Britain's Railways at War
This book tells the story of the greatest achievement in railway transport the world has ever known. It would have been remark-able in any circumstances ; but how otherwise than phenomenal would one describe the performance of a great industrial concern that stepped up its output by 46 per cent, while some 25 per cent of its normal workshop capacity was diverted to other purposes and 15 per cent of the staff released for other duties ? It is still more extraordinary when all the hazards of wartime working on the railways are recalled, as well as the fact that normal replacement of rolling stock and fixed equipment was much decelerated to make available materials and plant for other war-time essentials. But statistics form no more than the essential factual background to this amazing story, which Mr. Nock tells in the multi-sided role of a professional engineer, a lifelong railway enthusiast, and a contractor closely associated with much special work for the war effort of the British railways. Mr. Nock opens with the early preparations, dating back to 1937, and takes the story forward through the 'phoney' period, Dunkirk, the night Blitz, to the time when preparations were being made for the re-entry of the Allied forces into the continent of Europe. The more dramatic episodes are interposed with accounts of important managerial facets such as finance and wagon stock control, and some remarkable statistics of operation. Over 100 illustrations, maps and diagrams together, form an appropriate pictorial accompaniment to the text.
Hardback with dust jacket, 224 pages, black & white photographs
Condition: Good/Very Good with past owner's details IFC
ISBN: 9780711002395
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