Steam Heritage, 1986–2000

We can now celebrate the 200 years anniversary of railways, which have served to connect communities across this country and across world countries. Our railways started with steam power in 1825, until steam was phased out by British Railways in 1968. Nowadays, the preservation movement continues to provide the glorious spectacle of steam trains at work in many parts of the U.K.

The preserved railways and the preserved locomotives running on the main line are making their own history, and it is part of this history that is covered by Steam Heritage, 1986–2000, which records many of the steam activities from 1986 to 2000. There are numerous locomotives pictured here which may never steam again as the costs of refurbishment, coupled with very much stricter safety requirements, preclude the reappearance of some old favourites.

This book contains colour pictures from the author's collection of large format slides and latterly some 35mm slides. The style is similar to the author's previous books, using approximately 200 pictures with informative captions to describe the scenes depicted, presented in chronological order. The enormous work of volunteers in continuing the development of the preservation movement cannot be underestimated, because without those efforts, there would be no history to record. This book is a further salute to the volunteer movement, in recognition of their outstanding achievements.

Floreat Vapor!

AUTHOR: Aged five, David Knapman's railway interest was triggered at Reigate station by a Wainwright 4.4.0. Reading his father's pre-war Railway Magazine and regularly taking Trains Illustrated fostered a lifelong interest. The Reading to Redhill line provided much steam variety and early main line trips included the Bristolian and the Kentish Belle in 1958. Large format colour photographs were taken with a twin lens reflex Mamiya, and latterly 35mm slide film was introduced to reduce the carrying weight of equipment. The steam interest continues to provide wide variety and the author hopes his photographs prove to be of much historic interest to the reader.

200 colour illustrations