Martyn Hilbert – författare

Martyn Hilbert’s colour photographs record the changes on the railway network around Lancashire from 1978 to the present day. Spanning the end of the regional BR Rail Blue era, through sectorisation and privatisation, this book captures the huge variety of motive power in operation during this period, from diesel and electric locomotive-hauled services to first- and second-generation DMUs and EMUs, as well as some industrial railways. The book covers the county’s network from its northern boundary, including Lancaster and Carnforth, to the West Yorkshire boundary, the Fylde area (Blackpool, Lytham, etc.), Central Lancashire (the Preston area, Chorley, Leyland) and West Lancashire where it reaches the current Merseyside boundary south of Ormskirk. The traditional former Lancashire towns of Bolton, Bury Oldham and Wigan, which are now part of Greater Manchester, are also included, as well as the city of Salford. This photographic survey over more than forty years of the railway scene in Lancashire will appeal to all those with an interest in the history of the railways in this county.

In this book Martyn Hilbert presents a pictorial survey of Electrical Multiple Units in the North of England, from Staffordshire to the Scottish borders, Doncaster to Tyneside and including the conurbations of Merseyside, Greater Manchester and Leeds/Bradford. The period covered runs from the late 1970s to the present day. The first EMUs were introduced on Britain’s railways more than a century ago and following nationalisation of the railways in 1948 British Railways began a gradual process of electrification which accelerated after the Modernisation Plan in 1955. In the 1970s BR started building its second-generation EMUs and by the 1990s the first of a third generation of EMUs entered service as the railways began to be privatised.This book will appeal to all those who wish to know more about Britain’s railways over the last five decades.

In this companion volume to Northern Electrics: EMUs in the North of England, Martyn Hilbert showcases the huge variety and types of first- and second-generation Diesel Multiple Units that have operated in the North of England, including many items of rolling stock that have passed into history. Covering the period from the late 1970s to the present day, the photographs featured have been taken in a wide range of locations, including North Staffordshire, Cheshire (including Crewe), Merseyside and the Wirral, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Cumbria, Newcastle and the Tyne, the Tees area and Yorkshire. The first generation was introduced by British Railways in the mid-1950s as part of the modernisation programme. These were replaced by a second generation of units in the 1980s, many of which are still in service, but are slowly being replaced by new state-of-the-art designs to suit modern-day operations, passenger expectations and environmental considerations.With previously unpublished images, this book will appeal to all those with an interest in Britain’s railways over the last five decades.

In this companion volume to Northern Electrics: EMUs in the North of England, Martyn Hilbert showcases the huge variety and types of first- and second-generation Diesel Multiple Units that have operated in the North of England, including many items of rolling stock that have passed into history. Covering the period from the late 1970s to the present day, the photographs featured have been taken in a wide range of locations, including North Staffordshire, Cheshire (including Crewe), Merseyside and the Wirral, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Cumbria, Newcastle and the Tyne, the Tees area and Yorkshire. The first generation was introduced by British Railways in the mid-1950s as part of the modernisation programme. These were replaced by a second generation of units in the 1980s, many of which are still in service, but are slowly being replaced by new state-of-the-art designs to suit modern-day operations, passenger expectations and environmental considerations.With previously unpublished images, this book will appeal to all those with an interest in Britain s railways over the last five decades.

The Isle of Wight has a unique electrified railway running over approximately 8 miles between Ryde Pier Head and the seaside town of Shanklin. Since 1967 this has been the last remnant of what was once an extensive rail network on the island. Over the years the line has been operated by three generations of electric trains, all being refurbished stock that once operated on the London Underground system and maintaining a tradition of using redundant assets from the mainland. Now branded as ‘Island Line’, the railway provides a useful and strategic transport link between the eastern side of the Isle of Wight and the mainland, as most train services connect with the ferries and hovercraft at Ryde.Martyn Hilbert examines the background and reasons for using ex-London Underground rolling stock and details the route and history of the line. High-quality images, maps and fleet lists accompany informative text to create a fascinating account of this unusual island railway.

The Isle of Wight has a unique electrified railway running over approximately 8 miles between Ryde Pier Head and the seaside town of Shanklin. Since 1967 this has been the last remnant of what was once an extensive rail network on the island. Over the years the line has been operated by three generations of electric trains, all being refurbished stock that once operated on the London Underground system and maintaining a tradition of using redundant assets from the mainland. Now branded as 'Island Line', the railway provides a useful and strategic transport link between the eastern side of the Isle of Wight and the mainland, as most train services connect with the ferries and hovercraft at Ryde.Martyn Hilbert examines the background and reasons for using ex-London Underground rolling stock and details the route and history of the line. High-quality images, maps and fleet lists accompany informative text to create a fascinating account of this unusual island railway.

For over forty years the 75-mile 750v DC, third rail Merseyrail electric system was operated by a fleet of Class 507 and Class 508 electric multiple units. They were originally built at the British Rail Engineering Limited works at York between 1978 and 1980 as part of a similar build of EMUs that encompassed BR Classes 313/314/315/507 and 508, with 750 individual cars being constructed.The Merseyrail 507s and 508s underwent refurbishment during their operational lives, but with most rolling stock having a fatigue life of around forty years, and to bring the network up to date, a new fleet of EMUs was ordered from Stadler Ltd in 2016. With the arrival of the first of the new Class 777s in 2020, the writing was on the wall for the old fleet, which by then was some of the oldest rolling stock in daily passenger use on the national network. Subsequently, the Class 507s and 508s were withdrawn from service, a process that was completed in 2024.Martyn Hilbert illustrates the fleet’s last period of operation between 2020 and 20204, when the trains gained almost cult status in the eyes of enthusiasts and observers.

The 75-mile, self-contained Merseyrail electric system is the largest electrified third rail network outside London and the South East. With sixty-nine stations, the well-patronised network serves the City of Liverpool, Merseyside, the Wirral and parts of Cheshire and West Lancashire. Every working day around 800 services are operated, carrying 100,000 passengers in a safe and environmentally friendly way. The network has a long, rich and diverse history, and in recent years has been the subject of a major investment programme that, amongst a host of improvements and modernisation projects, has seen the introduction of a fleet of fifty-three state-of-the-art, bespoke Class 777 Electric Multiple Units. Marking a step-change from what went before and transforming the appearance of the network, these new trains have been welcomed by passengers and staff alike. You do not have to travel far across the region to find a Merseyrail station, and with most routes having a frequent service interval, the next train is never far away.Martyn Hilbert charts the evolution of the Merseyrail Electric system, a unique part of Britain’s railway system with its iconic yellow trains.

The North-West of England is a diverse and fascinating part of the country with a varied landscape. This area was once the powerhouse of the industrial revolution, and was the location for the World's first true 'Intercity' railway, spawning a complex network of routes that served the various towns which were once hives of industry. The famous coastal resorts-Southport, Blackpool, and Morecambe were all products of the railway age, when a day trip to the seaside broke the monotony of the daily grind. However, areas and times change-heavy industry was on the wane by the late 1960s, and the last of the Lancashire Collieries disappeared in the early 1990s, reflecting the decline of traditional industries nationwide. The North-West railway network has adapted, becoming a predominantly passenger railway, with busy commuter services feeding Liverpool and Manchester daily. This book chronicles many of the changes since the late 1970s, including scenes, routes, and rolling stock that have altered beyond recognition.