History of the East Coast Main Line

Robin Jones

• Publisher: Crowood
• Year: 2017
• Print ISBN:
  9781785002861
• eBook ISBN:
  9781785002878
• Topic: Technology & Engineering
• Subtopic: Rail Transportation
• Index: Technology & Engineering

Since the mid-nineteenth century the East Coast Main Line has been one of the major routes from London to northern England and to Scotland. It has seen some of the greatest achievements in the railways, most notably the 'Flying Scotsman' becoming, in 1934, the first locomotive in the world to exceed 100mph and the 'Mallard' in 1938 claiming the as-yet-unbroken world speed record for steam locomotives of 126mph. The East Coast Main Line not only made history by facilitating an ever-faster link between two capital cities, it also provided an international stage for Britain's engineering marvels, inspiring many generations of schoolboys and adults alike. That was to continue after the end of the steam era on British Railways, with diesel and then electric traction setting a series of new records over the route. This new book looks at how the London-Edinburgh line became the world's fastest steam railway and how its proud and unique heritage is appreciated and celebrated today more than ever before. Superbly illustrated with over 300 colour and black & white photographs.

Table of contents

• Cover Page
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Dedication
• Acknowledgements
• Contents
• Introduction
• Chapter 1 The Great Route to the North before the Railway
• Chapter 2 Beginnings North of the Border
• Chapter 3 Heading North from Newcastle
• Chapter 4 London to Leeds and York
• Chapter 5 Bridging the Biggest Gaps: The Aberdeen ‘Extension’
• Chapter 6 Sturrock: Shrinking Distance through Speed
• Chapter 7 The Singular Racing Days
• Chapter 8 After the Goldrush: Britain’s First Atlantics
• Chapter 9 The New Golden Age of Steam
• Chapter 10 The Duck that Downed the Eagle
• Chapter 11 What’s in a Name?
• Chapter 12 King’s Cross – The True King of Termini
• Chapter 13 Leamside: The Forgotten Main Line
• Chapter 14 When Diesels Reigned Supreme!
• Chapter 15 Beeching, Serpell and Electrification
• Chapter 16 Reach for the Stars: The Selby Diversion
• Chapter 17 Scotsman’s Modern-Day Successors
• Chapter 18 A New Steam Star for the Twenty-First Century
• Chapter 19 The National Railway Museum: Jewel in the East Coast Crown
• Chapter 20 Gresley’s A4s: Demise and Regathering
• Chapter 21 The Return of the King
• Chapter 22 The East Coast’s Darkest Days
• Index