This book is the sequel to the author’s two previous volumes on the history of the Great Eastern covering the Early Years from 1811 to 1862 and the Late 19th Century and early 20th Century from 1862 to 1924.
This book covers the years 1923 to 2023 and describes how the Great Eastern Section of the London and North Eastern Railway was transformed from being something of a backwater during the inter war years to being very much at the forefront of modernisation under British Railways.
Within the book will be found how the Great Eastern Section coped with the threat of road competition during the inter war years, its involvement in the Second World War and how under British Railways it came to be seen the epitome of modernisation beginning with the arrival of the arrival of the Britannia Class locomotives in 1951 and culminating the complete elimination of steam power in the East of England at the end of 1963.
The book describes the impact of the Beeching Report on the former Great Eastern. It chronicles the progress of the Section’s through the electrification of its two main lines and the construction and opening of the Elizabeth Line. Preservation is also mentioned as are possible future developments.
The story of the line is presented in five chapters:
- From 1923 to the Outbreak of the Second World War
- The Second World War
- From the End of the Second World War to the End of the LNER
- From the End of the LNER to the Beeching Report
- From the Beeching Report to the Elizabeth Line
The book is illustrated throughout with around 100 black & white photographs. Hardback. 240 pages.