1980 to 1995 was an extraordinary time for the railways of Britain, especially the freight sector. In 1980 there was a unified, monochrome railway. Freight traffic was still abundant, with marshalling yards active and many branch lines still operating. There were hundreds of collieries. In the early 1980s, Sectorisation arrived. The freight division was separated from the passenger side and further sub-divided into different freight sectors. New locomotives were introduced, and the older types started to disappear. As the eighties progressed, the freight sector was constantly changing. The mixed freight train became a thing of the past but new traffic flows developed, particularly in containers and aggregates. The coal sector steadily declined and branch lines became disused. In the early nineties three new freight companies were created in anticipation of privatisation and then finally privatisation itself arrived, with all freight traffic being taken over by an American company. It was a period of enormous change and adaptation, and the story is told here through the images of two photographers who were keen observers of the railway scene throughout the whole of this fascinating period.

About the Author
A lifelong railway enthusiast, Patrick pursued a varied career, ending up as a lecturer in further education. Retirement to France in 2007 brought the chance to also study the railways of his adopted country, resulting in a number of books on the history of French railways. Peter Lovell was born and bought up in Exeter. When a few weeks old his family bought a caravan beside the railway line at Dawlish Warren and watching trains became an integral part of his life. During the 1960s he saw steam give way to diesel-hydraulics and in the 1970s the hydraulics replaced by diesel-electrics and HSTs. A keen photography since his late teens he moved to Berkshire in 1980. Since then, he has travelled around Great Britain photographing trains and this book draws on his large personal collection. He met Patrick Bennett in France through a mutual interest in French railways. Now retired he is the webmaster for the French Railways Society and produces their monthly News Page.


Book Information
ISBN 9781398102934
Author Patrick Bennett
Format Paperback
Page Count 96
Imprint Amberley Publishing
Publisher Amberley Publishing
Weight(grams) 301g