A Detailed History of the LMS Royal Scot 4-6-0s

By John Jennison (hardback, The Railway Correspondence and Travel Society, www.rcts.org.uk, 258pp, £29.95, ISBN 978-0-993490-87-3) THIS superb publication must surely be the definitive history of this iconic locomotive design for the LMS.

The full story of the Royal Scots really involves both the original parallel boiler version introduced under Sir Henry Fowler and the subsequent rebuilds under

Sir William Stanier – effectively new locomotives. The latter locos were arguably some of the finest 4-6-0 passenger engines to operate in the UK. Both versions of the Royal Scot class are covered in almost forensic detail. All aspects of these terrific locomotives are described in a really substantial piece of detailed railway history research.

The 16 main sections – covering everything from design and construction through operations and allocations to storage, withdrawals, disposals and preservation – are supplemented by 12 appendices and numerous tables. Surely anything a reader could want to know about a particular Royal Scot loco is covered here.

This really is a first-class piece of railway scholarship, eminently readable and supplemented with high-quality monochrome images. Recommended in the strongest possible terms for anyone with an interest in our railways or locomotive