Midland Retrospective
The Midland Railway Society is proud to announce the publication of their new book:
Midland Retrospective
by John Earl & Steve Huson
Cloth Bound - Hard Back
212 pages
245 x 220 mm - Portrait
ISBN 978-0-9955142-1-8
Price £27.50 (plus £2.50 P+P)
From the beginning John and Steve set out to make Midland Retrospective different. Different in that it has much of new significance for railway historians and enthusiasts but also is a valuable introduction for the general reader. Different in that it looks at eight different aspects of the Midland Railway Company, using new maps and the resources of a specialist designer to shed a clear light on the subject. The book is copiously illustrated with many photographs that are being published for the first time and the authors have made full use of the remarkable resources of the Midland Railway Study Centre at the historic Silk Mill in Derby.
Purchase Online
You can purchase Midland Retrospective online using this PayPal form.
Contents
The Golden Triangle
A detailed look at Ambergate in Derbyshire, an early North Midland station and one of only three triangular stations in the UK which has special significance to both the authors.
Crossing the Severn
The Midland Railway was a strong supporter of the Severn Railway Bridge and eventually became joint owners of the structure through the Severn & Wye Joint Railway.
The Princess that did go to the Ball
The Princess of Wales, one of Samuel Johnson’s beautiful single wheel “Spinner” locomotives that won the prestigious Grand Prix at the Paris Exhibition of 1900.
A Great Degree of Elaboration
A look at some of the buildings large and small designed by the Midland Railway’s Chief Architect, Charles Trubshaw FRIBA, including Hellifield, Skipton, Keighley, Bradford, Sheffield, Derby and Leicester and his magnum opus, The Midland Hotel, Manchester.
Fully Qualified Survivor
Midland Railway 0–6–0 No. 2717, which was requisitioned for service in France during the Great War was captured by the Germans in 1917. This chapter examines for the first time the events leading up to its capture and eventual repatriation.
The Experienced Traveller
The Midland owned a number of high-class hotels including the Midland Grand at st. Pancras and the Adelphi in Liverpool. This chapter looks at the lesser known ones in Derby, Morecambe, Bradford and Heysham and the genius behind them, Sir William Towle.
The Last Railway Pioneer
A look at the life of William Marriott of the Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway who helped to build the author’s father’s model railway.
Any More Fares Please?
The Burton & Ashby Light Railways was a tramway system built by the MR in competition with its own main line services!
To order a copy
To order your copy please contact:
Andrew Cholerton
High View House
Roade Hill
Ashton
Northampton NN7 2 JH
booksales@midlandrailwaysociety.org.uk
Reviews
RCHS Journal
“The book as a whole is a pleasure to handle, printed to a high standard and adorned with well chosen and appropriate illustrations with high reproduction standards.”
“Devoting a whole volume to just eight topics [has allowed the] authors to be expansive and explore these relatively unknown areas of Midland Railway history in detail. Each section is universally good but the operation of the Severn Bridge and the life and works of Trubshaw are seminal.”
Railway Modeller (December 2017)
“This remarkable book draws on the expertise and archive of the Midland Railway Society to present in-depth chapters on eight of the company’s lesser known exploits.”
“Archive and modern photography accompany the absorbing chapters.” “It is highly recommended to all with an interest in railways, not just the Midland.”
Railway Magazine (October 2017)
“A high quality publication that certainly meets the authors’ wishes of producing a volume that is different to most railway books and consequently one that stands out from the crowd.”
“Lavishly illustrated with high quality black and white and colour illustrations which have been chosen for their relevance, many being published for the first time.”
“Those with an enduring fascination for the Midland Railway will find much to delight them. This is an excellent publication and very strongly recommended.”