Railway Liveries: Privatisation 1995-2000
Characterised at the time as a 'poll tax on wheels', the ramifications of the last Conservative Government's fragmentation of the railway industry through privatisation are still becoming evident. One obviously visible change brought about by the newly privatised railways was the appearance of myriad new liveries. Although British Rail had varied its corporate style in its later years, the newly-privatised companies, seeking to create new identities for themselves, have been at the forefront of a style revolution. Some of the new liveries have been designed around the corporate image of the ultimate owners, such as Virgin West Coast and Virgin Cross Country, whilst others, such as Midland Mainline, have sought to create a wholly new image for the operator. Some of the new liveries are better than others; what is undeniable, however, is that the railway scene is now more colourful than it has been since the pre-Grouping era. In his second recent title devoted to the railway liveries of Britain's railways, Colin Boocock provides a comprehensive portrait of the liveries adopted by each of the train operating companies. In the case of some of the shorter franchises such as Chiltern Railways, early new liveries were similar to the lines of former BR ones; others, such as Thames Trains, seem equally happy to have retained the existing Network SouthEast colour scheme for a long time. Drawing upon more than 150 colour illustrations, the author provides the enthusiast with a single work of reference chronicling the changing railway scene in the era after privatisation. For all those interested in the history of the contemporary railway scene, in particular railway modellers, Railway Liveries: Privatisation 1995-2000 is an essential work of reference. Combined with the author's earlier books on railway liveries between 1948 and 1995, the book represents a unique record of the changing railway scene.
Hardback with dust jacket, 128 pages, colour photographs
Condition: Very Good
ISBN: 9780711027831
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