The Leader locomotive, (Revised and Expanded)

By Kevin Robertson O V BULLEID’S extraordinary ‘Leader’ class of steam locomotives remain a controversial subject for railway enthusiasts, but interest in them remains keen 70 or more years after the last examples of these ground-breaking engines were scrapped. Kevin Robertson has written extensively on this subject and here we have the results of his latest and most comprehensive research. Much additional material has been discovered from new and previously unavailable

sources since his first book appeared in 1988. Understanding of this ill-fated project has hugely increased in the intervening 32 years!

This superb, wide-ranging and substantial piece of railway scholarship effectively places the innovative

‘Leader’ design in the context of railway locomotive development. Much use is made of first-hand knowledge and information from railway staff – especially at Brighton and Eastleigh – and there is a mine of fascinating detail. The final chapter covers Bullied’s Irish ‘Turf Burner’, which could almost be referred to as a ‘Leader’ Mark 2.

The book is generously illustrated and captions are extensive and informative. Several colourised monochrome images were commissioned. Malcolm Root’s superb painting of Leader Class No. 36001’s final trial on November 2, 1950 shows the train passing through Winchester by night.

This is a terrific piece of work and should on no account be missed by anyone with an interest in our railway history and the locomotive designer O V Bullied. RSS

Published by Crecy, www.crecy.co.uk

304 pages, hardback. £30.00