Best books on the GCR London Extension

[GWR8700]

I'm wanting to research the GCR London extension, ideally in the pre grouping period but I'm happy to look qt information up to closure.

What are some good books on the route?

[James Harrison]

If you can find copies, Volumes 2 and 3 of George Dow's Great Central Trilogy, plus his Great Central Album and Great Central Recalled.  John M C Healy's Echoes of the Great Central is also a good read. 

Probably far too may picture books around to single any particular one or two out, and none that I'm aware of that are exclusively pre-grouping (the two by Dow I've mentioned above probably come closest in that regard).

[Nearholmer]

A really fascinating book, if probably not useful for modelling unless you like contractors’ railways, is ‘The Last Main Line’, an album of construction photos. Most of the photos are now somewhere on-line, but the book can be found cheap secondhand, so worth getting. Here’s the online material https://www.railwayarchive.org.uk/routemap?query=&place=&theme0=1&theme1=1&theme2=1&theme3=1&yearfrom=&yearto=

 

The relevant volume (I think called “Chilterns”) of the old D&C Regional History series is very good indeed on the endless plans and politicking that led-up to the line being built, again excellent background rather than ‘modelling stuff’.

Edited November 18, 2021 by Nearholmer

[billbedford]

There is also "Great Central in LNER days" in 2 volumes by David Jackson and Owen Russell. 

[Dava]

See this unique resource of the SWA Newton collection & maps of the GCR London Extension 

 

https://www.railwayarchive.org.uk/

 

Dava

 

[GWR8700]

Thank you a very much.

I wasn't aware of the railway archive and looks a godsend for track plans.

I'll check out the Dow and Rolt books on ebay along with the Jackson and Russell book.

Thanks all

[HEATH STATION]

The Great Central Railway Society website has an extensive bibliography on all things GCR  www.gcrsociety.co.uk .