1960s Steam: Recollections from the End of an Era

The number of steam locomotives operated by British Railways had been declining throughout the second half of the 1950s and by 1960 the replacement of steam locomotives by diesel and electric locomotives and units was gathering pace. From over 12,000 steam locomotives in service in 1960, the number dropped to only 3000 by 1965. This book captures the final years of main line steam through the lens of the respected railway photographer Trevor Ermel. Beginning in 1963, it charts his journey which began with locomotive spotting in the North East, through to taking photography much more seriously, driven by an urgent need to preserve a vanishing world. This collection of evocative pictures and the stories behind them were gathered from across the UK. They form a poignant and lasting tribute to the power and beauty of steam during its twilight in the 1960s. A4 size. 96 pages.