The Worst Street in London: Foreword by Peter Ackroyd

For most enthusiasts the Midland Region in the London area at the end of the steam era probably conjures up images of passenger services operating on the former London & North Western Railway line into and out of Euston. Hauled by glamorous express locomotives designed for the London, Midland and Scottish Railway, the Princess Coronations, Princess Royals, Royal Scots, Patriots and Jubilees all epitomise this golden era. Covering British Railway's Midland Region from the mid-1950s to the mid-1960s, this exciting new title explores a time when steam in the London area was slowly being eliminated. Thus, although most of the pictures are of steam locomotives, some beautiful shots of diesel and electric traction from that period are also included. The important former Midland Railway line serving St Pancras is also covered in depth, as are some of the more prosaic services. Examples of the latter include inter-regional passenger and good trains, suburban electric services, branch line trains and other services for which the Midland Region provided motive power. These included those on the former Great Central main line out of Marylebone, the North London line to Richmond, the former London, Tilbury & Southend Railway from Fenchurch Street and London Transport services beyond Rickmansworth on the former Metropolitan Railway. Consequently, there are many stunning photographs of Midland Region engines in various "foreign" locations around London.This brilliant new colour portfolio has been designed as a companion volume to The Southern Around London and The Western Around London, published by Ian Allan in 2003 and 2004 respectively. It is certain to be very popular with railway enthusiasts and modellers around the country, as well as those wishing to complete the collection.