A detailed account of the effect of World War II on the British railway network and the part played by the railways in the war effort.
The first two chapters look at military railways and the main developments on Britain’s rail network between the two World Wars. There are then chapters describing the main events on the railways in each year of the war from 1939 to 1945.
Topics covered include:
- Evacuation of children by train
- Military trains and the transporting of troops by rail
- The part played by railway-owned ships in the Dunkirk evacuation
- Bomb damage to the rail network, and casualties among railway staff and passengers
- The use of London Underground stations as air raid shelters
- Conversion of railway depots to munitions factories
- The employment of women on the railways to fill vacancies left by male staff serving in the forces
At the back there are appendices listing World War II railway memorials at stations and commemorative locos and railway vehicles. Well illustrated with around 100 black & white photographs. Hardback. 218 pages.