Steam on the Eastern & Midland

Book excerpt: The author and railway photographer presents a stunning collection of original images showing steam locomotives in action in the mid-20th century. This is the second book from David Knapman’s personal record of railway views that were captured on black and white film in the late 1950’s and 1960’s, until the demise of steam on British Railways. Using the same format as its companion volume, Steam on the Southern and Western, this book presents chapters covering different locations in the Eastern and London Midland regions. Knapman captures branch and mainline trains as well as locations of interest and historical infrastructure. Where preservation starts to overlap with the still active steam scene, some historic photographs are also included. Each chapter begins with an overview of the station it depicts, providing local and historical context. Each photograph is paired with a detailed caption describing the specific trains at work.