Manfred von Richthofen: The High Price of Glory

Biographies & Memoirs

Hillier-Graves, Tim

Leaders & Notable People

Air World

Manfred von Richthofen: His Life and Times in Pictures

During the 1930s, with the end of steam locomotion being actively considered, many looked to develop engines powered by diesel and electricity. But for the coming of war in 1939, and the acute recession that followed, much more might have been accomplished. Nevertheless, the die had been cast and during the late 1940s and 1950s designers stepped up their efforts to find efficient and effective alternatives to steam. Amongst their number was John Hughes who, whilst working for English Electric designing turbine engines, saw how this power source might be used to drive locomotives. In part he was encouraged in these endeavours by William Stanier's 1935 introduced Pacific 'Turbomotive' and wished to continue this experiment and exploit its potential more fully.For some the development of diesel and electric engines was the only logical course to take, but not Hughes who doggedly pursued his dream of seeing gas turbine engines dominating Britain's railway network. Despite many setbacks, and lack of funds, he refused to give up and eventually saw his locomotive, GT3, built and then begin a prolonged period of trial running. But having finally achieved this ambition, the powers that be decided that the experiment had gone far enough and would go no further, much to Hughes' anger and frustration.This is a 'what might have been story' which, although ultimately unsuccessful, tells us much about the nature of design engineering and the need for determined, radical thinkers who are prepared to push back scientific boundaries. In this case GT3 came close to being the first of a type of engine that might have changed the direction Britain's railways took as steam came to an end. As such it is a near miss worthy of remembrance.To aid this work Hughes left a unique archive of documents, drawings and photos, in public and private hands, to help us understand the nature of his work and what drove him on despite the long odds he faced.

G T 3 The Unrealised Dream: The Story of Britain's Last Gas Turbine Locomotive

History

Europe

Pen and Sword Transport

Gresley's Master Engineer, Bert Spencer: A Career in Railway Engineering and Design

Professionals & Academics

Flying Scotsman, and the Story of Gresley's First Pacific Locomotives (Locomotive Portfolios)

Engineering & Transportation

Transportation

Gresley's A4 Pacifics are arguably the most famous locomotives ever built, a status cemented by Mallard's record breaking run on the 3rd July '38. And yet only a year later the glamorous 'streaks' seemed likely to be cast into obscurity by the coming of another world war. So, for only four exhilarating years they were allowed to flourish as their creator had intended and in that time captured the imagination of railwaymen and public alike.With the help of previously unpublished material the author analyses the complex evolution of the A4s - a project that began in 1911 when Gresley was appointed as Locomotive Superintendent of the Great Northern Railway. It is a story with many strands to consider - war, peace and war again, engineering and art, politics and business, recession and social change, the growth of the media and consumerism, the struggle for professional reputations and a growing, deeply damaging international rivalry. All these elements are captured in the story of the A4s in the heady days before conflict ended their brief golden age and Gresley's life came to an end.

Gresley's Silver Link: The Evolution of the A4 Pacifics 1911-1941 (Locomotive Portfolios)

Hillier, Ronald

The A4 Pacifics After Gresley: The Late L N E R and British Railways Periods, 1942-1966 (Locomotive Portfolios)

Turbomotive was unique in Britain's railway history, and an experimental engine that proved successful but came too late to effect the direction of steam development or deflect the onset of diesel and electric locomotives. It was the brainchild of two of the most influential engineers of the twentieth century – William Stanier of the LMS and Henry Guy of Metropolitan Vickers. They hoped that turbine power, which had already revolutionized ships propulsion and power stations, would do the same for the railways. When Turbomotive appeared in 1935, she became a PR phenomenon at a time when commercial rivalry between the LMS and the LNER was reaching its height. Its launch at Euston in June was accompanied by a great fanfare and much publicity. Such was the interest in this 'revolutionary' idea that the engine would attract attention all her life. Although producing good but not remarkable performances, she remained in service, plying her trade between London and Liverpool for longer than anyone predicted. Most expected a quick rebuild to conventional form, but the coming of war and lack of resources meant that she carried on until 1950 in turbine form. Inevitably, change came when maintenance costs seemed likely to escalate and rebuilding seemed unavoidable. She reappeared in August 1952, part Princess and part Coronation, but her new life was cut short by the disaster at Harrow in October. Although many thought her repairable, she was scrapped to make way for another 'experimental' steam engine. This book presents the compulsive and fascinating story of this remarkable locomotive, drawn from a wide variety of sources, many previously untapped and unpublished, including memories of the designers, the crew who drove her, accountants and hardheaded business men, PR teams, the press, the passengers and many more.

The Turbomotive: Stanier's Advanced Pacific (Locomotive Portfolios)

When Stanier joined the LMS in 1932, as their CME, he was expected to breathe new life into this ailing giant. Since its formation it had steadily lost ground to its main rival, the LNER. In Doncaster, Nigel Gresley and his team, with an eye to advancing locomotive design at the same time as making the company commercially successful, had quickly begun producing a series of high performance and iconic Pacific engines to pull their high profile express trains. Their impact left the LMS trailing in their wake. Under previous CMEs, the LMS had concentrated on 4-6-0 designs to pull their express services, but many felt they lacked sufficient power and had little to offer in performance or glamour when compared to their rivals. Stanier, heavily influenced by his mentor, George Churchward, his work on the GWR and the potential of the Pacific design, saw such a class as essential to the success of the LMS. And so the Princess Royal Class came into being, against a background of some opposition and cultural differences. Despite this, they proved their worth and became popular with their crew and managers. Within a few short years, however, their premier position in the company had been taken by a very worthy successor, the Princess Coronation Class. Overshadowed and often overlooked, they tend to be seen as a stepping stone to something better. Yet, in reality they stand up well to the closest scrutiny, and this book tells the story of these engines through the eyes of those who came into contact with them. They also best represent the impact William Stanier had on locomotive design and best describe the way he changed the culture of the LMS to allow it to grow successfully. It is a story of great endeavor and courage that can only be told by revealing and discussing political, social, economic and engineering issues.

The Princess Royal Pacifics (Locomotive Portfolios)

In 1958 one of Britain`s greatest locomotive designers died without public fanfare or recognition, mourned only by his family. Yet William Stanier, arguably one of our greatest engineers and his leader, said of him that without his Chief Draughtsman all he achieved with the LMS would not have been possible. How could such a man slip from our view and remain anonymous, although his Princess Coronations, Black 5s and 8Fs are regarded as three of the finest classes of locomotive ever built? And today many survive as stars to grace the ever growing preservation movement. In reality, Tom Coleman was an intensely private and modest man who never sought recognition or commendation. His need for privacy may be one reason why his life has remained shrouded in mystery for so long, but finally his story has been slowly pieced together from a wide variety of sources, many previously untapped. So now we can see for ourselves his great contribution to railway history and recognise his singular talents.

L M S Locomotive Design and Development: The Life and Work of Tom Coleman (Locomotive Portfolios)

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Books by Hillier-Graves, Tim