Steam in the coalfields by G T Heavyside

STEAM IN THE COALFIELDS

G T Heavyside

Coal mines gave birth to railways, for the need to move newly dug coal to canal wharves or river ports for trunk water hauls in the late eighteenth century soon proved that horse and cart methods on rough paths were unsuited to the expanding industrial revolu-tion. Collieries were thus among the first locations for pioneer steam locomotive builders to try their machines. Today the wheel has turned full circle and with the general decline of steam and its abandonment on British Railways, collieries are among the last users of steam locomotives, though even here they are fast declining as collieries are closed or diesels brought in.

In this album G THeavyside presents a fascinating selection of photographs depicting steam locomotives in action in the 1970s at collieries and NCB connecting lines in many parts of Britain. The engines form a motley collection of types from many different builders, although the role of the standard Second World War austerity 0-6-0 saddle tank, produced for military and industrial use, is not forgotten. The sparkling pictures from one of the leading railway photographers are accompanied by detailed informative captions, and maps pinpoint the locations of the lines illustrated and also show the layout of the larger NCB railways and their relationship with BR tracks.