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Since its first issue published in 2007, The Southern Way has become the acknowledged definitive journal on the history and heritage of the Southern Railway and the Southern Region of British Railways. The quarterly periodical has now reached issue number 58, and it continues to be the ''go-to'' reference for all those interested in the UK''s Southern Railways. Each issue contains a variety of articles and photo features, each offering an in-depth exploration of an historical aspect of the railways, rolling stock, infrastructure, incidents, events and people associated with ''The Southern Way''.The 58th issue of The Southern Way continues the tradition of previous issues with articles including: - Asterix in Bradshaw- Kent Railways of the 1950s- Southern Ferrys- Impermanent Ways of Dorset- Class 2NOL EMUs- Southern coaching survivorsIllustrated throughout its 96 pages, including rare and previously unseen colour images, The Southern Way continues to be the ultimate reference source for railway modellers, historians and enthusiasts.

Since its first issue published in 2007, The Southern Way has become the acknowledged definitive journal on the history and heritage of the Southern Railway and the Southern Region of British Railways. The quarterly periodical has now reached issue number 58, and it continues to be the ''go-to'' reference for all those interested in the UK''s Southern Railways. Each issue contains a variety of articles and photo features, each offering an in-depth exploration of an historical aspect of the railways, rolling stock, infrastructure, incidents, events and people associated with ''The Southern Way''.Illustrated throughout its 96 pages, including rare and previously unseen colour images, The Southern Way continues to be the ultimate reference source for railway modellers, historians and enthusiasts.

The Battle of the Somme has become a byword for sacrifice and senseless slaughter. It had a searing impact on the British mindset that still resonates over a century after it occurred. This largely stems from the events of 1 July 1916, the first day of the battle which cost the British Army over 19,000 dead and nearly another 40,000 wounded, captured and missing, the bloodiest day in the Army's history.Yet the battle continued for four and a half months and a century of research suggests a far more nuanced picture. Britain was not fighting alone and the French contribution, often overlooked, was clearly very significant. The Somme also saw the very first use of tanks in battle, at Flers-Courcelette on 15 September 1916, an event that changed the course of warfare forever.Moreover, there are now commentators who believe the Somme was a victory, albeit an expensive one. The Somme also had an immense social historical significance, due to both the way it impacted virtually every community in Britain and to the films which held audiences spellbound all over Europe.While a great deal has been written about the Somme, this book is much more than just a history of the battle. It focuses on the equipment and tactics used by both sides and the strategic objectives the battle was designed to achieve. Uniforms, logistics, weapons, all the components of the battleplan are discussed and described in detail in a creative and innovative manner. This new approach to one of the most significant battles in British military history will attract a great degree of interest from a wide range of readers.

A hundred years on from the legislation that grouped Britain''s private railway companies into the ''Big Four,'' this book explores the often fraught relationships between government, parliament and the railway. The 1923 grouping closely followed the creation of the Ministry of Transport in 1919 and marked the start of the political intervention that continues to this day. Signals Passed at Danger traces the stormy relationships between politicians and railway people, the origins of mistrust which led to constant political interference in the industry, and the unending upheaval caused by frequent reorganisations as various political theories were tried and found wanting. The story begins with the undue parliamentary influence wielded by railway directors in the nineteenth century and continues with the broken promises of governments after two world wars to recompense the railways for the depredations of war, to the irresponsible experiment of privatisation in the 1990s along with the subsequent attempts to deal with the consequences. The authors have both worked in the front-line of the relationships between government and railway, drawing on their experience as well as meticulous research, they paint a broad canvas, but one illustrated with local detail to show the consequences of high level political decisions. This is a companion to the award winning Holding the Line, which dealt with the politics of railway closures, and Disconnected! that told the story of reopened lines and stations. It will be essential reading for historians, economists, railways managers, civil servants, political researchers and students as well as the many thousands who have an interest in the rich history of railways in Britain.

One of our best received railway titles in recent years was Northern Rail Rover, a selection of unpublished photos taken in the final years of steam on Britain's railways by photographer, Allan Heyes. We were delighted when Allan agreed to compile a sequel from his extensive archive which covers his travels in search of steam in the 1960s. The result is an all new collection of his work, Northern Rail Steam.This book takes the reader on a journey recorded in over 200 images, which starts in North Wales and moves on through Chester to Merseyside. There follows a roughly circular itinerary starting around the Wigan area and south east Lancashire before heading to the north east and Cumbria before returning to Lancashire. While the majority of photos cover steam on the BR network, some explore the colliery and other industrial lines which fed traffic onto the main lines. Sequences of pictures at certain locations will recreate the lineside experience of many enthusiasts at this time and will bring them to life for those too young to remember those days.A feature of the photographs of Allan Heyes is that they honestly and accurately portray the reality of those last years of steam. There is no attempt to glamorise the subject, the dirty and unkempt nature of engine sheds and their locos is here for all to see. The book also focuses on the infrastructure and the environment of the steam railway so much of which has been swept away in the decades following the end of steam on Britain's railways.

First widely introduced from the early 1950s onwards, the diesel multiple-unit represented an attempt to produce a vehicle that would replace steam traction on the country''s branch lines and secondary routes at a time when the railway industry was in desperate need of a cheaper alternative to steam in order to improve the finances of these increasingly unremunerative lines. Over 4,000 vehicles were ordered from both BR works and private manufacturers as part of the BR modernisation plan of 1955.Following refurbishment from the early 1970s onwards, many first generation DMUs were to survive in service until the late 1980s and early 1990s. Although most were scrapped after withdrawal, a significant number of these vehicles have been preserved on the nation''s heritage railways.This updated and expanded edition of Hugh Longworth''s classic book on the subject records the great variety of DMU types constructed as part of the programme. Each is covered in detail with information about construction, technical specifications, entry into service, formations, allocations, withdrawal and final fate. This new edition makes full use of colour throughout with many additional photos included. The diagrams have been redrawn and a new section showing the unit formations has been added.Comprehensive in its coverage, this book will be sought after by all those modellers, preservationists and historians seeking a detailed reference work on the history of first generation DMUs.

If anything, interest in Britain''s railways and their history is increasing rather than diminishing. Many now deeply regret the mass closures of the late twentieth century and there are campaigns in many parts of the country to reverse some of these and restore lines that were prematurely closed. That railways are unquestionably an environmentally friendly form of transport is also part of this narrative.Interest in exploring disused railways is also growing among different groups. Nature lovers relish the flora and fauna of abandoned embankments and cuttings, industrial archaeologists delight in discovering viaducts, tunnels and old artefacts, while social historians may focus in uncovering the lives of those who lived or worked on the railways. For others, old railways simply invoke nostalgia for those not too distant halcyon days when a now-slumbering line was busy with passenger and goods trains hauled by steam locomotives of varying shapes and sizes.This book takes a detailed look at many of the ''lost'' railways of the North-West of England. It examines how they have fared since closure and what is still around to see and visit. The post-closure history of the line includes track lifting, demolition of buildings and structures, changes of ownership and access and the current condition of the railway in question today.As well as looking at what remains of a line, its original purpose is also explored; why was it built, what did it carry, why did it close? Comparisons are also made with lines that have survived and adapted to meet the demands of the modern passenger and freight transport. This book will appeal, not just to railway enthusiasts, but also to a wide range of readers beyond that community.

Too often, the subject of radio communications is treated as an ''after thought'' in pilot training. The student pilot may be expected to learn largely from their own training experience but, without a deeper knowledge of proper radio phraseology and Air Traffic Service (ATS) procedures, the student becomes a pilot who is under-confident in use of the radio and dealing with any ATS unit other than that at their home airfield.This potential shortcoming was addressed in the 2015 EASA Private Pilot Licence (PPL) and Light Aircraft Pilot Licence (LAPL) courses, produced by a team of experienced flying instructors and examiners put together by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). This new syllabus is designed to bring PPL and LAPL training in-line with the modern training environment. In particular, the new training courses are focused on providing up-to-date and practical aeronautical knowledge, rather than requiring the pilot to rote learn largely academic and irrelevant material with little application to ''real world'' flying.To make the most of this new approach to PPL and LAPL theoretical knowledge, Aeronautical Knowledge, Communications is part of a brand new series of aviation training manuals, designed from the beginning to take full advantage of this new methodology in aviation training. In this book, AFE has produced a totally new publication for the subject of Communications, fully aligned with the 2015 EASA PPL and LAPL syllabi and providing the pilot with a deeper understanding of the day-to-day radio procedures in accordance with European standards including the Standardised European Rules of the Air (SERA).Aeronautical Knowledge, Communications approaches the subject of radio phraseology and procedures on a ''step-by-step'' basis, from a starting point assuming no prior knowledge of the subject, through to a comprehensive coverage of practical radio communications for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) flight. In line with modern teaching methodology, the emphasis is on developing sound knowledge and practical skills, rather than requiring the student pilot to learn purely academic material with little or no application to day-to-day operations.Aeronautical Knowledge, Communications is part of a new series of publications marking a fresh and modern approach to Theoretical Knowledge training. This series is now delivering the real-word aeronautical knowledge that today''s pilot need - not just to pass the relevant exams but also to operate safely and proficiently in the modern aviation environment.

An indispensable guide to the PPL and LAPL Operational Procedures Theoretical Knowledge requirements and written examination.The Operational Procedures Revision Guide starts with a revision section covering all the essential knowledge required to pass the CAA or EASA PPL or LAPL Operational Procedures Theoretical Knowledge examination. This essential knowledge revision section is a unique feature of AFE Revision Guides, allowing the user to consolidate and update their knowledge before attempting the sample exam papers.The essential knowledge revision section is followed by four practice examination papers, each set out in the style of the UK CAA e-exams, with the same number of questions, time limits, question style and subject coverage.The practice exam papers are followed by the explanation sections, in which the correct answer for each question is given, together with a fully worked explanation of why the given answer is correct and (where appropriate) how it is calculated. For each question, a reference is also given to the AFE PPL Course series for further study if required.Based on the best-selling ''PPL Question and Answer'' books which have helped tens of thousands of pilots through their written exams, this revised edition of the Operational Procedures Revision Guide series is the only up-to-date publication for a pilot studying for the current UK CAA or EASA examination for PPL and LAPL Meteorology and incorporates the most recent changes to that examination.The 3rd of the PPL Operational Procedures Revision Guide has been fully updated and revised to incorporate the most recent changes to the UK CAA e-exams.

Operational Procedures is one of the first Theoretical Knowledge (TK) subjects to be tackled on almost any pilot''s licence course.Nevertheless, many student pilots approach ''Ops Proc'' with a heavy heart, not helped by the original syllabus for the subject which was confused and lacked practical knowledge. This shortcoming was addressed in the new 2015 EASA pilot training syllabi, designed to bring pilot training into line with the modern flying environment.To make the best of this new approach to teaching aviation Theoretical Knowledge requires new training material for the student pilot, and Aeronautical Knowledge - Operational Procedures is part of a brand-new series of training manuals, designed from the beginning to take full advantage of this new methodology in aviation training. Rather than merely making revisions to an existing publication, AFE has produced a totally new training manual for Operational Procedures, covering new topics such as Threat and Error Management (TEM), EASA ''Part-NCO'' regulations, Portable Electronic Devices (PED) and incident reporting.Written by the best-selling aviation author of over 25 pilot training manuals, Aeronautical Knowledge - Operational Procedures finally brings this important aviation subject fully up-to-date.

An indispensable guide to the CAA and EASA PPL and LAPL Air Law Theoretical Knowledge requirements and written examination.The Air Law Revision Guide starts with a revision section covering all the essential knowledge required to pass the CAA or EASA PPL or LAPL Air Law Theoretical Knowledge examination. This essential knowledge revision section is a unique feature of AFE Revision Guides, allowing the user to consolidate and update their knowledge before attempting the sample exam papers.The essential knowledge revision section is followed by four practice examination papers, each set out in the style of the UK CAA written examination, with a representative number of questions, time limits, question style and subject coverage.The practice exam papers are followed by the explanation sections, in which the correct answer for each question is given, together with a fully worked explanation of why the given answer is correct and (where appropriate) how it is calculated. For each question, a reference is also given to the AFE Aeronautical Knowledge - Air Law manual for further study if required.Based on the best-selling ''PPL Question and Answer'' books which have helped tens of thousands of pilots through their written exams, this revised edition of the CAA and EASA Air Law Revision Guide series is the only up-to-date publication for a pilot studying for the current UK CAA written examination for PPL and LAPL Air Law and incorporates the most recent changes to that examination.The 2021 edition of the EASA PPL Air Law Revision Guide has been fully updated and revised to incorporate the most recent changes to the written examinations.

In the years after the Second World War, aircraft optimised for various kinds of special missions began assuming ever-greater importance in the inventories of the world''s leading air forces. The Soviet Union was no exception - numerous special mission versions of Soviet military fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters were developed and fielded, and the process is continuing in modern Russia. Some of them have seen action in various armed conflicts, including the Afghan War, the Chechen Wars and, most recently, the Syrian War.The need to control friendly forces on the move and manage airborne air defence assets efficiently resulted in the development of airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft. The first of these in the Soviet inventory was the early 1960s vintage Tupolev Tu-126 which was replaced in the 1980s by the Ilyushin/Beriyev A-50. The latter has been constantly upgraded but is now due for replacement by the latest A-100.An equally important role is filled by airborne command posts - mostly based on airliners, including the Ilyushin Il-22 army-level ABCP, the Tu-214PU and the Il-80 national emergency airborne command post (the Russian equivalent of the Boeing E-4 ''doomsday aircraft''). The latter may be replaced by a specialised derivative of the Il-96-400 airliner. Rotary-wing aircraft in this class were also developed, such as the Mil'' Mi-8VzPU and Mi-6VKP/Mi-22.Another important class is reconnaissance aircraft of various categories - photo reconnaissance, electronic intelligence, nuclear/biological/chemical reconnaissance, radiation intelligence (RINT). These were represented by ELINT versions of bombers (including the Tu-22 and Tu-22M), airliners and transports (ELINT versions of the Antonov An-12 and An-26 transports, the Il-20 derivative of the Il-18 airliner), RINT versions of the An-12 and the An-24 airliner etc.A separate chapter covers electronic countermeasures aircraft, such as specialised versions of the Tu-16 and Tu-22 bombers and An-12 transport, the latest Il-22PP, the Army Aviation''s many ECM versions of the Mi-8 helicopter (including the latest Mi-8MTPR) and the heavy Mi-10PP.A singularly important class is in-flight refuelling tankers supporting the operations of both heavy aircraft (notably strategic bombers) and tactical jets. These include tanker versions of the Tupolev Tu-16 and Myasishchev M-4/3MS series bombers and the Il-78, including the latest Il-78M-90.Another category which assumed considerable importance is search and rescue aircraft, such as the naval An-12PS equipped to carry a paradroppable lifeboat and the latest Beriyev Be-200PS amphibian able to pick up survivors at the scene of a maritime disaster.The book is illustrated with numerous previously unpublished photos, line drawings and many colour side views.

Much has changed in this region since the first edition of this Atlas was published in 2016, notably the confirmation of the route of HS2 and extensions to the West Midlands Metro. As a consequence, a completely revised edition of this masterly cartographic portrayal of the railways and tramways of the West Midlands by leading railway cartographer, Joe Brown, is particularly timely.The Atlas covers the entire West Midlands continuous urban area of Birmingham, Walsall, Wolverhampton, West Bromwich, Stourbridge and Dudley. It also features the towns and cities surrounding this core area. This includes Stafford, Lichfield, Tamworth, Nuneaton, Coventry, Rugby, Leamington Spa, Stratford-upon-Avon, Bromsgrove and Kidderminster. As well as dealing with the complex railway system that served the area, the entire historic passenger tramway network of the region is mapped with opening and closing details provided in an Appendix. This is brought up to date with the current West Midlands Metro system and future extensions to it which have been announced as well as the planned Coventry ''Very Light Rail'' system.Intricate and finely drawn mapping shows individual track and platforms for all lines whether open and closed, as well as stations, changes of station name and opening and closing dates, and much, much more. Many of those both interested in both transport and local history will already be aware of the superb quality of Joe Brown''s cartography and will wish to add this new and much enhanced edition of the Birmingham and West Midlands Railway Atlas to their libraries.

Unlike many of his fellow managers, Dick was a rail enthusiast at heart and never lost his passion for locomotives and their crews. He considered himself first and foremost a ''people person'' and estimated he had worked during his career with more than 25,000 men and women, many of whom became close friends and remained so for many years afterwards. After retirement in 1982, he made a major contribution to the continuance of main line steam train operations across the network. This book is a welcome reissue of two of his autobiographical volumes outlining aspects of his illustrious railway career, Steam in the Blood and Railways in the Blood. These have been out of print for some years and their reissue in this competitively priced paperback edition, will bring the life and times of this remarkable railwayman to the attention of a new audience.

A popular feature of our publishing programme for a number of years has been our fascimile reprints of selected titles from the famous Ian Allan Publishing abc series that first appeared in the 1940s. These modestly priced reprints are welcomed by both the enthusiasts who may have used them when they first came out and also by those not around at the time they were first published. They provide wonderful, nostalgic snapshots of a railway scene which has long since disappeared. The next reissue in the series - British Rail Locomotives and Other Motive Power: Combined Volume 1967. Two years before in 1965, there had been 3,000 steam locos on BR''s books. But such was the remorseless march of diesel and electric traction, by the end of 1967, this had shrunk to a mere 361; 307 of LMS origin, 2 ex LNER locos and only 52 out of the 999 BR Standard locos built. This is also the first of our abc reprints which uses the term ''British Rail'' in its title, that having been introduced in 1965. The focus of the 1967 abc Combined is therefore firmly on diesel and electric motive power with new locos being added all the time and almost all of the early Modernisation Plan types still in service. For generations of enthusiasts, these were the locos they grew up with and spotted so this volume will be one many can relate to more strongly than the rapidly fading age of steam.

First published in the 1970s, Military Aircraft Markings has become an indispensable annual publication for aircraft enthusiasts, historians and students of military aviation. At the heart of Military Aircraft Markings is the most complete listing of all the aircraft of the UK Armed Forces; the Royal Air Force, Royal Navy, Army and associated units. For each entry the military serial, aircraft type, unit/operator and usual base are given. Further listings cover Ireland''s military aircraft and historic aircraft in military markings. Other sections of Military Aircraft Markings include American military aircraft based in Europe, overseas military aircraft which may be seen in the UK, unit markings and a unit serial number/letter de-code. In addition, the book provides a comprehensive listing of visiting aircraft from overseas air forces that may be seen during the air display season, together with a new full colour photo section. Also included are details of the UK''s main military air bases, a maintenance unit cross-reference and detailed RAF Squadron markings. This new 2022 edition of Military Aircraft Markings has been fully revised and updated by one of Britain''s leading authorities on military aviation. This is the must-have companion for all those interested in UK military aviation.

Now remarkably in its 28th edition, ever since it was first published in the 1960s every edition of Wrecks & Relics has been eagerly sought after by aviation enthusiasts, restorers and curators alike. It is renowned as the go-to source charting the highlights, changes and trends in the preservation of the aviation heritage of the British Isles. With in-depth coverage of more than 700 locations across the UK and Ireland, it charts over 5000 aircraft including their potted histories, build and arrival dates.Wrecks & Relics is the only publication required to discover the incredible aeronautical treasures found across the United Kingdom and in Ireland. It provides a trusted, comprehensive rundown of museums and their exhibits - static or flying - workshops, military 'gate guardians', stored and instructional airframes. It also reveals redundant airframes being used for the most unlikely of purposes, including for 'glamping' and at paint-ball sites.Each edition is illustrated with both colour and black and white photographs and fully indexed making easy the task of where to go over the weekend, or where to find an extant example of a favourite aircraft. Whether it travels in the car or sits on the bookshelf, this new and fully revised edition of Wrecks & Relics will continue to be the most useful and accurate companion to the aviation heritage of the British Isles, which will be referred to again and again.

The Southern Way continues to be the definitive journal for all those interested in the history and heritage of the Southern Railway and the Southern Region of British Railways. Edited by Kevin Robertson, whose many publications on the railways of the south of England are well known to SR enthusiasts, each volume contains a series of authoritative articles on a fascinating range of topics, copiously illustrated with a wealth of photographs.In this issue:- By South Eastern to Hastings- West of England Main Line - Waterloo to Basingstoke- Shide Chalk Pit Siding- My Railway Books- The Somerset and Dorset''s Waterloo Connection- Remember Hawkhurst?- The Unloved 0-6-0 - Maunsell''s ''Q'' Class- The S.C. Townroe Archive - In Colour- Rebuilt - The Letters and Comments Pages- Northam Through Time- Salisbury Railway & Market House Co- Three Tours on the ''Withered Arm''

Since the last edition of abc Air Traffic Control in 2009 there have been many changes in the air traffic control industry in the UK and UK-related airways. Air traffic is set to increase in the future resulting in a demand for more complex air traffic control systems which still fulfill safety and environmental regulations. Covering current issues facing the air traffic control industry, the author covers the opening of the new Prestwick control centre in 2010 and the success in managing airspace during the Olympics in summer 2012 and also looks at the problematic congestion plaguing the UK skies, particularly in the busy Southeast. The National Air Traffic Services, which took over from the Civil Airliner Authority in 2001 following partial privatisation of the industry, is also consulting with the Spanish to develop the next generation of air traffic management systems for Europe.Graham Duke is an authority in the study of Air Traffic Control and has been writing these useful pocket guides since the very first edition in 1984. In this latest volume he covers all the latest developments within the industry, explaining the structure of the system and the regulations controlling it in a straightforward manner, with a window into military air traffic control systems as well. Alongside this wider picture, intimate details are also revealed about the operations of ground control, the communications systems in the aircraft flying, the standard modes of communication, and airport procedures. The North Atlantic system and other aeronautical information such as charts, weather and airfield data are explained, as well as a full assessment of future developments. This is the essential handbook for anyone interested in civil aviation and the operation of modern air traffic control practice.

Island railways hold an enduring fascination for railway enthusiasts and although many books have been published about the railways on the Isle of Wight surprisingly very little has been written about the locomotives which ran on the island.Apart from a modest volume written by the late D.L.Bradley which was published in 1982, there has been no attempt to compile a definitive history of all the locomotives which have seen service on the island since the opening of the first line, that between Cowes and Newport, on 14 June 1862. Compiled by four members of the Isle of Wight Steam Railway who are donating their royalties from the sale of this book to the IWSR to further its activities, this book seeks to redress that deficiency.Building on the acquired rights of the Bradley book, this history uses every available resource to present as much information as possible on all the locomotives which worked on the island and includes a selection of colourised images to depict as accurately as possible the variety of liveries carried by those locomotives. The story is brought up to date with the inclusion of details of locomotives which are now preserved on the Isle of Wight, some of which are types seen today on the island for the first time.

In 1976, the High Speed Train arrived on a British railway scene where trains were predominantly in three colours; blue and grey with a large patch of yellow at the front. On the new trains the yellow warning panel was now strikingly extended down the sides of the power cars, thus beginning a transformation both in terms of the trains themselves as well as in their liveries, from BR''s corporate years to the variety that we see today. HST The Train that Saved Britain''s Railways is a photographic tribute to a train widely credited with rescuing Britain''s railway system from further decline. Few items of rolling stock have stayed in front line service for so long, more than forty years, least of all on longer distance duties. The HST has achieved this whilst leading the move away from traditional patterns of operational practice utilising locomotives and coaches, towards one of fixed formations. This was something of a gamble and it has had its down sides, but is now accepted as the norm. The book focuses on the numerous liveries carried by the HST fleet, particularly since privatisation, rather than on their technical and operational achievements.This colourful celebration of these magnificent trains shows HSTs in action in a wide range of locations across the network from the lineside and at stations and depots. It is a celebration of a great British success story which will be relished by the legions of enthusiasts who admire them.

The story of O V Bulleid''s ''Leader'' class is one that simply refuses to lie down, continuing to be a source of debate and controversy. Was this the great innovation that would have taken the steam locomotive to unheard of levels of sophistication and efficiency, or a folie de grandeur on the part of an undoubtedly creative, charismatic yet maverick engineer, which should never have been countenanced or financed by his superiors? Seventy years after the last examples of these ill-fated locomotives were scrapped, the controversy surrounding them still rumbles on and fascination with the project among railway enthusiasts is unabated.Having written previously on the subject, author Kevin Robertson has continued his research into the ''Leader'' class and unearthed much new material from a variety of sources which is presented here for the first time. Whilst not likely to have changed the end result, much new light is shed as to how that decision was arrived at. New sources have been explored that were not available previously and these add greatly to our understanding of how the project was managed, adding flavour and at times even comedy to the events recounted.

Peter Timm''s two previous books on the subject of Swindon works have been combined and rewritten to form the basis for this enlarged work. This is a comprehensive account of the Great Western Railway''s main works in what was, in many ways, its heyday. It is written in a way that should appeal to engineers, social historians, railway enthusiasts and people looking for their Swindon ancestors.The scale is such that it is intended as a work of reference, rather than a straight cover-to-cover read. To that end, each of the twenty-five chapters has been divided into sections and there is a general index. As with most historical research, this study is researched from many varied sources not least from first-hand recollections of the men and women who worked ''inside''. The author also confronts many widely held views and dispels some of the myths. One being that everything that can be written about the GWR has already been written, this book clearly proves otherwise.In piecemeal form, much has been written about Swindon Works but many aspects of it have remained, until now, neglected. Saying that it''s ''complete'' is a bold statement, so perhaps it should be regarded as ''near enough'': that''s what old Swindonians used to say when something turned out right.

This is a gripping account of the ill-fated RAF raid, on 3 May 1944, on the Panzer tank depot and military barracks at Mailly-le-Camp south of Rheims in northern France, part of the softening up process on German military targets, in preparation for the D-Day landings. Raids like this over occupied France were considered relatively low risk affairs and only counted for one third of a mission for the crews concerned. In total, 362 RAF bombers, Lancasters, Mosquitoes and Halifax, from bases in England took part in a raid and although no-one involved anticipated disaster, forty-two Lancasters never returned home. Almost incredibly, those who planned the attack were apparently unaware that four German night fighter bases were located nearby. Luftwaffe fighters wreaked havoc on the bombers as they circled a marker in bright moonlight awaiting the order to attack their targetThis is the story of that battle, bitterly contested and ever-remembered by those who were engaged, one among hundreds that were fought in the skies over Europe between the RAF's bombers and the Luftwaffe's night-fighters in the course of World War Two. It lasted less than sixty minutes but cost two hundred and fifty-five lives.

One of the best guides to this subject was published about ten years ago by professional modeller and layout builder Ian Morton.