The Atmospheric Eastern

From London Kings Cross to Fraserburgh, from bucolic branch lines to the hives of industry, the London & North Eastern Railway had it all. Its range of motive power was tremendous, from Pugs pootling around goods yards to streamlined Pacifics streaking through the landscape. With good bits, bad bits and in some cases the downright ugly bits all adding to the atmosphere that stretched from the banks of the Thames to the northern coast of Scotland – the 6,500 route miles were full of contrast. Many of the inherited locomotives and rolling stock did well to survive into the Nationalised era – the LNER, as a company was never flush with cash. It was however full of new ideas, from steam railcars to electrification – not always successful – that was to capture the public’s attention. The sheer variety of motive power, rolling stock and goods traffic certainly contributed to the flavour of the times.