David Clark’s Southern Odyssey

This is no ordinary photo book; it concentrates on the Eastern section of the Southern Region before the end of the steam era in 1961, featuring a rare variety of full colour images. During the time before the run-down of steam, pride in the job still shone through and trains ran to the published timetable with no small effort due to the undertakings of the men at the front. David Clark was fortunately in a position to record the final years of steam on the Kent main lines – and usually in good weather conditions – supplemented by odd branch line outings and a little excursion or two across the border into Surrey and Sussex. For his part, Ron White has drawn on his extensive knowledge of both the photographer and the subject to describe both in his inimitable fashion, bringing to life a book that deserves a place on the bookshelf.