A History of the LMS 1. The First Years 1923-1930 O.S.Nock

A History of the LMS

The LMS was not only the largest of the Big Four main line railway companies set up by the grouping of 1923, it was also the most progressive in handling the whole spectrum of rail traffic. It inherited great traditions of long-distance passenger hauls from the London and North Western and the Midland; busy commuter services and the techniques of dealing with peak holiday traffic from the Lancashire and Yorkshire; an enormous goods and mineral business; and the Royal Mail routes to Scotland and Ireland, fed into by a comprehensive network of travelling post office services.

Such a challenging diversity makes the first years of the LMS particularly fascin-ating, as the conflicting interests, policies and traditions of the constituent companies began to be moulded - not without difficulty and bitter clashes of personality - into a highly efficient machine. This is the first connected account of the whole enterprise, the evolution of which O. S. Nock was uniquely placed to observe as an engineering contractor and as a friend and confidant of many of the leading officers of the LMS.

He touches on every aspect of the railway's character and operations, from the boardroom to the engine shed, and the result will be not only of interest to all railway enthusiasts, but of value to anyone who is interested in transport as a vital part of the national economy.