Allen Jackson's illustrated look at signalling and signal boxes along the routes of the London & South Western Railway.

Allen Jackson takes a lavishly illustrated look at signalling along the South Eastern & Chatham Railway routes.

Allen Jackson explores signalling along the LB&SCR and Isle of Wight Railway routes.

Allen Jackson's illustrated look at signalling and signal boxes along the routes of the London & South Western Railway.

The Southern Railway between 1923 and 1939 was the only British company to carry out a sustained programme of electrification which became known as the Southern Electric. Unlike many recent projects, each incremental step was completed on time and within budget. This successful project was more impressive as it was achieved during a period of economic stagnation (including the ‘great depression’) and despite government disapproval of the method of electrification. The driving force behind this endeavor was the railway’s general manager, Sir Herbert Walker, but at his side was his electrical engineer, Alfred Raworth, the man one journalist described as an ‘electrification genius’. Alfred Raworth’s career began working with his father the eminent consulting engineer and entrepreneur, John Smith Raworth. Following the collapse of his father’s business Alfred joined the railway industry and devised an ambitious and innovative electrification design. This was discarded when the railways of southern England were ‘grouped’ into the Southern Railway after which he took responsibility for the implementation of the electrification schemes. With Walker’s retirement in 1937, those who continued to support steam traction took the policy lead. A marginalised Raworth retired but was later to witness the fruition of many of his discarded ideas.

Electric Railways 1880-1990 explores the history of the integration of both electric and diesel-electric railway systems and identifies the crucial role that diesel-electric traction played in the development of wireless electrification. The evolution of electrical technology and the modern railway produced innovations in engineering that were integral to the development of traction, power and signalling systems. This book presents a thorough survey of electric railway development from the earliest days pf the London Underground to modern electrified main line trains. The distinction between 'enforced electrification' and 'economic electrification' is also discussed and the pioneering role of J.J. Heilmann assessed.

When Jim Body joined Great Northern Railway in 1916, he could never have imagined that it would become 'the family business', with both his son Geoff and his grandson Ian taking to the rails. Through the eyes of three generations of Bodys, the rail industry changed beyond recognition, going through two world wars, grouping, nationalisation, the end of steam and privatisation before ending up as the industry we know today. With tales that include being suspected of spying, dealing with dramatic flooding, and the first Glastonbury Festival, Three Generations of Railwaymen is a rare behind-the-scenes look at one family's life and experiences in the railway industry.

It is hard to imagine a model railway layout without a signal box somewhere along the line. They were, after all, the most numerous of the steam-era buildings, and some were almost as old as the railways themselves, dating back to the mid-1800s. With the increased availability of signal box kits and ready-to-site versions, this book provides an invaluable and timely guide to just which box is right for your layout. More than twenty model signal boxes are featured in actual layout locations in the book along with forty kits and projects from Alphagraphix and Bilteezi to the latest in downloads and laser-cut kits, specially constructed with detailed and illustrated step-by-step instructions. Tips, hints and useful advice on tools and adhesives is offered along with how to scratch-build your own signal boxes using different methods and materials. Superbly illustrated with 425 colour and black & white photographs.

This text celebrates the 150th anniversary of the opening of the major part of the London to Southampton, demonstrating it was not all plain sailing. Retelling in words and pictures the full story of the smallest of the four major companies of the Grouping era, with contributions from experts in all fields including many who worked on the line. The Southern devloped its own touch of magic, created the world's largest suburban electrification, and increased its passengers by 50%, despite the depression and road competition.

The Southern Railway may not have been the most glamorous of the ‘Big Four’ companies that emerged from the grouping of 1923, but it was the great innovator. In the 1930s the Southern pioneered the first main-line electrification and created the largest electrified suburban railway network in the world. It was also one of the few to offer regular departures and the first to run true international services, introducing the ‘Night Ferry’ through-trains from London to Paris using special ferries. Forming part of a series, along with The GWR Handbook, The LMS Handbook and The LNER Handbook, this new edition provides an authoritative and highly detailed reference of information about the Southern Railway.