midLand main LineS to St PancraS and croSS country: SheffieLd to BriStoL 1957-1963

BY JOHN PALMER • Pen & Sword BookS Behind the scenes of two rarely covered parts of BR Many photographs are not of the highest quality The Midland Main Line (MML), and cross-country workings, have long been overlooked Cinderellas of the railway world – both by enthusiasts and the operating authorities – but with the arrival of this fine book, they shall go to the ball. Focusing on 1957 to 1963, it documents the operations and motive power of the MML, and the associated cross-country operations from Sheffield to Bristol, in this period of upheaval as steam gave way to diesel. All this is placed into context, showing how many of the developments on the MML at this time were the result of the contemporary West Coast electrification. Personal accounts from footplatemen, inspectors and fitters bring the story to life, as do the author’s own memories from spotting days - copping ‘Clans’, ‘A3s’ and even ‘A4’ No. 60021 Wild Swan among the usual LMS fare. Particularly noteworthy are an eyewitness report of ‘Britannia’ No. 70014 Iron Duke breaking away from its tender on the ‘Palatine’, along with the story of how ‘J94’ 0-6-0STs found their way to the Cromford & High Peak Railway. While some spreads of excellent colour photographs are included, the black and white pictures are not all of such high quality - though this in itself may reflect the routes’ relatively overlooked status. However, they’re all full of interest, not least one of restored Crimson Lake Midland Compound No. 1000 piloting grimy BR green ‘Jubilee’ No. 45569 Tasmania foreshadowing its famous