British Rail Traction Maintenance Depots 1974-1993 Part 3: Wales & Scotland
AUTHOR: Michael Rhodes
PUBLISHER: Platform 5 Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-91598-415-9
PRICE: £21.95
WEBSITE: www.platform5.com
THE THIRD and final book in the series by renowned railway photographer Michael Rhodes is sure to prove popular as it takes in depots across Wales and Scotland, featuring classic traction at depots wellknown to enthusiasts.
Much like the first two in the series, the book is not an extensive collection of every depot; rather, it features images captured during the author’s visits to them. Indeed, in his introduction, Mr Rhodes says: “This series is not a textbook or historical summary of all the depots, but rather a recollection of hundreds of hours of misspent youth. Some major depots hardly feature because I made few visits to them or didn’t take any photographs there.”
The sites covered in the Wales section are Holyhead, Llandudno Junction, Cardiff Canton, Margam, Landore, Ebbw Junction and Severn Tunnel Junction, and all feature the typical traction you would expect during the period the book covers. Each depot has a brief write-up including history and how it could be reached while some depots also feature excerpts of Mr Rhodes’ notebooks showing what was ‘on shed’.
As you would expect from his work, many of the pictures simply ooze atmosphere. Coal-stained Class 37s, railway staff with an indifferent attitude to the photographer walking around the site, and images from inside and out at various sheds (most now, sadly, closed) seek to present a snapshot of the period.
Depots covered in Scotland are Inverness, Aberdeen Ferryhill, Dundee, Dunfermline Townhill, Grangemouth, Haymarket, Eastfield, Glasgow Works, Polmadie, Hamilton, Motherwell and Ayr.
Class 40s, Deltics, and grubby large logo ‘37s’ feature across the Scottish sheds, as do Diesel Multiple Units. Despite the time period in the title, there is an image with a Class 66, but this is done as a comparison rather than to fill space.
Most images in this 96-page A4 book are black-and-white, but there are colour shots too, and for those who like the railways of the period, this is well worth adding to your bookshelf.
RC