Author: David Mather
Publisher: Pen and Sword Books
ISBN: 9781526770172
Price: RRP £25
Publication Date: 2nd November 2020
Number of pages: 208
Format: Hardback
How Obtained: Purchased
The very first steam locomotives in the world were built for industrial use. Private manufacturers of these engines were once numerous, building a diverse range of engines from small track bound traction engines to huge mainline machines.
A review of a wide selection of standard and narrow gauge examples are presented by David Mather In British Industrial Steam Locomotives: A Pictorial Survey. It was published in November 2020 by Pen and Sword Books in hardback cover.
Industrial steam locomotives in all their forms
The introductory chapter is confusingly titled Introduction – Early Days. But this actually presents an overview of industrial locomotive builders and customer sites right up to the 1960s. There follows a wide survey of locomotives organized by manufacturer in alphabetical order. Next, an appendix provides a helpful table of production data for the top 20 companies. Finally, a bibliography suggests further reading for those interested in pursuing the topic further.
My copy unfortunately appeared to contain a mistake on the Contents page which resulted in almost all the sections of the book being categorised as sub-chapters of the Introduction!
Being a pictorial survey means the pictures are, obviously, all important. The book does not disappoint with 170 superbly annotated photographs in colour and monochrome. The locomotives are depicted in all manner of condition from dirty working mode, partly dismantled, in pristine condition in museums and resplendent on modern heritage railways. Moreover, the landscape format of the book is an excellent choice in maximising the size of the photographs on the page.
Railway modellers meet the Mardy Monster!
In some ways the book is complementary to one reviewed a few weeks ago, Industrial Locomotives of Gwent by Geoffrey Hill and Gordon Green. Although highly localised, the earlier book ordered the locomotives by the customer site where they were employed rather than by manufacturer. As such the two books work together very well.
The book will be of great value to railway modellers. In particular, the photos of locomotives during their working lives will be extremely interesting for those looking for realism in weathering. Aside from the engines themselves, the background in the images provides numerous clues for creating realistic industrial locations.
Of course, companies in South East Wales were extensive users of industrial steam locomotives and are well represented. Along with the usual coal mines and steelworks, pictures include a Hawthorn Leslie 0-4-0ST at Newport Power Station. Another, a Neilson, Reid and Co 0-6-2T was built in 1899 for the Taff Vale Railway. One featured colliery locomotive, however, is particularly worthy of note. The famous Mardy Monster is one of just three OQ Class Peckett 0-6-0 Austerity saddle tanks. It is reputed to be the most powerful industrial steam locomotive built with a tractive effort estimated to be over 29,500lbf!
In Summary
This book will appeal to railway modellers and anyone interested in our industrial history, especially as the current locations of preserved locomotives are conveniently listed. The problems with the misleadingly titled contents page and misleading title are irritating but do not prevent this book being highly recommended.
The Good
- Extensive range of pictures which are very well annotated
- A comprehensive range of manufacturers including some small and very specialized companies.
- The current location of featured preserved locomotives is provided.
The Not So Good
- An apparent error on the Contents page.
Outline Contents
- Introduction – Early Days
- Survey of Locomotives by Manufacturer
- Appendix – Table of Production
- Bibliography
About the Author
David Mather, originally from Bolton, Lancashire, where his early interests in railways centred on his home shed, coded 26C later 9 K and the nearby West Coast Main Line, which he documented until the end of steam in 1968. Subsequently, the author relocated to the Midlands and later to York which rekindled his interest in railways and steam traction. The digital era has allowed his work to be made available to a wider audience.
Now a photographer and railway author, his most recent book being Exploring the Lake District with the Furness Railway Tours, which has a foreword by Eric Robson, broadcaster and chairman of the Wainwright Society. The Railways of York was shortlisted for the Ian Allan railway book of the year award, Ian Allan writing the foreword for the author’s first book, Running Out of Steam.
(From Pen and Sword Books)
Related reviews
British Industrial Steam in the 1960s by Terence Dorrity
Industrial Locomotives of Gwent by Geoffrey Hill and Gordon Green
Modelling the Welsh Narrow Gauge Railways by Chris Ford
Steam on the Sirhowy Tramroad and its Neighbours by Michael Lewis