Rail Centres: Peterbrough
For centuries Peterborough was a small and relatively unimportant cathedral and market town situated beside the River Nene. However, the arrival of the railways in the 1840s transformed the city: almost overnight Peter-borough became one of eastern England's key urban centres. In railway terms Peterborough has been known as a 'Great Northern' town, famous for its New England locomotive sheds and its extensive marshalling yards. But this is only part of the picture. In addition to the GNR main line, Peterborough has been a focal point of cross-country routes from the Midlands, Lincolnshire and East Anglia, with five different railway companies being represented in the city; railway-related industries have included a gas works, wagon-building, and canvas and sheet stores.
The last 25 years have seen great changes to the rail scene in the city. Lines have closed - as has the East station - most of the locomotive sheds have disappeared, and the surviving yards are now much reduced in size. Nevertheless, today Peterborough is an important station on the East Coast main line, and is still an interchange point with cross-country services. Freight traffic remains important, particularly after the closure of the March-Spalding line and the consequent diversion of its traffic via Peterborough. And of course, some of the old Northampton line has been preserved as part of the Nene Valley International Steam Railway. Peterborough's railway history provides excellent material for an addition to the Rail Centres series, and the author has used it well to describe the city's place in the country's railway heritage.
Hardback with dust jacket, 128 pages, black & white photographs
Condition: Good/Very Good
ISBN: 9780711013896
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