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Treacy's British Rail

Name: Treacy's British Rail
Author: Patrick Whitehouse, John Powell
ISBN: 9780715313800

by Patrick Whitehouse, John Powell

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Overview

By Patrick Whitehouse & John Powell

Seen through the lens of renowned railway photographer Bishop Eric Treacy, Treacy's British Rail is a collection of more than 250 photographs capturing the irrevocable change that the founding of the British Rail had on the history of transportation.

Offering an evocative, personal view of the demise of steam and the introduction and development of diesel and electric engines, Treacy brings to life the majesty of this season of change, depicting scenes that can no longer be photographed. Sure to cast the magical spell of the railway over any reader, this book is the perfect gift for any locomotive, history or transportation enthusiast.

Synopsis

This is a collection of more than 250 photographs which capture the irrevocable change that the founding of British Rail had on transport. But more than a historical record, this is a diary of a man who has fallen under the spell of the railway, which he describes in the following way: 'The spell - it's the friendly noise of shunting during the long and wakeful hours of the night: and it is the noise of coal being broken in the tender as the engine awaits its job. It's the fussy little 'Cauliflower' making its shaky way from Penrith to Keswick and it's the gleaming monster bringing 500 tons into King's Cross. It's the sight of signal lights winking and gleaming on a winter's evening: it's the orange light of the fire reflected on the billowing steam of the engine at night. It's the deafening noise of an engine blowing off in a station: it's the sound of carriage doors being slammed: it's the noise of milk churns being trundled, of eerie whistles in the night, of a signal bell tinkling in a nearby box, of the heavy thud of a signal lever being operated.' This is the magic that Eric Treacy conveys to his readers in this evocative pictorial record.