An A-Z of Famous Express Trains: An Illustrated Trip Down Memory Lane Hardcover – January 1, 2013

This s an addendum to my other review. The Book Arrived!!! I must have been delayed on the docks or through customs. It is in EXCELLENT CONDITION, even though 2nd hand. I love it, and I have no doubt a little train fanatic is going to enjoy it for his 7th birthday.

The Irish Mail acquired its name in 1848, but very few other British trains acquired names in the 19th century, or for some time thereafter. Naming of trains became a marketing ploy in the 1950s, possibly to encourage rail travel at a time when passenger traffic was falling.The era of named trains didn¡¦t last all that long. Very few trains now have names, and those few mostly exist only in timetables. Headboards on the locomotives or multiple-unit power cars are mostly consigned to history along with name-boards on above the windows on the carriage sides. This book nevertheless provides a nice reminder of the golden age of British named trains.The author has stretched the definition a little by including the blue Pullmans of the Western region and the Channel Island boat trains, none of which ever carried names. (The Midland Pullman of a similar design to the blue Pullmans of the Western region was named.) I thought the Trans-Pennine service between Liverpool and Hull was another example, but this book makes clear, with a picture example, that the train carried its name for a year or two when it first went into service. The Cheltenham Flyer was merely a popular name for the Cheltenham Spa Express, although they have separate entries here.Another surprise is the inclusion of Condor , which was a freight train. It was not named after the Andean bird, but was an abbreviation for container door-to-door ºFor each train featured, there is between one and four pages, discussing the history of the train and the locomotives used, with plenty of pictures throughout the book.The book is up to date as it includes the Jacobite, although the picture in the book shows no headboard, so it appears that this is another train that this is another name that exists in timetable and marketing only. As it is run for tourists, surely a headboard would add to its appeal?This is an excellent book that focuses primarily on trains rather than locomotives.

I bought this book for my husband, which was received today, and looking through it, he said that it's much better than the good review that was given in the current issue of the Railway Modeller! The presentation, text, photos and additional information given in each chapter, is first class.

Bought this book for my 13 year old grandson who is already a bit of a railway anorak! A lovely book for railway enthusiasts of all ages.

Great book from the Golden Age of Rail Travel. Brought back many many happy memories. e.g .Euston Station, Platform 13, Departure every day at 10 o'clock, "The Royal Scot" London to Glasgow!

an excellent account

Interesting