Four Decades of Change
Written by a lifelong railway enthusiast. Covers all railways in South Yorkshire, including passenger services and freight. Part of Britain's Railways Series.
Today, South Yorkshire's railways are a modern network of busy lines, ranging from the electrified East Coast Main Line to the regional and local railways of the area. They serve the cities and towns of Sheffield, Doncaster, Rotherham and Barnsley, with passenger services linking them to other destinations across the country, and interesting freight flows, too. However, the area's railways have changed enormously since the late 1970s when many were traditionally operated with semaphore signals and signal boxes, and freight-only branch lines served the numerous collieries in the area. Traction has changed as well, with Class 56s, 60s, 66s and HSTs replacing the 20s, 31s, 37s, 40s, 47s and Deltics of earlier years. This book explores the South Yorkshire railway network and its trains over 40 years, illustrating some of the many changes that have taken place along the way. With over 180 photographs, many previously unpublished, this book takes the reader on a journey through South Yorkshire, showcasing a number of nowclosed lines and industrial landscapes that no longer exist.