North Eastern Branch Lines Since 1925

Ian Allan Ltd, 1st edition 1978

The branch lines of the North Eastern Railway were of great interest as they were so varied in their surroundings and traffics. Some saw only four or five passenger trains a day in each direction, whilst others saw forty or fifty. Some ran through beautiful countryside, where the pace was unhurried, where the staff had time for a chat, and where they knew every regular passenger by name. Others ran through industrial areas, not far from a pit heap or two, where the mineral traffic brought in the revenue as heavy coal trains plodded towards the coast with an eight-coupled engine at the head. From his extensive collection, the author has chosen some of his best photographs to illustrate this book which covers the years 1925-1975 - a period which saw the end of most of the branch lines in Yorkshire, Durham and Northumberland. The text deals with the changes that have taken place, typical workings on the branches and a word-picture of most branches...