Online Catalogue last updated 17th of September 2023
This book describes and illustrates the period following World War II when the last commercial users of steam road vehicles gradually abandoned them. At the same time the preservation era began and blossomed. John Meredith and some of his friends photographed many engines engaged in haulage and road maintenance, also those at the fairground and in industry and agriculture, as well as those cast aside in yards and in depots. Among the last examples were some unique engines which failed to avoid the scrap men.
The record then continues through the earliest attempts at preservation, the engine races at Appleford and Nettlebed, the first rallies with fun events and later rallies with demonstration workings. A number of engines are featured in their transformation from derelict hulks to resplendent restorations and there is a series of rally photographs illustrating engines from the principal manufacturers. Each of these is accompanied by a synopsis of the builder's history. The final chapter is devoted to more recent trends to bring the story up to date.
A4 landscape format 176 pages with hard back full colour cover and 208 monochrome photographs, mostly full page.
Code No. 013813, 176 pages, ISBN 9780950848044, $52.00