Steam Specials : British Rail's Return to Steam

The end of regular steam working on British Rail in 1968 brought gloom and despondency to many thousands of enthusiasts, but after three steamless years BR was at last persuaded that steam-hauled charter specials could be profitable. The ban was relaxed and in October 1971 Great Western 4-6-0 King George V was allowed to run on a BR main line with the first Return to Steam special. In the decade since then steam has returned to many BR tracks, not merely on occasional enthusiast excursions but also on BR-sponsored regular public excursions over scenic routes as tourist attractions. Indeed the return to steam has needed close co-operation between locomotive owners, the chartering railway societies and BR, both in selecting approved routes and in ensuring the reliability of locomotives to help the operation run smoothly. This album portrays through the camera of Roger Siviter the decade of steam operation on BR since 1971, depicting in 100 superb action photographs the wide variety of routes and scenic settings where steam locomotives have been seen, and the many types of locomotive passed to run on BR. As such it is a tribute to the dedication of the many who have spent countless hours in all sorts of conditions and often the foulest of weather in keeping these relics from the great age of steam in top class condition. Illustrated. Illustrated laminted boards.