Railway Memories the Trials and the Triumph
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A01=Tom Greaves
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Product details
- ISBN 9781871233261
- Weight: 390g
- Dimensions: 180 x 242mm
- Publication Date: 30 Mar 2012
- Publisher: Bellcode Books
- Publication City/Country: GB
- Product Form: Paperback
- Language: English
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Tom Greaves gives his own account of the chaotic introduction of main line diesel locomotives during the late 1950s which was conducted primarily on the suburban network out of London's King's Cross station and with which he was directly involved. There, a multitude of untried and disparate locomotive types were launched into intensive commuter service almost overnight with inevitable consequences but out of which ultimately emerged a modern, cleaner and more cost-effective network. Railway Memories No.26 also outlines the array of measures taken in the 1950s to prolong the life of steam and make it more efficient before the diesels finally took over. The author charts his early years as a premium apprentice at Doncaster Works and takes us through his time as a locomotive shed master in the London area and as traction engineer at Sheffield and Leeds in the 1960s, concluding with a selection of amusing and fascinating anecdotes. A keen and accomplished photographer throughout his career, Tom Greaves also provides a treasure chest of rare steam and early diesel photographs.
A native of Rotherham, Yorkshire, Tom Greaves joined British Railways as a premium apprentice at the famous Doncaster locomotive works. After a spell at Darnall loco depot in Sheffield and National Service with the RAF, he went to the BR Eastern Region's motive power department headquarters at Liverpool Street, London. This was followed by front line postings as shed master at Hertford East and then Hatfield depots where he was responsible for making sure the necessary steam engines were ready on time each day to take thousands of commuters to Liverpool Street and King's Cross. In 1957 he was given the job of overseeing the conversion of half of Hornsey steam depot into a depot for the new diesels, moving to the new purpose-built diesel depot at Finsbury Park in 1961. Soon after he was appointed traction engineer Sheffield Division and then Leeds Division where he witnessed the end of steam. He later moved on to Newcastle, finally retiring in 1987 as traction and train crew manager for all of British Rail. He still works in the railway industry as a consultant, often on overseas projects.
