Definitive History of the Midland and LNWR?

[1165Valour]

While calling any book the "definitive" work on its particular subject is risky business, the term seems justified in the case of titles such as George Dow's history of the Great Central, John Wrottesley's on the Great Northern, and John Marshall's on the Lancashire & Yorkshire. 

 

Have there been "definitive" histories of the London & North Western and Midland Railways written?

Edited June 20, 2021 by GWRSwindon

[The Stationmaster]

While neither is 'definitive' and both are of their time and author's style there is 'The Midland Railway' by the redoubtable Hamilton Ellis first published by Ian Allan in 1953 and running to several editions and Ossie Nock's 'North Western' published in 1968.

[1165Valour]

21 hours ago, The Stationmaster said:

While neither is 'definitive' and both are of their time and author's style there is 'The Midland Railway' by the redoubtable Hamilton Ellis first published by Ian Allan in 1953 and running to several editions and Ossie Nock's 'North Western' published in 1968.

While Ellis and Nock are almost always solid choices, I can't help but feel a bit disappointed there haven't been proper multi-volume histories of these companies.

[kevinlms]

Maybe both railways are just too big to be covered in a definitive way.

 

Personally I prefer to read books on particular aspects of railways, such as their locos, wagons, stations, operating practice or even general albums, such as LNWR Miscellany etc.

 

I do have 'Midland Railway - North of Leeds' and I found that to be as dry as can be, reading about various Acts of Parliament and the boardroom going ons (probably illegally today!) etc.

[Old Gringo]

On 20/06/2021 at 01:14, GWRSwindon said:

While calling any book the "definitive" work on its particular subject is risky business, the term seems justified in the case of titles such as George Dow's history of the Great Central, John Wrottesley's on the Great Northern, and John Marshall's on the Lancashire & Yorkshire. 

 

Have there been "definitive" histories of the London & North Western and Midland Railways written?

 

Hi GWR Swindon,

 

As mentioned in post 2 (by Mike, the Stationmaster), Oswald Nock wrote a good overview in 228 pages of 'The London & North Western Railway', published by Ian Allan in 1960.  Previously, O.S. Nock had written 'Premier Line, the Story of London & North Western Locomotives', also published by Ian Allan in 1952 (240 pages), In both of these books, Nock refers to the writings of several authors, including H.F. Livesey, who produced 'The Locomotives of the L.N.W.R.', published by The Railway Publishing Co. Ltd., in 1948, a handy 100 page reference of all the engines.

 

Later O.S. Nock was approached by Ian Allan to consider an 'omnibus' volume of his two earlier books and the well produced result was 'North Western', 312 pages, published in 1968.

 

However, considering the London & North Western Railway's standing among the top four Pre-Grouping railways, it is surprising that it had to wait another 28 years before a "modern study giving an account of its emergence and subsequent evolution over the period of its independent life" was published.  It is 'The London & North Western Railway, A History', by Dr. Malcolm Reed, 248 pages, by Atlantic Transport Publishers in 1996.

 

IMO, a good account, with a list of references and a comprehensive bibliography, which includes among the 180 entries the only contemporary account of the LNWR;

'The History of the London & North Western Railway', by W.L. Steel, London 1914, 502 pages, 100 illustrations: Ottley ref. 6353.

 

Also credited in the bibliography, under the heading Other Companies, is the following book dealing with the history of The Midlland Railway:

Barnes E.G., 'The Rise of the Midland Railway (1844-74), published by Allen & Unwin, 1966. 317 pages, with 22 plates & 44 line illustrations: Ottley ref. 12346. 

It would be interesting to compare Barnes book to the contemporary account written by F.S. Williams, 'The Midland Railway its Rise and Progress', London 1876, 700 pages, 123 illustrations, which ran to five editions by 1888.  Ottely ref: 6900.

 

Barnes also wrote a follow up volume, 'The Midland Main Line (1875-1922)', also published by Allen & Unwin' in 1969, 280 pages, 22 illistrations: Ottley ref. 12350.  Together Barnes volumes may well provide a good overview of the company from 1844 to 1922.  Plus, there are many other detailed accounts of divisions of the Midland Railway especially covering the famous Settle & Carlisle railway section (one mentioned by Kevin in post 4 - 'North of Leeds'', by Peter Baughan, 1966).

 

Hope this information helps,

All the very best,

John.

[1165Valour]

16 minutes ago, Old Gringo said:

 

Hi GWR Swindon,

 

As mentioned in post 2 (by Mike, the Stationmaster), Oswald Nock wrote a good overview in 228 pages of 'The London & North Western Railway', published by Ian Allan in 1960.  Previously, O.S. Nock had written 'Premier Line, the Story of London & North Western Locomotives', also published by Ian Allan in 1952 (240 pages), In both of these books, Nock refers to the writings of several authors, including H.F. Livesey, who produced 'The Locomotives of the L.N.W.R.', published by The Railway Publishing Co. Ltd., in 1948, a handy 100 page reference of all the engines.

 

Later O.S. Nock was approached by Ian Allan to consider an 'omnibus' volume of his two earlier books and the well produced result was 'North Western', 312 pages, published in 1968.

 

However, considering the London & North Western Railway's standing among the top four Pre-Grouping railways, it is surprising that it had to wait another 28 years before a "modern study giving an account of its emergence and subsequent evolution over the period of its independent life" was published.  It is 'The London & North Western Railway, A History', by Dr. Malcolm Reed, 248 pages, by Atlantic Transport Publishers in 1996.

 

IMO, a good account, with a list of references and a comprehensive bibliography, which includes among the 180 entries the only contemporary account of the LNWR;

'The History of the London & North Western Railway', by W.L. Steel, London 1914, 502 pages, 100 illustrations: Ottley ref. 6353.

 

Also credited in the bibliography, under the heading Other Companies, is the following book dealing with the history of The Midlland Railway:

Barnes E.G., 'The Rise of the Midland Railway (1844-74), published by Allen & Unwin, 1966. 317 pages, with 22 plates & 44 line illustrations: Ottley ref. 12346. 

It would be interesting to compare Barnes book to the contemporary account written by F.S. Williams, 'The Midland Railway its Rise and Progress', London 1876, 700 pages, 123 illustrations, which ran to five editions by 1888.  Ottely ref: 6900.

 

Barnes also wrote a follow up volume, 'The Midland Main Line (1875-1922)', also published by Allen & Unwin' in 1969, 280 pages, 22 illistrations: Ottley ref. 12350.  Together Barnes volumes might provide an overview of the company from 1844 to 1922.  Plus, there are many other detailed accounts of divisions of the Midland Railway especially covering the famous Settle & Carlisle railway section (one mentioned by Kevin in post 4 - 'North of Leeds'', by Peter Baughan, 1966).

 

Hope this information helps,

All the very best,

John.

Thank you John, Roy Williams' The Midland Railway: A New History may be worth a look as well.