Having mentioned in a previous blog that I recently visited the National Railway Museum in York, on this occasion I took a good long look in the reference library for some information regarding TPO's as I'm interested in incorporating this in my new layout, but whilst looking through the shelves of hundreds of books, I stumbled over a book called Barry Scrapyard...........The Preservation Miracle.

This book was written back in 1988 and reprinted in 1989 by writer Alan Warren, who gives a blow by blow account on all the steam locomotives that were saved from the acetylene torch after being withdrawn from service in the restructure of the national railway network that finished up at the famous Woodham Brothers Scrapyard in Barry, South Wales for disposal.

This fascinating book is an easy read that consists of 288 pages with over 30 beautiful colour pictures and many black and white shots as well, it contain an interesting background to the Woodham scrap business depicting the story that was going to unfold regarding life or death of the steam engine!

The book dedicates a whole chapter to the rescued locomotives, which includes a complete page and photograph to each of the 213 surviving engines.

Now some 50 years on, we should salute all those individuals and locomotive restorers in the late 1960's and early 1970's for having the foresight to save the locomotives for the future generations to enjoy, plus fortunately for the likes of me in 2013, to be able to sample the great wonders of engineering from all those years ago.

I've also included a link below to the BBC iplayer, which is a 30 minute programme called The Train Now Departing - The survivors, which has an short interview with Dai Woodham first transmitted back in 1988.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p011v89n/The_Train_Now_Departing_The_Survivors/

That's all for this year, so Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!