Preserved Mainline Steam: GWR and LMS

The British Isles is spoilt for heritage transport centres, but this hasn’t always been the case. It has been made possible by a number of factors. Some of the early pioneering locomotives such as Rocket and Novelty were thankfully saved for posterity and a significant number of pre-Grouping engines were also preserved. These were often kept at locomotive depots or workshops as there was no firm policy about how to manage preserved engines in the early years.As the steam era came to an end in the 1960s one factor prevailed above all others. A scrap merchant by the name of Dai Woodham assembled a large collection of redundant steam locomotives which were destined for the cutter’s torch (although many other engines were also saved through BR’s own auspices). However, the enthusiast fraternity acquired many of these and over time a great number were restored to working order.This book, the first of two volumes, illustrates a wide selection of engines which once graced the main lines of Britain and particularly features engines which worked for the former Great Western and London Midland & Scottish Railways or their constituent companies.