On Tour For Steam

This book depicts visits to many locations undertaken during this period when time was running out for steam traction. By the turn of the 1960s, steam traction on Britain's railways was within its last decade and for a group of young enthusiasts living in Carlisle, there was always the urge to travel to other parts of the country to photograph steam locomotives, which in most cases would never have appeared in their own locality.

Visits to certain parts of Scotland, the North East of England and parts of Lancashire could be achieved in a day, using a day return ticket. More distant parts of Britain would require more planning, usually using an all lines rail rover ticket. These visits and trips could be done on an individual basis or with a group of like-minded friends, or even with a railway club or society. The benefits of visits with railway societies or clubs were that such organisations could arrange group shed permits, whereas individuals had to arrange such things by themselves.

As the 1960s progressed, time started to run out for the photographer to capture the last embers of steam across the country and things became ever more urgent, with the end in sight. On Tour For Steam depicts visits to many locations undertaken during this period when time was running out for steam traction. We travelled from Aberdeen to Weymouth to record the dying days of a form of traction that served the railways of Britain, from the 1820s through to the late 1960s.

Author: Howard Routledge was born in Carlisle and became interested in steam locomotives from a young age, developing an interest in railway photography in his home city from 1963. Howard had a career with the Carlisle City Police, which began in 1964, from which he has now retired. He became involved with steam preservation from 1985 and is the former Vice Chairman of the Princess Royal Class Locomotive Trust, which was responsible for running four preserved steam locomotives, including Princess Margaret Rose and Duchess of Sutherland. He lives in Carlisle where he continues his interest in steam locomotives and railway photography.

200 b/w illustrations