Heyday of Eastleigh and Its Locomotives Book

Located to the northeast of Southampton, Eastleigh was one of the most important locomotive sheds serving the Southern Region. In 1950, for example, it provided accommodation for more than 140 locomotives and even in 1965, towards the end of main-line steam over Southern Region metals, it was still home for more than 100 steam engines. Although it provided accommodation for the locomotives that powered the express services over the line westwards towards Weymouth - hence in 1965 an allocation of almost 50 of Bulleid's 'West Country' and 'Battle of Britain' Pacifics - it was also home to the 'USA' tanks that provided motive power over the dock network around Southampton. During the period from 1950 onwards, the shed played host to a wide range of locomotive classes, apart from the Bulleid Pacifics and the 'USA' tanks. Other types that were familiar at Eastleigh included the 'M7' 0-4-4Ts, the 'B4' 0-4-0Ts, the 'King Arthur' 4-6-0s and the 'Lord Nelson' 4-6-0s, whilst from the mid-1950s BR Standard types also became resident. Following on from their well-received and successful collaboration Diesels in Wessex, that was published in early 2004, the authors have again co-operated to put together a collection of some 85 colour illustrations, all previously unpublished, of steam operation in and around Eastleigh. Tony Molyneaux took the photographs from the late 1950s through to the end of SR main-line steam in 1967 whilst Kevin Robertson has contributed detailed captions describing the locomotives and trains visible. Previous all-colour albums featuring steam operation over the ex-LSWR network - such as Steam on the South Western: A Colour Portfolio - have always sold well. This new title, combining a popular subject with a collection of previously unpublished material, is certain to be equally successful. The book will be sought after both by those who recall the final years of steam over the South Western and those active in modelling or preserving the locomotives of that era.Read More