Great Locomotives of the GWR by O.S. Nock

Great Locomotives of the GWR by O.S. Nock

Pages: 224

Last- but by no means least- in this series of books examining the locomotive development of Britain's 'Big Four' railways, O.S. Nock turns his attention to the Great Western Railway. Although the Broad Gauge era produced some remarkable locomotives, it was not until that great architect of the Great Western motive power, G.J. Churchward, assumed 'the chair' at Swindon that the golden era dawned. From then on there followed an unbroken tradition of locomotive excellence, unhampered by the amalgamation pains that afflicted the other groups in 1923, and lasting right through to nationalisation and beyond. With such crack trains as the 'Cornish Riviera Express', the 'Cheltenham Flyer' and the 'Bristolian', hauled by the celebrated 'Castles' and 'Kings' through some of Britain's most romantic landscapes, it is small wonder that the GWR holds such a special place in the affections of railway historians and enthusiasts - and who better to chronicle this great lineage of locomotive development than O.S. Nock, whose personal involvement with Great Western men and machines stretches back over 60 years.