The A4 Pacifics After Gresley (Hardback)
The Late L N E R and British Railways Periods, 1942-1966
Imprint: Pen & Sword Transport
Series: Locomotive Portfolios
Pages: 216
ISBN: 9781399073431
Published: 12th September 2023
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In their book ‘Gresley’s Silver Link’ the authors analysed the evolution of the A4s Gresley’s and their service up to Gresley’s death in 1941. This book takes this compelling story from the early years of the war up to their demise in the 1960s
After four years of service pulling the LNER’s most prestigious trains the A4s took on a more utilitarian role and for six years worked hard to support Britain’s war effort. From this they emerged bowed, but unbeaten, although in an extremely jaded condition. Once restored they took up where they had left off in 1939 and did exceptional service for the rest of their days.
With the help of previously unpublished material the authors analyse the second phase of the A4s careers, first as LNER engines, then, from 1948, under British Railways management. Without a diesel or electric fleet of engines to replace them they entered a second golden age of fast running in the ‘50s. Then in the ‘Swinging Sixties’ they faced, as some thought, a premature end as part of a much delayed modernisation programme. Until withdrawn from service they continued to astound their footplate crew and performed exceptionally well, even when maintenance standards had slipped and their condition had deteriorated. They were thoroughbreds and have become a fitting memorial to the master engineers who produced and sustained them for 30 years or more.
"In summary the book contains a wealth of detail about the management and operations of the A4 Pacifics in their middle and final years. It is a worthy successor to the authors' previous volume and will appeal to the many devotees of these most famous and successful of Sir Nigel Gresley's locomotives."
National Railway Museum Review – The Journal of the Friends of the National Railway Museum – No187, Spring 2024
"Drawing on an extensive family archive, and what appears to be pretty well every academic published work, the authors seem to have brought the story of the working lives of the ‘Streaks’ to a conclusion..."
Steam World - February 2024
"In another beautifully produced book there are 279 black & white illustrations...The thoroughly researched narrative does, however, provide the background to the story that the illustrations tell...The ‘A4 Pacifics After Gresley’ is certainly recommended reading if the Streaks were your favourite engines. And, I might add, even if they weren’t!"
York Model Engineers Newsletter - January 2024
"...a worthwhile addition to the library of anyone with an interest in the subject."
The LNER Society Newsletter - Winter 2023
About Tim Hillier-Graves
TIM HILLIER-GRAVES was born in North London during 1951. On leaving university he served as an officer with the Royal Navy, seeing wide service on land and sea. For much of this time he specialised in weapon development projects, specifically missiles and heavyweight torpedoes, and worked alongside BAe, Marconi Space and Defence Systems and McDonnell Douglas in the process. In support of this work, he undertook prolonged periods of study and research at the Royal Naval College, Greenwich, and the Royal Military College of Science, Shrivenham. Late in his career he changed specialisms to become Head of Investigations for the MoD’s Estates Organisation. From this he moved on to become Head of Finance and Planning and then into Human Resource Management where he specialised in outsourcing to industry. Then as an Assistant Director he took on responsibility of housing for military personnel. He retired in 2011 to focus more fully on writing biographies and books related to military, aviation and engineering matters.