East Midlands Railways : From Steam to Modern Traction

Excellent photographs of locomotives on the railways in and around the East Midlands during the transitional period when modern traction worked alongside steam engines.

A transitional period existed following the announcement of British Railways’ Modernisation Plan in 1955 as steam engines operated alongside new diesel and electric forms of motive power. The East Midlands was particularly affected as diesel locomotives came to work the area’s expresses and freight trains. Diesel Multiple Units sought to halt declining branch line usage, though many eventually closed. Yet, some improvements in infrastructure were also seen. East Midlands Railways From Steam to Modern Traction uses around 200 excellent colour and black-and-white images to look at the changing scene in the 1950s and 1960s. The area’s lines were formerly operated by the London, Midland & Scottish Railway and the London & North Eastern Railway. Many of these companies’ locomotives could be seen, as well as British Railways’ Standard Classes. A number of new diesel classes and DMUs appeared and worked alongside these during the late 1950s and early 1960s. The locomotives are at locations across the East Midlands, which covers Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire and Rutland. Principal cities include Derby, Leicester, Lincoln and Nottingham, whilst there are several large towns, such as Chesterfield, Grantham, Kettering, Loughborough, Mansfield, Northampton, Wellingborough, etc. The pictures have been captured from the lineside, engine sheds, stations, marshalling yards and industrial locations. From the announcement of the Modernisation Plan to the end of steam services, just 13 years elapsed. Fortuitously, many enthusiast photographers were on hand to capture this important period of railway history