Description
One of the first areas to see the end of steam was the East of England – around 120 years after the first steam locomotives ran. Over this period, a rich history was developed through the construction of the various routes, the engines used and services offered.
East of England Steam 1948-1963 examines the last years of steam in the region using over 200 excellent colour and black-and-white images from a number of sources.
With an area over 7,000 square miles, the East of England region consists of Bedfordshire; Cambridgeshire; Essex; Hertfordshire; Huntingdonshire; Norfolk; Suffolk. Some of the towns and cities incorporated in the area are: Norwich; Ipswich; Colchester; Cambridge; Peterborough; Bedford; Yarmouth; Ely; King’s Lynn; Lowestoft; March.
The East Coast Main Line bordered the region in the west, whilst the two primary routes left Liverpool Street, London, to Ipswich, Norwich and the coast, and Cambridge, Ely and King’s Lynn. Being a predominantly rural area, there were several branch lines, many of which no longer exist.
Great Eastern Railway locomotive classes are featured: B12; D16/3; E4; F4; F5; F6; J15; J17; J19; J20; N7. Also included are Gresley’s B17s, K3s and J39s, as well as Thompson’s B1/B2 and L1. Under British Railways many of the new Standard Class 7 ‘Britannia’ Pacifics took over on the main line expresses and boat trains and these are present. The Midland & Great Northern Joint Line benefitted from the introduction of Ivatt Class 4MT 2-6-0s during the final decade of the route’s existence.
The locomotives are pictured at stations, junctions, points from the lineside and sheds, both large and small.
East of England Steam 1948-1963 shows the railways enjoying their final years in an almost forgotten time of English history.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Peter Tuffrey was born in Doncaster in 1953 and studied Fine Art at Doncaster College of Art from 1970 to 1971 and then at Leeds University until 1974.
He held the position of Keeper of Fine and Decorative Arts at Doncaster Museum and Art Gallery 1975-1995, was a freelance writer 1995-2000, and PR Media Consultant for Doncaster Rovers 2000-2002.
From 2003-2010, Peter was Area Manager for the Music Ground Group of Companies and Hiwatt Amplification. He is now working as a freelance writer.
Over the years, he has built up a massive photographic archive and with this he has produced over 70 publications. He has also written many articles for local and regional newspapers and has penned two novels, Angel from the Gutter and Bonique.
This is Peter’s twenty-third volume for Great Northern Books, following Gresley’s A3s, The Last Days of Scottish Steam, The Last Years of Yorkshire Steam, The Last Years of North East Steam, London Midland Steam – 1948-1966, Peppercorn’s Pacifics, British Railways Standard Pacifics, The Last Years of North West Steam, Western Steam – 1948-1966, Gresley’s V2s, Southern Steam – 1948-1967, Yorkshire Steam – 1948-1967, Gresley’s B17s, The Last Years of West Midlands Steam, East Midlands Steam – 1950-1966, Thompson’s B1s, Scottish Steam – 1948-1967, The Last Years of London Steam, North East Steam – 1948-1968, Gresley’s D49s, The Yorkshire Country House and Leeds: Changing Places.
