Devon-based author and photographer Bernard Mills has scoured his photographic collection for the best views of the most powerful locos in the Western Region’s hydraulic fleet, the Class 52s. Each of these locos bore a name prefaced with the word ‘Western’, and these nameplates were worn throughout the fleet’s lives, helping to make them a favourite amongst enthusiasts.

Bernard Mills has managed to feature two views of each of the 74 locos in the fleet, a feat which he says he achieved without even realising. In doing so, he admits that challenging lighting conditions meant that not all the views are up to the standard he would have liked. Nevertheless, the images chosen represent an impressively varied selection, many in bright sunlit conditions, and often against a backdrop of the Devon and Cornwall scenery in which these locos seemed so much at home. The varied liveries worn by the locos are featured too, with most in blue with full yellow ends, but some in the earlier maroon and green, and one from 1970 in pale blue with small yellow panels.

Many of the locations featured have changed hugely since Bernard’s images were captured. No longer can we see so many semaphore signals in Cornwall, and long rakes of blue and grey coaches are just a distant memory. The photographer has also managed to include some locations visited less frequently by the Westerns, including Falmouth, Bugle, Heathfield and Honiton Bank.

This is an excellent compilation of pure nostalgia, and at £14.99 is also very good value for money.

West Somerset Railway Association

Some nice photographs in this compact volume.

A good book for those interested in the class of motive power

James Simmonds