From Wick to Penzance The Story of the Class 37/4s

AUTHOR: Pip Dunn

PUBLISHER: Eastfield Media Publishing

ISBN: 978-1-8381440-0-5

PRICE: £30.00 + £3 p&p

WEB: www.eastfieldmedia.co.uk information throughout the text as well as in the panels in the final pages. However, where the work really excels is in tracing the operational careers of the sub class, right from its initial testing runs right up to the present day. The details of thousands of workings, loco diagrams, the type’s use across the UK, overhauls and changes of use are all included, and the amount of information is just bewildering. Being divided into 40 chapters helps tell the full story of the 37/4, and it does so superbly. One can only imagine the amount of research necessary to produce such a comprehensive work, backed up, of course, by plenty of personal experience.

As mentioned, there have been plenty of books written about Class 37s, but I’d considered this to be among the best, despite focussing on just 31 Class 37/4s. It is so comprehensive that it definitely deserves to be on your bookshelf, and with a price of only £30 it represents phenomenal value for money when you consider the huge volume of information and the fantastic images used. Highly recommended. (MN)

FROM A geographic and geological perspective, the Chiltern Hills are formed of chalk and are found to the north-west of London, running between Oxfordshire and Hertfordshire. They represented a considerable obstacle to the various railway companies that wished to build railway routes from London to the Midlands and the north during the first half of the 19th century. The companies involved were the Great Northern, the Midland, the London & North Western, the Great Central and the Great Western. As well as the main trunk routes several branch lines were also built in the area, although the majority are long since closed. Completing the picture just to the north of the line of hills was the Oxford to Cambridge varsity line, which is now being rebuilt using much of the original route.

This book tells the story of each company, with some wonderful imagery to illustrate the routes. The photos include historic shots as well as more up-to-date shots and these do a superb job illustrating the fascinating tale of each route. Supported by maps, diagrams and timetables, the text offers a different perspective on each line and the historic photos provide quite an insight into how the various routes once looked. The detailed captions add plenty of detail and so I can easily recommend this work. (MN)

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