British Main Line Services in the Age of Steam 1900-1968

A book which looks at the changes that took place in main line railway passenger services during the 20th century. There were often special reasons of prestige, competition, local business or political interest for the way that railway services developed and their patterns of operation were maintained. All of these are discussed. The book details the main line services of all railway companies in England, Scotland and Wales. The heyday of steam railway operation in the years prior to World War I are compared with the inter-war years, World War II and the final services of the 1960s. The complex cross-country services such as Birkenhead to Dover and Aberdeen to Penzance are described along with the operation of famous trains such as the "Flying Scotsman", the "Royal Scot", the "Sunny South Express", the "Night Ferry" and the "Cheltenham Flyer". Information is also provided on the pre-Grouping railways of 1900-1922, the "Big Four" of 1923-1947 and the nationalized network, 1948-1968.