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On Tour For Steam (Hardback)

A Pictorial Railway Journey Across Britain in the 1960s

Transport > Trains & Railways

By Howard Routledge
Imprint: Pen & Sword Transport
Pages: 112
ISBN: 9781399083928
Published: 4th April 2023

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By the turn of the 1960s, steam traction on Britain's railways was within its last decade and for a group of young enthusiasts living in Carlisle, there was always the urge to travel to other parts of the country to photograph steam locomotives, which in most cases would never have appeared in there own locality.

Visits to certain parts of Scotland, the North East of England and parts of Lancashire, could be achieved in a day, using a day return ticket.

More distant parts of Britain, would require more planning usually using an all lines rail rover ticket, these visits and trips could be done on an individual basis or with a group of like minded friends, or even with a railway club or society.

The benefits of visits with railway society's or clubs, were that such organisations could arrange group shed permits, where as individuals had to arrange such things by themselves.

As the 1960s progressed time started to run out for the photographer to capture the last embers of steam across the country and things became ever more urgent, with the end in sight.

This book depicts visits to many locations undertaken during this period when time was running out for steam traction.

We travelled from Aberdeen to Weymouth to record the dying days of a form of traction that served the railways of Britain, from the 1820s through to the late 1960s.

"This splendid volume..."

Oxfordshire Family Historian - December 2023

As featured by

The Broad Gauge Society

"How many of us can honestly say that they have achieved such success out of an active specialist hobby as this? Howard, I applaud you for this fine book, fully illustrated in black and white, and annotated with details of the various trips taken."

Cumbria FHS

"In short, there’s nothing to criticise here, and in fact one feels a touch of jealousy at the incredible sights the author managed to take in during his travels. A worthy addition to any collection."

5 Stars

Steam Railway Magazine - ISSUE 547 • JULY 21 – AUGUST 17 2023

As featured in

Steam World - July 2023

What a nice trip down memory lane. This volume is evocative of the last days of steam

James Simmonds

About Howard Routledge

Howard Routledge was born in Carlisle and started photographing steam locomotives in his home city and beyond from 1963.
A career with Carlisle police began in 1964, from which he has now retired.
He became involved in railway preservation and steam activities in 1985 and is a former vice chairman of the Princess Royal Class Locomotive Trust, which was responsible for the running of four ex British Railways steam locomotives, including Stanier Pacific's Princess Margaret Rose, and Duchess of Sutherland.

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