Preserved Steam in Britain by Patrick Whitehouse (Hardcover, 1979)

Preserved Steam in Britain by Patrick Whitehouse (Hardcover, 1979).

This panorama of British steam preservation as it has developed in the quarter-century of its existence is by an acknowledged expert in the field, who was the first-ever secretary of the first-ever British preservation society (Talyllyn). Each of the major railways has a section devoted to it, and many of them are shown as they were before preservation, during their early days under amateur ownership and today. Progress can thus be followed at a glance, and a story is told which reflects nothing but credit on the enthusiasm and energy of the disciples of preservation.

The text is concerned not so much to give all the detailed technical information, hours of opening etc which are adequately chronicled elsewhere, but to convey something of the unique atmosphere and ambience of each railway, from the idiosyncratic Cadeby Light Railway to Bulleid's 'Blackmore Vale' making short work of Freshfield Bank on the Bluebell Railway.

The book will be irresistible to the many thousands of readers who enjoy a day out with steam, as well as to those who are actively involved in preservation.