It is over fifty years since the main line steam revival began in October 1971 with the return to steam by 6000 King George V, thanks to the efforts of Peter Prior and the help from the British Railways Board. This is not the whole story, in that the preservation movement was developing and beginning to mature, as more preserved railways opened throughout the Country. These developments took place fifty years ago, and subsequently, are forming their own history. The period covered in this book reflects on times when main line steam travel and preserved railways developed and matured into the steam operations we experienced as we entered the twenty first century. This book contains colour images from the author's collection of large format slides, using over 200 pictures with informative captions to describe the scenes depicted, in chronological order. The enormous work of volunteers in developing the preservation movement cannot be underestimated, because without those efforts, there would be no history to record. This is a salute to the volunteer movement. AUTHOR: Aged five, David Knapman's railway interest was triggered at Reigate station by a Wainwright 4-4-0. Reading his father's pre-war Railway Magazine and regularly taking Trains Illustrated fostered a lifelong interest. The Reading to Redhill line provided much steam variety and early main line trips included the Bristolian and the Kentish Belle in 1958. Large format colour photography started with an Agfa Isolette, followed by twin lens reflex Mamiya cameras; both cameras provided the preservation scenes for this book. The steam interest continues and main line runs today still enthrall. The author hopes his photographs prove to be of much interest to the reader. 200 colour illustrations
