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Britains Railways In The Second World War
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Book Synopsis Britain's Railways in the Second World War by : Michael Foley
Download or read book Britain's Railways in the Second World War written by Michael Foley and published by Pen and Sword Transport. This book was released on 2021-01-18 with total page 322 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A fascinating account of the British Railways system’s vital role in the defense of the country and support of the Allied forces during WWII. The outbreak of the Second World War had an enormous effect on the railway system in Britain. The ‘Big Four’ companies put aside differences and worked together for the war effort. The logistics of transporting troops during the evacuation of Dunkirk and the preparations for D-Day were unprecedented. Meanwhile, they had to cope with the new and constant threat of aerial bombing. As a result, the railway system effectively served as another branch of the military. At the end of the war, Winston Churchill likened London to a large animal, declaring that what kept the animal alive was its transport system. The metaphor could have been applied to the whole of Britain, and its most vital transport system was the railway. This book brings to light the often-forgotten stories of the brave men and women who went to work on the railways and put their lives on the line.
Book Synopsis Steaming to Victory by : Michael Williams
Download or read book Steaming to Victory written by Michael Williams and published by Random House. This book was released on 2013-05-16 with total page 374 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In the seven decades since the darkest moments of the Second World War it seems every tenebrous corner of the conflict has been laid bare, prodded and examined from every perspective of military and social history. But there is a story that has hitherto been largely overlooked. It is a tale of quiet heroism, a story of ordinary people who fought, with enormous self-sacrifice, not with tanks and guns, but with elbow grease and determination. It is the story of the British railways and, above all, the extraordinary men and women who kept them running from 1939 to 1945. Churchill himself certainly did not underestimate their importance to the wartime story when, in 1943, he praised ‘the unwavering courage and constant resourcefulness of railwaymen of all ranks in contributing so largely towards the final victory.’ And what a story it is. The railway system during the Second World War was the lifeline of the nation, replacing vulnerable road transport and merchant shipping. The railways mobilised troops, transported munitions, evacuated children from cities and kept vital food supplies moving where other forms of transport failed. Railwaymen and women performed outstanding acts of heroism. Nearly 400 workers were killed at their posts and another 2,400 injured in the line of duty. Another 3,500 railwaymen and women died in action. The trains themselves played just as vital a role. The famous Flying Scotsman train delivered its passengers to safety after being pounded by German bombers and strafed with gunfire from the air. There were astonishing feats of engineering restoring tracks within hours and bridges and viaducts within days. Trains transported millions to and from work each day and sheltered them on underground platforms at night, a refuge from the bombs above. Without the railways, there would have been no Dunkirk evacuation and no D-Day. Michael Williams, author of the celebrated book On the Slow Train, has written an important and timely book using original research and over a hundred new personal interviews. This is their story.
Book Synopsis Britain's Railways in Wartime by : Anthony Lambert
Download or read book Britain's Railways in Wartime written by Anthony Lambert and published by . This book was released on 2018 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In the long and absorbing history of Britain's railways, the most challenging years were those of the two World Wars, when they were needed the most. Transportation of everything that was grown, made, or mined, as well as soldiers, sailors, airmen, and civilians largely fell to the nation's trains. Yet the indispensable role of railways in wartime has been largely overlooked. This book pays tribute to the way railway workers responded to the demand that they do more with less resources, called upon as they were to cope with an extraordinary change in the character and volume of passenger and goods traffic, to endure dangerously long hours, and to overcome the fear of moving in and through war zones. Small wayside stations could be transformed into a frenzy of activity by the arrival of a camp or supply depot on its doorstep, while disruption through bomb damage could turn the shift of the locomotive crew into an indefinite wait for relief. Featuring a gazetteer of the monuments and memorials created to honor fallen railway workers, this book pays tribute to their heroic responses to the demands of war.
Book Synopsis Wartime on the Railways by : David Wragg
Download or read book Wartime on the Railways written by David Wragg and published by The History Press. This book was released on 2012-10-01 with total page 244 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From the American Civil War onwards, railways have been an important aspect of war. So important were the railways that in the First World War, the state took control of the railways, and then repeated this exercise in the Second World War. Wartime on the Railways describes the part played by Britain's railways during the Second World War, dealing not simply with operational matters or the impact of enemy action on the railways, but also looking at financial arrangements, the part played by railway workshops in producing equipment for the military, the wartime experience of the railways' ships, with the narrative augmented by personal accounts from railwaymen, and women as the war years saw much change. The book includes chapters on the railways during the final years of peace, and on each of the 'Big Four' companies, London Transport's underground system, the impact of wartime restrictions on travel and scheduling, the role of the railway workshops, and ports and shipping, as many railway ships were lost during the battle for France and at Dunkirk.
Book Synopsis The Steam Engines of World War II in Europe by : Phil Horton
Download or read book The Steam Engines of World War II in Europe written by Phil Horton and published by Silver Link Publishing. This book was released on 2020-09-24 with total page 128 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Few events had a greater influence on Europe's railways in the 20th century than the Second World War. As described in this book, thousands of steam engines were produced for the conflict by all sides. Although many were damaged during the war, most survived. Indeed, many of the British and American engines arrived in Europe too late and were immediately put into store. They and their German contemporaries were to form a mainstay of the peacetime railways of Europe and Great Britain, in many cases until the end of steam. Many other ex-war engines found employment on the Continent's heritage railways. The author first encountered these engines while trainspotting in the late 1950s. At the end of GB steam he extended his interest to the Continent. With the help of like-minded enthusiasts this book records his pursuit of these engines, when they were still at work and in preservation.
Book Synopsis Great War Railwaymen by : Jeremy Higgins
Download or read book Great War Railwaymen written by Jeremy Higgins and published by Andrews UK Limited. This book was released on 2015-09-03 with total page 339 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The railways were intrinsic to fighting the First World War, whether at home or abroad. On the Western Front and beyond trains ferried men and supplies to and from the front on a staggering scale, ensuring that the war machine functioned without pause. Back in Britain, the railway network shipped millions of tonnes of war material from the factories to the ports, becoming the lifeblood of the war effort. Great War Railwaymen details this incredible achievement, exploring not only the vast infrastructure, but also those who operated it. Despite the importance of the railways, many of those involved in the industry went off to fight in the mud and trenches, on the world's oceans, or in the skies above war torn Europe. Between them, they were awarded 2500 Military medals, 44 Distinguished Conduct Medals, 27 Military Crosses and 6 Victoria Crosses. This is their story. Meticulously researched and lovingly produced, Jeremy Higgins narrates the fascinating stories of over a thousand of these men, vividly capturing their wartime experiences and pressing home the vital importance of the railways, and those that ran them, to the Allied victory in the First World War.
Book Synopsis Fire and Steam by : Christian Wolmar
Download or read book Fire and Steam written by Christian Wolmar and published by Atlantic Books. This book was released on 2008-05-01 with total page 332 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Now in paperback, Fire and Steam tells the dramatic story of the people and events that shaped the world's first railway network, one of the most impressive engineering achievements in history. The opening of the pioneering Liverpool and Manchester Railway in 1830 marked the beginning of the railways' vital role in changing the face of Britain. Fire and Steam celebrates the vision and determination of the ambitious Victorian pioneers who developed this revolutionary transport system and the navvies who cut through the land to enable a country-wide network to emerge. The rise of the steam train allowed goods and people to circulate around Britain as never before, stimulating the growth of towns and industry, as well many of the facets of modern life, from fish and chips to professional football. From the early days of steam to electrification, via the railways' magnificent contribution in two world wars, the checkered history of British Rail, and the buoyant future of the train, Fire and Steam examines the social and economical importance of the railway and how it helped to form the Britain of today.
Book Synopsis British Railways in the 1960s by : Geoff Plumb
Download or read book British Railways in the 1960s written by Geoff Plumb and published by Casemate Publishers. This book was released on 2019-04-30 with total page 195 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: After the Second War, Britains railways were rundown and worn out, requiring massive investment and modernisation. The Big Four railway companies were nationalized from 1948, and the newly formed British Railways embarked on a programme of building new Standard steam locomotives to replace older types. These started to come on stream from 1951.
Book Synopsis Britain's Railways in Wartime by : Kevin Robertson
Download or read book Britain's Railways in Wartime written by Kevin Robertson and published by Ian Allan Publishing. This book was released on 2008 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: During World War 2 Britain's railways were in the frontline and were targeted by the Luftwaffe's violent offensive against the homeland. Many railway workers lost their lives, and locomotives, rolling stock and infrastructure were destroyed. However, the railways were also an essential part of Britain's war effort, not only maintaining the flow of people and goods at home and evacuating people from the cities, but also playing a vital role in the movement of the armed forces and their equipment. The massive build up to D-Day would not have been possible without the logistical support of the railways. During this challenging and turbulent time, many photographers recorded for posterity the impact of war on the railways. As with many aspects of daily life during the war, the railways were effectively brought under government control and many photographs were taken for propaganda purposes. Despite this, there are also many moving images of the struggle to survive. In this excellent volume, distinguished railway author and dedicated historian Kevin Robertson has brought together the very best of a fascinating collection of images which have never been seen before. Showing not only locomotives, rolling stock, and infrastructure, he also beautifully captures the plight of the people involved at the time who kept the railways running against all the odds. This will be essential reading for all railway historians and enthusiasts, as well as anyone who is interested in the social context of this significant period.
Book Synopsis British Railways and the Great War by : Edwin A. Pratt
Download or read book British Railways and the Great War written by Edwin A. Pratt and published by London : Selwyn and Blount. This book was released on 1921 with total page 582 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Book Synopsis A Historical Dictionary of Railways in the British Isles by : David Wragg
Download or read book A Historical Dictionary of Railways in the British Isles written by David Wragg and published by Casemate Publishers. This book was released on 2009-04-21 with total page 654 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Railways played a key role in Britain's social, economic and industrial history. These companies have long since gone, but all over the country relics remain to remind us of that pioneering age. David Wragg's Historical Dictionary of Railways in the British Isles is a comprehensive, single-volume reference guide to the old railway companies and their heritage. He provides brief histories of the companies and their many-sided activities, and he gives biographies of the men who created the rail network. He covers what is now the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland as well as the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. His book is essential reading and reference for enthusiasts of every region and period of railway history.
Book Synopsis Britain's Railways in the First World War by : Michael Foley
Download or read book Britain's Railways in the First World War written by Michael Foley and published by Pen and Sword Transport. This book was released on 2021-09-30 with total page 292 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: It is easy to believe that the only part that Britain’s railways played in the First World War was to carry the soldiers to the ships that would take them to France. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Without the help from the railways it is unlikely that the war would have been over as quickly as it was. In Britain’s Railways in the First World War Michael Foley examines how the railway system and its workers proved to be a vital part of the war effort, one contemporary writer even commenting that he thought they were as significant as the navy. The book describes how the enlistment of railway troops for the Royal Engineers to meet the increasing transport demands of the military was to bleed the civilian system dry as skilled railwaymen were sent to work at the front. In addition, the military commandeered thousands of Britain’s railway vehicles, sending them to each of the theatres of war, and turned the already stressed railway workshops away from maintaining what remained of the country’s railways and rolling stock so they could produce armaments for the forces instead. The book also reveals how the British were so far behind their enemies and allies in the use of railway support to the front lines that they had to plead for help from Canada.
Book Synopsis Female Railway Workers in World War II by : Susan Major
Download or read book Female Railway Workers in World War II written by Susan Major and published by Pen and Sword Transport. This book was released on 2018-08-30 with total page 305 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: During World War II women took on railway roles which were completely new to females. They worked as porters and guards, on the permanent way, and in maintenance and workshop operations. In this book Susan Major features the voices of women talking about their wartime railway experiences, using interviews by the Friends of the National Railway Museum. Many were working in ‘men’s jobs’, or working with men for the first time, and these interviews offer tantalising glimpses of conditions, sometimes under great danger. What was it about railway work that attracted them? It’s fascinating to contrast their voices with the way they were portrayed in official publicity campaigns and in the light of attitudes to women working in the 1940s. These women talk about their difficulties in a workplace not designed for women – no toilets for example, the attitudes of their families, what they thought about American GIs and Italian POWs, how they coped with swearing and troublesome colleagues, rules about stockings. They describe devastating air raids and being thrust into tough responsibilities for the first time. This book fills a gap, as most books on women’s wartime roles focus on the military services or industrial work. It offers valuable insights into the perceptions and concerns of these young women. As generations die out and families lose a direct connection, it becomes more important to be able to share their voices with a wider audience.
Download or read book Wartime GWR written by Elaine Arthurs and published by . This book was released on 2014-09-18 with total page 160 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This title presents a collection of photographs illustrating the human and operational cost of two world wars on the Great Western Railway taken from the archive of the Museum of the GWR at Swindon.
Book Synopsis British Railways in the 1960s: Western Region by : Geoff Plumb
Download or read book British Railways in the 1960s: Western Region written by Geoff Plumb and published by Pen and Sword Transport. This book was released on 2021-07-30 with total page 376 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An evocative collection of photographs covering the Western Region during a decade of great change. After the Second World War, Britain’s railways were rundown and worn out, requiring massive investment and modernization. The “Big Four” railway companies were nationalized from 1948, and the newly formed British Railways embarked on a program of building new “Standard” steam locomotives to replace older types. These started to come on stream from 1951. This program was superseded by the 1955 scheme to dieselize and electrify many lines, and so the last loco of the “Standard” types was built in 1960—and the steam locomotives had been swept entirely from the BR network by 1968. This series of books is a photographic account of those last few years of the steam locomotives, their decline and replacement during the transition years. This volume covers much of the Western Region, as photographed by the author in his youth, often with limited time or disposable income but always with a passion for his project. While not a complete history, it offers a vivid illustration of how things were in the relatively recent past and imparts information through comprehensive captions, which give a sense of occasion—often a “last run” of a locomotive type or over a stretch of line about to be closed down. In simple terms, it’s a look at a period not so long ago but now gone forever. Praise for the series “Profusely illustrated . . . impressively informative.” —Midwest Book Review “An evocative collection of views of the twilight of BR steam.” —Railway Modeller
Book Synopsis British Diesel Locomotives of the 1950s and ‘60s by : Greg Morse
Download or read book British Diesel Locomotives of the 1950s and ‘60s written by Greg Morse and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2016-07-28 with total page 88 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: After the Second World War, the drive for the modernisation of Britain's railways ushered in a new breed of locomotive: the Diesel. Diesel-powered trains had been around for some time, but faced with a coal crisis and the Clean Air Act in the 1950s, it was seen as a part of the solution for British Rail. This beautifully illustrated book, written by an expert on rail history, charts the rise and decline of Britain's diesel-powered locomotives. It covers a period of great change and experimentation, where the iconic steam engines that had dominated for a century were replaced by a series of modern diesels including the ill-fated 'Westerns' and the more successful 'Deltics'.
Download or read book Keeping the Wheels Turning written by and published by . This book was released on 2009 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
