Author: Terence Dorrity
Publisher: Lightmoor Press
ISBN: 9781911038948
Price: RRP £30
Publication: December 2021
Number of pages: 224
Format: Hardback
How Obtained: Purchased
While steam rapidly declined on mainline British Railways in the 1960s, the pace of diesel replacement on industrial lines was slower. Nevertheless, the writing was on the wall and imaging these small hardy locomotives before they also disappeared in large numbers was invaluable.
British Industrial Steam in the 1960s: The Collected Industrial Colour Photography of Terence Dorrity is an impressive record of expeditions to industrial sites throughout Britain. It was published by Lightmoor Press in December 2021.
The variety of British industrial steam
The broad geographical range is immediately apparent from the contents page, which groups chapters by country into England, Scotland and Wales. Each chapter focuses on an industry or group of industries in specific parts of the country. For example, we get Coal mining in Gwent, The Oxfordshire Ironstone Company, and Iron and Steel, Power Production and a Distillery in Scotland.
The photographs are reproduced on high quality glossy paper, usually one or two to a page with annotations. A few, such as Corby Steelworks, warrant a larger format and are allocated an impressive two page spread. For photographic history buffs, Dorrity introduces the cameras and film he used at the time. A list of book references and other works is also provided.
Industrial railways – full of character and atmosphere
At this point I must confess a bias towards Industrial railways! Of course, the sight and sound of a great such as Flying Scotsman at full throttle is thrilling. A GWR tank engine pulling carriages along a country branchline is charming. But the ambience of industrial lines is unique. Partly it’s the texture and colours with rust, coal, corrugated iron often in a rural setting. Dorrity’s book superbly captures the atmosphere of these railways.
That the photographs are captured on film using an analogue camera contributes to the appeal of this book. The smoky, misty character is evident throughout and some images have an almost washed out appearance such that on first glance they seem monochrome. This only adds to the atmosphere oozing from the picture. Many images are the final ones for many of the engines, as Dorrity snapped them just months or even weeks before they were sent for scrap. This is particularly unfortunate since some were rare and almost a century old.
Welsh locomotives – home and away
South Wales is allocated two complete chapters covering mines in Gwent and Glamorgan. Most of a third chapter deals with separate industrial activity such as steel and tinplate works. Particularly interesting is Blaenavon which features pictures of pit ponies with their handler and Celynen North Colliery against the backdrop of the iconic Crumlin Viaduct.
Locomotives with Welsh heritage are encountered throughout the text. For example, the preserved Taff Vale 0-6-2T No. 28 is snapped in its NCB livery in 1964, while Dorrity regrets that he was unable to photograph Coventry No. 5. This loco started life as Barry Railway No. 1 but was scrapped in 1962!
In Summary
A wonderfully atmospheric album which covers a wide range of industrial steam locomotives from across Britain, both standard and narrow gauge. Beautifully photographed, many of the engines would never be seen again on film. A visual feast, highly recommended.
The Good
- Great range of images of many types and makes of industrial locomotives in their working environment
- Background notes and annotations provide interesting and informative information about the locations as well as the engines
- Good quality well produced book with sympathetic reproduction of the photographs
The Not So Good
- The price is slightly higher than other personal photographic albums on the market
- A map showing the featured locations would be beneficial
Outline Contents
- Part One: England
- The Oxfordshire Ironstone Company
- National Coal Board. The Warwickshire Coalfield
- National Coal Board. The Cannock Chase Coalfield
- National Coal Board North and South
- Midlands Power Production – Electricity and Gas
- West Midlands Industry. Cars, Tyres, Paper, Cement and Chocolate
- The South of England
- Industrial Narrow Gauge Miscellany
- Part Two: Scotland
- The National Coal Board Waterside System in Ayrshire
- National Coal Board Scottish Collieries
- Iron and Steel, Power Production and a Distillery
- Part Three: Wales
- National Coal Board Collieries in Gwent
- National Coal Board Collieries in Glamorgan
- Welsh Industry
- Narrow Gauge. The North Wales Slate Quarries
Related reviews
British Industrial Steam Locomotives by David Mather
Industrial Locomotives of Gwent by Geoffrey Hill & Gordon Green