Stanier Locomotives: A Pictorial History
When W. A. Stanier (later Sir William) accepted the post of Chief Mechanical Engineer of the London Midland and Scottish Railway-largest of the Big Four companies in 1932, he was faced with an immediate requirement to improve upon the locomotive stock then existing. He set about this with such purpose that only seventeen months after taking office his first large Pacific locomotive, The Princess Royal, was completed at Crewe, and by the end of 1935 over 500 new engines had been constructed to his new standard designs. In all, no less than 1224 engines had been constructed by the end of 1939, including the first batches of his Coronation Pacifics-generally considered to be his masterpiece-and the motive power situation on the LMSR had been transformed.
This pictorial history deals with each class he introduced, in chronological order, and each development is described by means of informative captions. It forms a valuable and fascinating record of the locomotive practice of the Stanier Regime, and the later modifications to Stanier designs made by Fairburn and Ivatt are also described.
Careful choice of over 100 halftone illustrations has allowed both good record shots and impressive action photography to play their part in telling the story. Many photographs are reproduced for the first time, and "official" works photo- graphs have been avoided wherever possible, in order to present a lively and interesting selection. In addition to the captions there is a short introduction to each class and a complete list of named locomotives, also the details of each batch constructed.
Hardback with dust jacket, 128 pages, black & white photographs
Condition: Good/Very Good
ISBN: 9780711001084
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