British Mixed Traffic Locomotives of the 20th Century: Great Western & LMS Designs (Pen & Sword)

£35.00

In the early days of the railways, the 0-6-0s of both tank and tender type were known as “general utility” locomotives used for all workings except express passenger trains. By the early 20th century, many of the railway companies were designing locos with a larger wheel diameter suitable for faster freight services and slower passenger trains, whilst the need for smaller wheeled locos for mineral and other heavy freight operations brought about a need for more specialist locos. 

Most railways then moved from the 4-4-0 design for “general utility” work to the 2-6-0 or 4-6-0 wheel arrangement, and Churchward’s 43XX Mogul of 1911 was regarded as a truly “mixed traffic” loco. Most of the pre-Grouping companies then produced large numbers of similar locos, as did all of the Big Four from 1923.

This book describes the basic design, history, operations and technical specifications of all the mixed traffic locomotive classes of the GWR and LMS and those of their predecessors, in particular the London & North Western, Caledonian, Highland and Glasgow & South Western Railways. Sample workings with timings, speeds and gradients are included for some of the loco classes covered, and at the back there is an appendix giving the tractive effort and (where applicable) BR power classification for each locpmotive class. 

Well-illustrated throughout with around 300 black & white photographs. Hardback. 248 pages.