Railway Correspondence & Travel Society

The Railway Correspondence & Travel Society has been the compiler and publisher of several seminal series of works which cover in order of completeness the histories of locomotives of (1) the London & North Eastern Railway in some 19 separate parts (all of which have volume numbers and some of which are divided into parts); (2) the Great Western Railway (with similar bibliographical complexity); (3) the Southern Railway (2 volumes for the Southern Railway as such, plus further volumes for its constituents); (4) British Railways on an almost class by class basis; and (5) the London Midland & Scottish Railway which is work in progress on two fronts: (a) volumes on specific aspects of design between 1923 and 1947, such as boilers, non-steam motive power, etc and (b) the locomotives of specific pre-grouping railways, notably the Highland.

Each locomotive type is described in considerable depth, and all significant modifications are recorded. Numbers, including changes, names, dates of completion and withdrawal are all tabulated. Details of where the locomotives were allocated and worked are recorded to varying degrees. Most possible variants are illustrated, although the quality of reproduction is sometimes barely adequate. It is, however, worth stressing that the bulk of this effort has been performed on a voluntary basis. Needless to say, much has been culled to form the backbone of works of far less stature.

Most conform to a common style which has tended to be upgraded with time: the GWR series is dominated by centre-stapled booklets; the LNER by thin card covered volumes and the later series by (mainly thin) bound volumes. They are mines of information, yet fail to be appreciated by the bulk of public librarians who would sooner retain trivial picture books whilst ignoring these vital volumes. Imagine if public libraries kept picture books of stage productions and failed to acquire copies of the plays. The bulk of the Great Western series is available at New Barnfield in Hertfordshire: none are available in Norfolk which makes a complete mockery of the so-called free library service (it is probable that Scots would be able to borrow such volumes free from charge). Perhaps the Society should consider making some of its material available via the Internet, notably the rare volumes on the Great Western.

A detailed history of British Railways standard steam locomotives. Volume one: background to standardisation and the Pacific classes. Lincoln: RCTS, 1994.
P.J. Chancellor contributed the Pacific classes (pp 45 et seq)

Volume 2 The 4-6-0 and 2-6-0 Classes

At nationalisation half of the medium sized mixed traffic fleet was over age with some engines very elderly indeed. Riddles team produced five 4-6-0 and 2-6-0 classes to address this challenge totalling 452 engines, half of the total BR standard locomotives built. Three were based on LMSR designs from Stanier (Cl 5s) and Ivatt (Cl 4 and 2) with the "unfinished" look of the Ivatt 4 pleasingly tidied up. All the new standard classes except the Cl 2 achieved an endearing sense of balance from extending down the high running plate to the front buffer beam and sloping the underside of the cab sheet. These features allowed much pipework to be hidden whilst still achieving improved maintenance access. This long awaited book by John Walford presents complete design, modifications, livery, allocation and use information for each engine. A fascinating and absorbing review of British railway operations four decades ago. Size 214 x 276mm, casebound, 278 pages, 279 illustrations including 17 in colour. Price £24.95.

A detailed history of British Railways Standard Steam Locomotives, Vol. three: The Tank Engine Classes.

Locomotives of the Great Western Railway

Gerry Beale reviewed Part 14 in British Railways Journal No. 47 (1993) page 332: "Recently published is the fourteenth - and positively the final - part of the monumental History of The Locomotives of the Great Western Railway brought out over many years by the RCTS. The idea that the society should embark on such a project - no less than the complete history of all the locomotives of the GWR - was first put before the membership in February 1949. Initially, the approach to the project was cautious, but such was the response that it was decided to proceed with the publication in serial form rather than in a single volume (which was considered!). In June 1951, with the aid of a subscription list to defray the cost of a coloured frontispiece, the first section duly appeared.

The last of the twelve parts initially proposed appeared in 1974 but as so many ex-GWR locomotives have survived in preservation a further volume was introduced to bring their story up to 1983 along with supplementary information and additional rare illustrations. Indeed several of the parts when first published contained details of matters which, at the time of publication, were still current, and these have now to be read with due regard to their publication date. Additional information relating to these parts was included in the final Part 12.

The newest volume covers the prolific naming policy of the GWR, the stories behind the names, the reasons for particular choices, the subjects commemorated and the personalities honoured. Further details are also included of the travels of the 108 locomotives 'called-up' for war service, the numerous steam railmotors and auto-trains and the services they worked. There are in excess of 150 ex-GWR locomotives preserved and details are given of the engines themselves and the trials and tribulations involved with preserving and operating some of them. Additional information to Parts 1-12 is also listed.

The book contains 190 pages including 94 illustrations. Whilst the information contained therein is doubtless of the highest accuracy, the appearance of the book is not as pleasing to the reviewer [KPJ finds the lead-type used by Amadeus Press for BRJ at that time to be somewhat worn!]. The typography, layout, etc. is quite obviously produced using modern technology, in particular, modern typefaces produced on computer typesetters give a result which is sadly lacking when compared with the earlier parts printed by the old letterpress method.

This might seem nitpicking but for the reviewer this latest part seems to lack the visual harmony and dignity of the earlier ones which, in view of the status of the series, is disappointing. That said, the book is an essential purchase for all students of the GWR, particularly those who have the previous 13 parts.

Part 14 has been compiled by F. K. Davies who is the only surviving member of the team that set out to publish the work over forty years ago. Other authors in the team have acquired almost legendary status amongst locomotive enthusiasts, the roll including such names as H. M. Le Fleming, J.N. Maskelyne and P.J.T. (Phil) Reed, whose meticulous records of his extraordinary exploits have to be seen to be believed. One other member of the team who should be recalled is N.J. Allcock whose exhaustive work on the engine records then held at Swindon provided much of the basis of the entire work. Allcock had received official permission to publish the locomotive history of the GWR and, except for the Second World War, this would have been done in 1940. His records were subsequently made available to the society and it might therefore be claimed that the RCTS History of The Locomotives of the Great Western Railway is in fact the successor to the officially sanctioned history, ranking it alongside 'MacDermot'.

The locomotives of the Great Western Railway. Part 1. Preliminary survey. RCTS, 1951. 62 p. + col. front. + 27 plates. (incl. 3 folding), 89 illus., 3 diagrs., 2 tables.
The Preliminary survey is in itself a locomotive history.
The locomotives of the Great Western Railway. Part 2. Broad gauge. Cheam (Surrey), RCTS, 1952. B 56 p + col. front. + 32 plates. 106 illus., 3 diagrs.,tables.
The locomotives of the Great Western Railway. Part 3. Absorbed engines, 1854-1921. Croxley Green (Herts)., RCTS, 1956. C 101 p. + col. front. + 59 plates (incl. 1 folding). 186 illus., (incl. 72 line drawings: s. els.), l6 diagrs., tables, map.
The locomotives of the Great Western Railway. Part 4. Six-wheeled tender engines. Cheam (Surrey), RCTS, 1956. D 93 p. + col. front. + 54 plates. 160 illus. (incl. 9 line drawings: s els.) tables.
The locomotives of the Great Western Railway. Part 5. Six-coupled tank engines. Kings Heath (Birmingham), RCTS 1958. E 96 p + col. front. + 37 plates. 146 illus., (incl. 9 line drawings: s. els), 4 diagrs., tables.
Restricted, almost entirely, to the 0-6-0 type; also 56XX.
The locomotives of the Great Western Railway. Part 6. Four-coupled tank engines. Kings Heath (Birmingham): RCTS, 1959. F 50 p. + col. front. + 26 plates. 98 illus. (incl. 6 line drawings: s. els.), 3 diagrs., tables.
The locomotives of the Great Western Railway. Part 7. Dean's larger tender engines. Cheam (Surrey), RCTS 1954. G 53 p. + front. + 32 plates. 98 illus. (incl. 6 line drawings: s. els.), 2 diagrs., tables.
The locomotives of the Great Western Railway. Part 8. Modern passenger classes. Cheam (Surrey) RCTS 1953. H 40 p. + 24 plates. 73 illus., tables.
The locomotives of the Great Western Railway. Part 8. Modern passenger classes. Solihull (Warwickshire) RCTS, 2nd ed. 1960. H 40 p. + 24 plates. 73 illus., tables.
The 4-6-0, 4-4-2 and 4-6-2 designs.
The locomotives of the Great Western Railway. Part 9. Standard two-cylinder classes. Solihull (Warwickshire): R.C.TS., 1962. J 56 p. + front. + 28 plates. 87 illus. (incl. line drawing: s. el), 11 diagrs. (s. els.), tables.
Excludes 4-6-0s (see above)
The locomotives of the Great Western Railway. Part 10. Absorbed engines, 1922-1947. Lichfield (Staffs): RCTS, 1966. K 280 p. + col. front. + 138 plates. 464 illus. (incl.. 16 line drawings: s. els.) 7 diagrs. (s. els.) tables, 4 maps.
925 locomotives absorbed in January 1923.
The locomotives of the Great Western Railway. Part  11. The rail motor vehicles and internal combustion locomotives. Cheam (Surrey), RCTS, 2nd ed. 1956, L 26 p. + front. + 12 plates. 36 illus., 2 diagrs., 7 tables.
First published 1952.
The locomotives of the Great Western Railway. Part 12. A chronological and statistical survey. RCTS, 1974. 188pp.
Ottley 6005 Supplement (Addenda). This part includes an index to all the other parts.
The locomotives of the Great Western Railway. Part 13. Additional information and corrections.
No. 1 (pp. N1-3)
No.2 (pp. N4-10)
No.5 (pp. N23-31)
These sheets of corrections are the ones relevant now that second editions have been published of some of the parts.
The locomotives of the Great Western Railway. Part 14. Names and their origins, railmotor services, War service, the complete preservation story. RCTS.

LNER
Locomotives of the LNER. Part 1. Preliminary survey. 1963. 120pp.
Place of publication is not listed as it varied with the location of the Honourary Editor which changed as the great work progressed. This part was graced with a coloured frontispiece, included brief biographies of most of the Locomotive Engineers, including those of constituent companies, liveries, notes on naming, brakes, locomotive diagrams, boiler classification, route availability, power classification and works.
Locomotives of the LNER. Part 2A. Tender engines—classes A1 to A10. 1978. 231pp.
Locomotives of the LNER. Part 2B. Tender engines—classes B1 to B19. 1975. 167pp.
Locomotives of the LNER. Part 3A. Tender engines—classes C1 to C11. 1979. 148pp.
Locomotives of the LNER. Part 3B. Tender engines—classes D1 to D12. 1980. 108pp,
Locomotives of the LNER. Part 3C. Tender engines—classes D13 to D24. 1981. 119pp.
Locomotives of the LNER. Part 4. Tender engines—classes D25 to E4. 1968. 156pp.
Locomotives of the LNER. Part 5. Tender engines—classes J1 to J37. 1966. 230pp.
Locomotives of the LNER. Part 6A. Tender engines—classes J38 to K5. 1982. 169pp.
Locomotives of the LNER. Part 6B. Tender engines—classes O1 to P2. 1983. 196pp.
Locomotives of the LNER. Part 6C. Tender engines—classes Q1 to Y10. 1984. 166pp.  150 illus.
Gives an extremely detailed account of the Gresley/Yarrow water-tube boiler experiment and its subsequent rebuilding as a simple 4-6-4 (or 4-6-2-2) as the W1. In the case of the V2 there are diagrams of proposed semi-streamlined and streamlined versions, of the leading pony truck with swing link side control and with spring side control, the experimentalm self-cleaning smokebox, and of the two types of double chimney fitted, and modified forms of single chimneys. Tests on the class are reported at length.
Locomotives of the LNER. Part 7. Tank engines—classes A5 to H2. 1964. 118pp.
Note that this early fascicule is less detailed than many of the later parts.
Locomotives of the LNER. Part 8A. Tank engines—classes J50 to J70. 1983. 102pp.
Locomotives of the LNER. Part 8B. Tank engines—classes J71 to J94. 1983. 94pp.
Locomotives of the LNER. Part 9A. Tank engines—classes L1 to N19. 1977. 170pp.
Locomotives of the LNER. Part 9B. Tank engines—classes Q1 to Z5. 1977. 116pp.
Locomotives of the LNER. Part 10A. Departmental stock, locomotive sheds, boiler and tender numbering. 1990?. 140pp.
This part includes a wealth of "odd material": further unfulfilled designs, such as streamlined 4-8-4 of April 1946; the US Liberation 2-8-0s, the borrowing of GWR railcars Nos 6 and 19 and their evaluation in the North East area, the loan of J25 0-6-0s to the GWR, etc, etc. David Jenkinson was [rightly] critical of production quality: especially reproduction of illustrations and soft covers (latter dated back to beginning of saga. (Backtrack 3 page 94)
Locomotives of the LNER. Part  10B. Railcars and electric stock. 1990. 150pp.
Sentinel and Clayton steam railcars, assorted diesel and petrol electric railcars and railbus, multiple units and electric locomotives, including LNER vehicles shared  in ownership with LPTB, and tramcars on Grimsby & Immingham Light Railway.
Locomotives of the LNER. Part 11. Supplementary information. 1994. 98pp.
Errata & addenda; Introduction "signed" E.V. Fry, W. Hennigan and W.B. Yeadon.

Bradley, D[onald] L[aurence]
see also authorship page

The locomotive history of the London Chatham and Dover Railway. London: RCTS, 1979. 127pp
A locomotive history of the railways on the Isle of Wight. RCTS, 1982. 45pp.
Very much in the style Authorship of railway literatureof the other Bradley locomotive histories: each of the independent railways is given its own chapter: Isle of Wight Central Railway, Isle of Wight Railway, Ryde Pier & Tramway and Freshwater, Yarmouth & Newport Railway, then there is a further chapter covering activity by Southern Railway and British Railways down to a glimpse of the "new" tube rolling stock.
The locomotive history of the South Eastern and Chatham Railway. rev. ed. 1980.
See Addenda item 7226 to Ottley first supplement for the complicated origins of this work.
The locomotives of the London and South Western Railway. Solihull: RCTS, 1965. 2v.
The locomotives of the London Brighton & South Coast Railway. Part 3. 1974.
The locomotives of the South Eastern and Chatham Railway. Solihull (Warwickshire), RCTS, 1961. 19 p. + front. + 41 plates. 41 illus. 5 diagrs. tables.
Locomotives of the Southern Railway. London, 1975. 2v.
Volume 1 covers Maunsell and is restricted solely to his Southern Railway activity and Volume 2 covers Bulleid.
The Locomotives of the London Brighton & South Coast Railway. Part 1. London, 1969. 179p.
Ottley 12259: Craven and early Stroudley locomotives. Also covers London & Brighton; London & Croydon; and Brighton, Chatham & Dover Joint Comittee locomotives.
The Locomotives of the London Brighton & South Coast Railway. Part 2. London, 1972. 123p.
Later Stroudley locomotives and most of R.J. Billinton's.
The Locomotives of the London Brighton & South Coast Railway. Part 3. London, 1974. 156p.
Later R.J. Billinton, Marsh and Lawson Billinton locomotives.

Cook, A.F.
LMS locomotive design and construction: loco engineers, their designs and modifications. Lincoln: RCTS, 1990. 175pp.
Part of the complex RCTS History of LMS locomotives.
Raising steam on the LMS: the evolution of LMS locomotive boilers. Huntingdon: RCTS, 1999. 233pp.
Part of the complex RCTS History of LMS locomotives

Cormack, J.R.H. and Stevenson, J.L..
Highland Railway locomotives. Book 1. Early days to the 'Lochs'. Lincoln: RCTS, 1988. 160pp. 115 illus.
Highland Railway locomotives. Book 2. The Drummond, Smith & Cumming classes. Lincoln: RCTS, 1990. 174pp. 149 illus.

Groves, Norman
Great Northern locomotive history. Volume 1. 1847-66. 1986.
Great Northern locomotive history. Volume 2. 1867-95. 1991.
Great Northern locomotive history. Volume 3A. 1896-1911. The Ivatt era. RCTS, 1990. 233pp.
Great Northern locomotive history. Volume 3B. 1911-1922. The Gresley era. RCTS, 1992. 132pp.
The work was completed after the death of the author. To an extent this is less satisfactory than the three earlier volumes and tends to overlap wiith the various relevant parts of Locomotives of the LNER. Nevertheless, the volume does contain a great deal of detail which would be difficult to find elesewhere: notably the GNR locomotive classification, boiler numbering and classification, a full list of Doncaster Works Numbers, headlamp codes, running shed codes and statistics on locomotives extant at the Grouping and on Nationalization.

Jack, Harry
Locomotives of the LNWR Southern Division: London & Birmingham Railway, London & North Western Railway and Wolverton Locomotive Works. 2001. 299pp. 145 figs. (illus, including line drawings)
Fulsomely reviewed in Backtrack, Volume 16: "In spite of the five stars Rutherford castigates the author/publisher for failing to identify the sources. Nevertheless, "this is one of the most important locomotive histories published in Britain in recent years." Although the title-page appears to be comprehensive, the range of the text extends far, far further and includes opening dates for what became the Southern Division, and notes on the permanent way. The account of the Locomotive Works at Wolverton is limited to the period of locomotive construction and maintenance. Very little of the orginal buildings remains: the last remnants became a Tesco carpark: how the mighty fall. Pp 35-48 provide a thorough biography of Edward Bury which extends to his brief association with the GNR, and his planning of the Doncaster Plant. McConnell is given similar coverage: pp 49-70.

Gregory, J.R. The L.N.W.R. eight-coupled goods engines. RCTS, 1950.
Ottley 6973: 23 pp plus 8 plates: according to Ottley appears to be mainly a chronology.

Proud, P.
The Great Eastern Railway 0-6-0Ts. RCTS, [1945], 12pp.

Tee, D.F.
The Midland compounds. Solihull(Warwickshire) RCTS, 1962. 24 p. + 12 plates (incl. 1 ool.). 29 illus., 4 tables.

2006-10-31