Tale of the Unexpected:
Welcome to British Railways Illustrated No.2 Volume 2. The contents this issue - "the usual mixed bag I hope” commented one recent correspondent - are more or less that. It is good however to furnish a little at least of the out of way or unexpected and this month’s googly comes in the form of A Railway Quarry. An little known place, hidden in the fold of brooding hill and approached through ancient sunken lanes, the vast stone workings off the old LSWR main line at Meldon still supply the railway today. An unpromising subject on first reckoning, but George Reeve has delved, extracted, shaped, dressed and presented an involved and powerful tale of railway and human endeavour in an uncompromising setting. Proving that it is possible to extract, if not blood, then at least a good story from stone.
Liskeard and Looe keeps us in the west of England, the plan of the peculiar approach and terminus at Liskeard illustrating the truism that no matter how odd an arrangement of railway might be dreamed up to fit the confines of a loft or spare room, somewhere in Britain a far more outre prototype existed, out there in the real world. Substituting in this issue for our customary station survey, at Liskeard an almost impossible layout operated throughout the Great Western and BR steam period. A journey south began with progress northward, thence round ludicrous curves and gradients to a reversal at a 'non-station’. After that, progress was straightforward branch line fare, a particularly lovely riverside run down to the coast at Looe. Nor was the place a remote and insignificant terminus the Great Western thought about electrifying the branch and a start was even made on a wholly new line to the town, diesel operated and slicing through the surrounding hills. Station Survey returns in its pure form next time, but this issue maintains one of BRILL's principal attractions (tojudge from your letters) - our unique and unrivalled employment Of detailed, specially commissioned, large scale plans.
Dr. Michael Bonavia continues his insider account. Early Days of the Eastern Region, describing events and developments, the personalities and battles, in the 1950s and 1960s. The shadows lengthened throughout that time, as political and economic forces, eventually to break as a storm, slowly gathered against the railway.
A.N. Marshall rights a long overdue wrong In a look at Caledonian 0-4-4 tanks for this month’s Thirties File: an effort noteworthy for wedding the professional's insight to a wry and knowing humour.
John Hooper turns his analytical gaze once more to l.MS locomotives, with some enlightening notes on The Stanier Moguls, a largely unregarded class. Fourum with photographs by Alec Swain, verges on the bizarre but this month's offering will maintain, it's thought, the popularity of this particular feature. A reputation for the unexpected seems to be its strong point - and the unexpected is where we came in...