188pp.
Ottley 6005 Supplement (Addenda). This part includes an index to all the other parts. Reviewed by B.K.C. in Rly Wld, 1975, 36, 170.
The locomotives of the Great Western Railway. Part 13. Additional information and corrections.
No. 1 (pp. N1-3)
No.2 (pp. N4-10)
No.5 (pp. N23-31)
These sheets of corrections are the ones relevant now that second editions have been published of some of the parts.
The locomotives of the Great Western Railway. Part 14. Names and their origins, railmotor services, War service, the complete preservation story. RCTS.

LNER

Locomotives of the L.N.E.R., 1923-37. K. Risdon Prentice and Peter Proud.
Original version of what has grown to multiple volume Green Book which follows: original reviewed in Locomotive Mag., 1941, 47, 224

General editor E.V. Fry with assistance from I.C. Allen, M.G. Boddy, W.A. Brown, A.G. Dunbar, W. Hennigan, K. Hoole, R. Justin, R.G. Lucas, F. Manners, R. Miller, E. Neve, P. Proud, T.E. Roundthwaite, W.D. Spencer, V.R. Webster and W.B. Yeadon.
Locomotives of the LNER. Part 1. Preliminary survey. 1963. 120pp.
Place of publication is not listed as it varied with the location of the Honourary Editor (Eric Fry) which changed as the great work progressed. This part was graced with a coloured frontispiece, included brief biographies of most of the Locomotive Engineers, including those of constituent companies, liveries, notes on naming, brakes, locomotive diagrams, boiler classification, route availability, power classification and works. This Part was reviewed by "DP" in Rly Wld, 1963, 24, 439.
Locomotives of the LNER. Part 2A. Tender engines—classes A1 to A10. 1978. 231pp.
Locomotives of the LNER. Part 2B. Tender engines—classes B1 to B19. 1975. 167pp.
Locomotives of the LNER. Part 3A. Tender engines—classes C1 to C11. 1979. 148pp.
Locomotives of the LNER. Part 3B. Tender engines—classes D1 to D12. 1980. 108pp,
Reviewed Railway Wld, 1982, 43, 152
Locomotives of the LNER. Part 3C. Tender engines—classes D13 to D24. 1981. 119pp.
Reviewed Railway Wld, 1982, 43, 152
Locomotives of the LNER. Part 4. Tender engines—classes D25 to E4.
1968. 156pp.
Very full coverage of D49 class
Locomotives of the LNER. Part 5. Tender engines—classes J1 to J37.
1966. 230pp.
Locomotives of the LNER. Part 6A. Tender engines—classes J38 to K5. 1982. 169pp.
Locomotives of the LNER. Part 6B. Tender engines—classes O1 to P2. 1983. 196pp.
Also includes the Austerity class 2-8-0 and 2-10-0 types acquired by the LNER and the Stanier O6 2-8-0s.
Locomotives of the LNER. Part 6C. Tender engines—classes Q1 to Y10. 1984. 166pp.  150 illus.
Gives an extremely detailed account of the Gresley/Yarrow water-tube boiler experiment and its subsequent rebuilding as a simple 4-6-4 (or 4-6-2-2) as the W1. In the case of the V2 there are diagrams of proposed semi-streamlined and streamlined versions, of the leading pony truck with swing link side control and with spring side control, the experimentalm self-cleaning smokebox, and of the two types of double chimney fitted, and modified forms of single chimneys. Tests on the class are reported at length.
Locomotives of the LNER. Part 7. Tank engines—classes A5 to H2. 1964. 118pp.
Note that this early fascicule is less detailed than many of the later parts.
Locomotives of the LNER. Part 8A. Tank engines—classes J50 to J70. 1983. 102pp.
Locomotives of the LNER. Part 8B. Tank engines—classes J71 to J94
.
1983. 94pp.
Locomotives of the LNER. Part 9A. Tank engines—classes L1 to N19. 1977. 170pp.
Locomotives of the LNER. Part 9B. Tank engines—classes Q1 to Z5. 1977. 116pp.
Reviewed by Michael Harris in Railway World, 78, 39, 37
Locomotives of the LNER. Part 10A. Departmental stock, locomotive sheds, boiler and tender numbering. 1989?.
140pp.
This part includes a wealth of "odd material": further unfulfilled designs, such as streamlined 4-8-4 of April 1946; the US Liberation 2-8-0s, the borrowing of GWR railcars Nos 6 and 19 and their evaluation in the North East area, the loan of J25 0-6-0s to the GWR, etc, etc. Includes details of LNER engine sheds. David Jenkinson was [rightly] critical of production quality: especially reproduction of illustrations and soft covers (latter dated back to beginning of saga.  (Backtrack 3 page 94)
Locomotives of the LNER. Part  10B. Railcars and electric stock. 1990. 150pp.
Sentinel and Clayton steam railcars, assorted diesel and petrol electric railcars and railbus, multiple units and electric locomotives, including LNER vehicles shared  in ownership with LPTB, and tramcars on Grimsby & Immingham Light Railway. Reviewed by John Marshall in Journal Rly Canal Hist. Soc., 1991, 30, 210.
Locomotives of the LNER. Part 11. Supplementary information. 1994. 98pp.
Errata & addenda; Introduction "signed" E.V. Fry, W. Hennigan and W.B. Yeadon.

Bradley, D[onald] L[aurence]
The locomotive history of the London Chatham and Dover Railway. London: RCTS, 1979. 127pp
A locomotive history of the railways on the Isle of Wight. RCTS, 1982. 45pp.
Very much in the style Authorship of railway literatureof the other Bradley locomotive histories: each of the independent railways is given its own chapter: Isle of Wight Central Railway, Isle of Wight Railway, Ryde Pier & Tramway and Freshwater, Yarmouth & Newport Railway, then there is a further chapter covering activity by Southern Railway and British Railways down to a glimpse of the "new" tube rolling stock.
The locomotive history of the South Eastern and Chatham Railway. rev. ed. 1980.
See Addenda item 7226 to Ottley first supplement for the complicated origins of this work.
The locomotives of the London and South Western Railway. Solihull: RCTS, 1965. 2v.
See Bradley page for greatly expanded version of this work.
The locomotives of the London Brighton & South Coast Railway. Part 3. 1974.
The locomotives of the South Eastern and Chatham Railway. Solihull (Warwickshire), RCTS, 1961. 19 p. + front. + 41 plates. 41 illus. 5 diagrs. tables.
Locomotives of the Southern Railway. London, 1975. 2v.
Volume 1 covers Maunsell and is restricted solely to his Southern Railway activity (reviewed by Basil Cooper in Railway Wld, 1976, 37, 221) and Volume 2 covers Bulleid.
The Locomotives of the London Brighton & South Coast Railway. Part 1. London, 1969. 179p.
Ottley 12259: Craven and early Stroudley locomotives. Also covers London & Brighton; London & Croydon; and Brighton, Chatham & Dover Joint Comittee locomotives. Rreviewed by G.M. Kitchenside in Rly Wld., 1969, 30, 506: available vat extortionate price from Amazon piranna .
The Locomotives of the London Brighton & South Coast Railway. Part 2. London, 1972. 123p.
Later Stroudley locomotives and most of R.J. Billinton's.
The Locomotives of the London Brighton & South Coast Railway. Part 3. London, 1974. 156p.
Later R.J. Billinton, Marsh and Lawson Billinton locomotives. Reviewed in Rly Wld, 1975, 36, 170.
The locomotives of the South Eastern Railway. Solihull, 1963. 124pp
Reviewed in Rly Wld, 1963, 24, 399.

Cook, Arthur F.
LMS locomotive design and construction: loco engineers, their designs and modifications. Lincoln: RCTS, 1990. 175pp.
Part of the complex RCTS History of LMS locomotives. Reviewed by with great respect by Martin Barnes in Journal Rly Canal Hist. Soc., 1991, 30, 209.
Raising steam on the LMS: the evolution of LMS locomotive boilers. Huntingdon: RCTS, 1999. 233pp.
Part of the complex RCTS History of LMS locomotives, Reviewed by Martin Barnes in Journal Rly Canal Hist. Soc., 2000, 33, 422.

Appleby, K.C..
Shildon – Newport in retrospect. RCTS. 90pp.
Reviewed by  AE in Backtrack, 1991, 5, 243 and by A.L. Barnett in Journal Rly Canal Hist. Soc., 1991, 30, 289.

Cormack, J.R.H. and Stevenson, J.L..
Highland Railway locomotives. Book 1. Early days to the 'Lochs'. Lincoln: RCTS, 1988. 160pp. 115 illus.
Highland Railway locomotives. Book 2. The Drummond, Smith & Cumming classes. Lincoln: RCTS, 1990. 174pp. 149 illus.

Goodman, John
L&NWR locomotive names : the named locomotives of the London & North Western Railway and its amalgamated companies. 2002. 284pp.
LMS locomotive names. 1994. 211pp.

Groves, Norman
Great Northern locomotive history. Volume 1. 1847-66. 1986.
Great Northern locomotive history. Volume 2. 1867-95. 1991.
Great Northern locomotive history. Volume 3A. 1896-1911. The Ivatt era. RCTS, 1990. 233pp.
Rly Wld, 1991, 52, 346 noted "usual high standard"
Great Northern locomotive history. Volume 3B. 1911-1922. The Gresley era. RCTS, 1992. 132pp.
The work was completed after the death of the author. To an extent this is less satisfactory than the three earlier volumes and tends to overlap wiith the various relevant parts of Locomotives of the LNER. Nevertheless, the volume does contain a great deal of detail which would be difficult to find elesewhere: notably the GNR locomotive classification, boiler numbering and classification, a full list of Doncaster Works Numbers, headlamp codes, running shed codes and statistics on locomotives extant at the Grouping and on Nationalization.

Henshaw, Alfred.
The Great Northern Railway in the East Midlands. 1999-2003. 4 volumes
See also John Marshall in J. Rly. Canal Hist. Soc., 34, 446.

Jack, Harry
Locomotives of the LNWR Southern Division: London & Birmingham Railway, London & North Western Railway and Wolverton Locomotive Works. 2001. 299pp. 145 figs. (illus, including line drawings)
Fulsomely reviewed in Backtrack, Volume 16: "In spite of the five stars Rutherford castigates the author/publisher for failing to identify the sources. Nevertheless, "this is one of the most important locomotive histories published in Britain in recent years." Although the title-page appears to be comprehensive, the range of the text extends far, far further and includes opening dates for what became the Southern Division, and notes on the permanent way. The account of the Locomotive Works at Wolverton is limited to the period of locomotive construction and maintenance. Very little of the orginal buildings remains: the last remnants became a Tesco carpark: how the mighty fall. Pp 35-48 provide a thorough biography of Edward Bury which extends to his brief association with the GNR, and his planning of the Doncaster Plant. McConnell is given similar coverage: pp 49-70.

Gregory, J.R. The L.N.W.R. eight-coupled goods engines. RCTS, 1950.
Ottley 6973: 23 pp plus 8 plates: according to Ottley appears to be mainly a chronology. Reviewed in Locomotive Mag., 1950, 56, 184..

Proud, P.
The Great Eastern Railway 0-6-0Ts. RCTS, [1945], 12pp.

Tee, D.F.
The Midland compounds. Solihull (Warwickshire) RCTS, 1962. 24 p. + 12 plates (incl. 1 col.). 29 illus., 4 tables.
Reviewed in Rly Wld, 1963, 24, 38.

Young, John and Tyreman, David
The Hughes and Stanier 2-6-0s: locomotives of the LMS series
. 208pp.
"Essential for all locomotive historians" Michael Blakemore Backtrack, 2010, 24, 190. Colour reproduction poor, especially so in case of No. 13000 (ex Locomotive Publishing Co.). Black & white photographs: many interesting especially Hughes type on Highland line. Appendix 5 entitles The Reidinger Crabs includes A Burton railwayman – the fitter's story by David ??

Townsin, Ray
The Jubilee 4-6-0's. 2006. 262pp. 197 figs. (mainly based on photographs)
This is a disappointing book in spite of its considerable physical size and weight. It lacks internal structure, and is far away from the more highly organized Locomotives of the LNER where it is possible to gain a highly accurate portrait of the comparable B17 class by examining what is in effect a single chapter, or even the earlier Locomotives of the Great Western where the Castle class is covered in comparable depth in a handful of pages. Townsin reprodues an excessive number of photographs mainly from the post-nationalization period, and recourse has been made to using photographs of other classes to illustrate specific points, mainly to show minor livery changes: this is disconcerting. The book is extremely weak on allocation and work where whole areas of activity are ignored. There are two refernces to the "Institute of Locomotive Engineers [sic]". The lack of an index and comprehensive contents listing are very serious faults.. Michael Blackemore (Backtrack, 2007, 21, 448) took a different view: "highly recommended", although the greengrocer's apostrophe is rightly condemned" .

Jennison, John. A detailed history of the Stanier Class Five 4-6-0s. Volume 1 - Nos.5000-5471. Railway Correspondence & Travel Society, (Locomotives of the LMS' series). 288pp.
Reviewed in Backtrack, 2014, 28, 126: also seen at NRM: an excellent work
Jennison, John. A detailed history of the Stanier Class Five 4-6-0s. Volume 2 on 45472-45499, 44658-44999. Railway Correspondence and Travel Society in the 'locomotives of the LMS' Series. Hardback, 256pp.
Reviewed in Backtrack, 2016, 30, 190:
Jennison, John. A detailed history of the LMS 'Patriot' 4-6-0s. Railway Correspondence & Travel Society. 2019. 224pp.
Well reviewed by Michael Blakemore in Backtrack, 2019, 33, 318
Jennison, John. A detailed history of the LMS 'Royal Scots'. 2022. 258pp
Well reviewed by Michael Blakemore in Backtrack, 2023, 37, 62

Webb, Brian and Gordon, David A.
Lord Carlisle's railways. 1978. 127pp. + plates.  
Served collieries near Brampton.

J,H. Lucking.
Railways of Dorset. by arrangement with the Dorset Natural History & Archaeological Society.
Reviewed in Railway World, 1969, 30, 132

Locomotive Stock Books, etc
Page 44 of Jones Steam locomotive development

The locomotive stock as at 31st December, 1934, of the main line railways of Great Britain, including alterations to stock during 1934. Rly Obsr , 1935, Supplement, xx p. + 4 plates. 14 illus., table.

The locomotive stock as at 31st December, 1935, of the main line companies of Great Britain, including alterations to stock during 1935. Rly Obsr. 1936,  Supplement No. 2. xxiv p. + 8 plates. 27 illus., table.

The locomotive stock as at 31st December, 1936 of the main line companies of Great Britain and Ireland, including alterations to stock during 1936. Rly Obsr, 1937, Supplement No. 3. Part 1.28 p. + 8 plates. 31 illus., table.

The locomotive stock book appendix: alterations to stock during 1937: additional named locomotives and the locomotive stock of other British railways. Rly Obsr, 1938, Supplement No. 3.20 p, + 6 plates, 27 illus., table.

The locomotive stock book, 1939. Rly Obsr, 1939, Supplement No. 2. 54 p. + 14 plates. 52 illus., table.

Locomotive stock alterations, 1939-42. Rly Obsr. 1943 Supplement No 1 13 p. , ..

Locomotive stock book, 1946: classified locomotive stocks as at 31st December, 1945; alterations to stock, 1939-1945; locomotives on loan, locomotive renumbering schemes. Rly Obsr, 1946, Supplement No. 7. 96 p, + 24 plates. 89 illus., 5 tables.
Reviewed in Locomotive Mag., 1947, 53, 14

Locomotive stock book, 1948: complete classified lists (with names) of all locomotive stock of railways vested in the Railway Executive and London Transport Executive on 1st January, 1948 ... ; compiled by D. R. Pollock and others. Welwyn (Herts.] , R.C.T.S., 1948. 52 p.+8 plates. 26 illus., 6 tables. (Railway Observer supplement No. 4).

The named locomotives of the main line companies of Great Britain and Ireland, March, 1937. Rly. Obsr., 1937, Supplement No. 3. Part 2.18 p.+ 4 plates, 17 illus.

Locomotive stock alterations 1952-54. The Railway Correspondence and Travel Society. Locomotive Mag., 1955, 61, 184

Railway Observer
The journal of the Society;  contained news (much subsequently added to the Stock Books and locomotive histories) and some indexed in Steamindex, although much must have been missed), but the Society has done much to organize its earlier lliterature in electronic form. The Society maintains an excellent website.

2023-04-05

Steamindex homepage.