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Britain's setting of the world speed record for railways is recalled in a new book published by Haynes Publishing. The LNER HANDBOOK 1923-1947 tells the story of one of Britain's greatest railways, famous for its 'Flying Scotsman' express and whose steam locomotive Mallard set a speed record of 126 mph on 3 July 1938, which remains unbeaten to this day.
Formed in 1923 from 32 smaller railways, the London & North Eastern Railway's network included the long East Coast Main Line from London to Aberdeen as well as extensive services into Essex and East Anglia, in Yorkshire and Tyneside, and around Edinburgh and Glasgow.
It was best known for its luxurious expresses with articulated carriages for a smoother ride, while its six hour non-stop schedule between London and Edinburgh was the fastest between London and Scotland in the late 1930s.
The LNER experimented with steam and diesel railcars, and even conducted trials with the unique Kitson-Still 'steam diesel'.
LNER Handbook is the last in a series of four chronicling the 'Big Four' railway companies formed by the Railways Act 1921, which in addition to the LNER included its West Coast rival, the London Midland Scottish, as well as the Great Western and the Southern Railway.
All four books are published by Haynes at £27.50 each and combine a narrative history with information on the predecessor companies, management, the London termini, named expresses, locomotive and rolling stock development, and lists of locomotives and multiple unit stock.
The Author:
The author of all four books is David Wragg, a former journalist and contributor to The Sunday Telegraph, The Scotsman, Yorkshire Post and The Spectator, as well as a number of other railway books, who works on aviation and naval history. He lives in Edinburgh.
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Review copies available
Notes to Editors:
The information on this page is supplied courtesy of Haynes Publishing, please credit accordingly if you intend to use it. For more information or to request a review copy please contact Spirit PR on 0117 944 1415 or email haynes@spiritpublicrelations.co.uk
Haynes Publishing
Sparkford, Yeovil, Somerset BA22 7JJ
Telephone: 01963 440635 Fax: 01963 440001 E-mail: sales@haynes.co.uk
www.haynes.co.uk
Haynes Publishing is a trading style of J H
Haynes & Co Ltd.
Registered in England, Number: 1449587 Registered Office: Sparkford, Yeovil, Somerset BA22 7JJ
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