BRITISH RAILWAYS IN UNSEEN COLOUR 1948-1962

BY KEVIN ROBERTSON • Crecy Publishing

Top quality nostalgia. Nothing of note.

PRICE: £20 RATING:

In spite of his prodigious and imaginative output, the name of Roy Vincent has hitherto left only a modest mark on the consciousness of the average enthusiast.

This oversight ought now to be remedied by the appearance of this excellent volume, meticulously researched and compiled by Kevin Robertson.

Vincent spent his working life in a variety of clerical roles within the LNER and then BR, and it was this that provided the means and opportunity for indulging his passion for photography.

Working closely with the Transport Treasury, the author has drawn together a fascinating selection of images, each accompanied by a comprehensive analysis of subject and location. These are presented in eclectic fashion – largely as a consequence of the random nature of the archive’s storage – a decision which is vindicated by the numerous striking juxtapositions it throws up: an LNER articulated electric set facing a ‘Standard Five’ and Clan Cameron paired with a ‘razor edge’ railcar.

While there is a bias towards the southwestern end of the Western Region, Vincent was an inveterate traveller and there is coverage of almost the entire geographical reach of the network. There is also a great variety in composition, illustrated by both his selection of panoramic locations and his keen eye for the idiosyncratic elements of railway life.

Above all, it is the sheer impact of Vincent’s use of colour film that captures the imagination and lends the book special significance. Outstanding value at only £20. (NB snr) W: www.crecy.co.uk ISBN: 9781909328839