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In 1970, around 3,000 RTs were still in service in the UK's capital. However, by 1984, transport in London was changing beyond recognition and would continue to do so as a result of tendering and devolution. London Transport 1970-84 covers the gently declining years of London's bus operations, during which the venerable RT and Routemaster types were compelled to give way to ambitious modern buses like the Merlins, Swifts and DMSs. These enjoyed less success, however, and their time in London was short, affording the Routemasters a reprieve that would last for two and a half further decades. In this book, 120 stunning color images from the camera of noted bus and railway photographer R. C. Riley are accompanied by detailed and informative captions, giving the full picture of this time of huge change. AUTHOR: Matthew Wharmby is an author, photographer and editor who specialises in London bus history. 120 illustrations

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Scramble! Scramble! Almost 80 years ago the skies over Britain were full of dogfighting aircraft as young pilots of the RAF fought to repel the might of the German war machine. Described by Prime Minister Winston Churchill as 'Their Finest Hour.' The Battle of Britain is a defining moment in recent history and remains an inspiration to us all. Victory 1940 presents a pictorial chronology of the legendary fight, when the might of the Luftwaffe was defeated for the first time by Churchill's 'Few.' The history of the battle as been recounted many times, but this book offers a new and exclusive approach, through razor-sharp contemporary imagery of restored Battle of Britain warbirds combined with extensive archive material previously unpublished. The graphic illustrations of Victory 1940 are supported by a riveting account of the greatest air battle of all time, as seen through the eyes of the combatants from both sides. We witness their triumph and tragedies as they battle for a cause and survival itself. Victory 1940 draws upon John Dibbs' amazing warbird photograpy, and his Battle of Britain restored image archive, which provide fresh insights into the events of 1940 and enhance the compelling text. In his exclusive foreword to Victory 1940, Battle of Britain Hurricane ace Tom Neil calls for 'the need to implant in the minds of the young, the gallantry and sacrifices of those who fought in the Battle of Britain,' and that for this reason the book should be 'read and enjoyed.'

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London Transport was formed in 1933 to bring together all the public transport operations (except national railways) that served the capital, the suburbs and the surrounding countryside. Previously, these had been in the hands of a myriad of operators, some more dependable than others. Containing some 120 colour photographs, including rare images from the postwar period, and detailed captions, this album shows the transition from prewar standards, which initially continued after the Second World War, to the modernisation that was essential to encourage continued use of London's transport systems by the public in the face of increasing car ownership. Rekindling memories of the postwar period, this nostalgic colour portrait looks at London Transport's buses, trolleybuses, trams and underground trains (both surface and tube stock) operating between 1949 and 1974.

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This, the first of two volumes covering the railways of Cornwall, follows the railway through the changing landscapes of the county. It takes the reader from the rich farmland west of St Germans, through the unique Glynn Valley down to Bodmin Road and the freightabundant area of Lostwithiel and Par before reaching clay country on the way to the final destination of St Austell. In addition, also explored are the branch lines, which range from the rural line to Looe, the splendour of the River Fowey on the clay line to Carne Point and the varied and ever-popular Newquay branch. Lavishly illustrated with 180 full-colour photographs, many set in glorious countryside, this book shows a variety of locomotives. Service trains dominate the images, though there are many charter trains featured, some with exotic traction for the far south west. Taken from the short days of winter with piercing low sunlight, to the long days of high summer when the upside of the Cornish mainline is lit, allowing a different perspective, the photographs capture not just the trains, but the beautiful landscapes, rivers and coastline of the Duchy.

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The five years either side of the millennium was a period of great change on the railway network with the advent of privatisation and, on the passenger side, the introduction of franchised operations. On the freight side, the original British Railways network was initially split into three companies - Mainline, Loadhaul and Transrail - but they all ended up being purchased by EWS, the English, Welsh and Scottish Railway. The period saw new rolling stock, new locomotives and a staggering number of different liveries. Illustrated with over 150 colour photographs, this book records some of the many changes to the main route network in Central Scotland, capturing the last days of some of the older classes before they were phased out and, equally, documenting the new as they came in. By 2005, the railways of Central Scotland had evolved almost beyond recognition when compared with how things had been ten years earlier and in this volume Ian Lothian provides an interpretation as to how things were and how they have been transformed over a decade.

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Egyptair began life in the 1930s as Misr Airwork. It flew domestically first, before adding international routes in 1939\. World War Two put a stop to development, but the company benefitted from regional aircraft disposal from the Allies. Through this, it was able to modernise its fleet. Following the formation of the United Arab Republic by Egypt and Syria in 1958, the airline was renamed United Arab Airlines. Syrian Airways was merged into it and UAA took over all routes and equipment used by the Syrian carrier. The first jets arrived into the fleet at this time. As relationships with the US turned rocky, the airline found itself using more and more Soviet aircraft. In 1971, the airline was renamed again to Egyptair. It was able to purchase American-made aircraft in the 1970s. In 2002, the establishment of the Egyptian Ministry of Civil Aviation and the switch from government-owned to being a holding company with subsidiaries enabled Egyptair to participate with other airlines, such as Air Sinai. A regional subsidiary, Egyptair Express, was established in 2006\. With over 110 images, this book follows the story of Egypt's flag carrier, from its inception to present day.

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While not the first aircraft manufacturer in Britain, Bristol had the distinct advantage of being created by a well-established businessman, rather than an enthusiastic aviator, by the name of Sir George White. Bristol grew rapidly, from a few hangars at the influential Larkhill in Wiltshire to a new site at Filton, and, up to 2012, was one of the key aviation design, development and manufacturing locations in Britain. Thanks to the many talented designers, engineers, test pilots, not to mention the vision of Sir George over a century ago, Bristol has made its mark on the aviation industry with revolutionary aircraft, and a number of firsts and records along the way. Both military and civilian aircraft and the engines, piston, turboprop and jet have benefited from the standard in engineering excellence that was set on the hallowed turf of Filton. This book explores the history of the company, and the aircraft that it produced.

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The desire for airliners that could fly faster and higher than all that had gone before them was ingrained into the commercial aviation world from the end of the Second World War. The STAC (Supersonic Transport Advisory Committee) was formed in October 1956 and would be in charge of development of and responsible for the many manufacturers that would be needed to build an aircraft named Concorde. Bearing in mind the complexity of the aircraft, Concorde was one of the world's safest considering the distances it travelled and the eye-watering speed at which it flew. This made the loss of the Air France Concorde in 2000 a particularly unfitting beginning of the end' for the airliner which courted controversy right to the final . It was a combination of factors that saw the airliner enter retirement three years later but the bottom line is that Concorde was getting old and, despite being built like the proverbial brick out-house', constant supersonic cycles take their toll, and that kind of punishment would not be expected of a military aircraft, let alone a civilian one. The Concorde was an incredible achievement from the outset, built by two different nations that overcame every technical problem that arose (which were innumerable) to produce, by far, the most iconic airliner ever built. This book explores the failures, triumphs and history of this aircraft, from its beginning to its end.

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It is fair to say that the DC-3 was the very first true airliner, and it paved the way for the hundreds of increasingly advanced commercial aircraft that have emerged over the eighty years since Douglas' design was developed. The story of the C-47 is of course well known, but the history of the civil DC-3 (which directly led to the creation of the C-47) is often overlooked, having been overshadowed by the exploits of its military counterpart. This is perhaps understandable, but it would be wrong to underestimate the importance of the DC-3. Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of the DC-3's story is that the aircraft is still very much in business today, almost eighty years since the first examples took to the skies. Even though the aircraft has long since made way for larger, faster and more capable airliners, the DC-3 is still a sturdy, versatile, inexpensive and reliable aircraft. Although the numbers of active aircraft inevitably dwindle with time, it would be impossible to predict when the very last examples will finally be withdrawn from commercial use. The mighty DC-3 will seemingly fly forever.

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From the busy West Coast and Midland Main Lines to the thriving quarries of Leicestershire and intermodal terminals in and around Birmingham, rail freight is still alive and well in the Midland counties of England. All the established freight operators are represented, including Colas Rail, with its various ballast workings and occasional oil trains to Sinfin, and DC Rail serving Burton-on-Trent. Alongside the Class 66s, we see DB and Freightliner Class 90s on the West Coast Main Line, DRS Classes 68 and 88 on intermodal traffic, Freightliner and Colas Rail Class 70s on various flows, and DB Class 60s on heavy oil and steel trains. Turning the clock back, the closure of every remaining coal mine in the region has brought the demise of numerous freight-only lines and branches in Nottinghamshire and parts of Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Warwickshire. Many steel and petroleum terminals have closed, as have several automotive railheads in the Birmingham area. The intermodal network has also seen some cutbacks, albeit compensated for by several new facilities. As for traction, we revisit an era when Classes 20, 25 and 31 were commonplace, as well as the humble and often overlooked Class 08 shunter. Illustrated with over 160 carefully chosen photographs, many of which are previously unpublished, this volume looks at the changing face of rail freight across the Midlands. It details the changes in traction, rolling stock and railway infrastructure over four decades.

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This book follows on from Volume 1 and concludes the route history and development of the many interesting routes on the hills in Bradford. These are beautifully illustrated and show the ranges from sooty dark Victorian buildings to rural termini and the attendant changes with city redevelopment. Indeed, the redevelopment of the city in the 1960s also provides a historical pictorial backdrop to the trolleybuses seen at work in the city. The renaissance of Bradfords trolleybuses is described along with the reasons why it was such special system. After every rise, there must come a fall, and this started in Bradford soon after 1961. Whilst the future had looked good in 1960, with capital development planned, the fall and the final closure resulted from management changes, city centre development, major road changes and, finally, a definite close policy. Although the decline was a slow one, it did, however, gather momentum as final closure approached. All of the closures and attendant fleet losses are fully covered, however there is no final day' coverage, as this the book (and Volume 1) seek to principally give light to the best and peak times of the system.

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Bradford trolleybuses were the first and the last' in the UK - first introduced in 1911 and last used in 1972. With only one flat road out of the centre, appropriately called Canal Road, Bradford city centre is in a bowl' surround by 200 to 400 metre hills. Therefore, the operating environment in Bradford was perfect for quiet passenger transport that soared up the hills that surround the city. This book focuses on the 50th anniversary year of 1961, and the 19 variations of trolleybuses used in that year are illustrated along with a fleet history from 1934 (many 1934 chassis were still working in 1961). It also details the second-hand trolleybuses Bradford bought after 1951 and the extensive rebuilding and rebodying programmes that ran from 1944. The changes in livery are fully explained and illustrated, with a look at the fleet bought new and those bought from other operators, and the depot structure and service vehicles used to maintain the network are also covered. Finally, the route history and development from 1911 is fully detailed. With over 180 images, this book, the first of two volumes on Bradford trolleybuses, showcases the trolleybuses at work on different routes around the city, returning them to their heyday of 1961.

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This fully illustrated volume looks at the classic jet fighter, the Hawker Hunter. The type's development, entry into service and operations are examined in detail.

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The Junkers Ju 88 was one of the most important tactical bombers of the World War Two era. Its beginnings went back to the mid-1930s, and it flew in Luftwaffe operational service from late 1939 until the latter stages of the war. Built in a number of specific versions and sub-types, the Ju 88 proved to be a versatile multi-purpose design that fulfilled the bombing role with distinction and was also successfully adapted for other unrelated tasks. These included use as a long-range fighter, night fighting and reconnaissance. Some examples were even used in the late-war period as explosives-equipped flying bombs. With radar installed, the type became one of the most significant nocturnal fighters of the conflict. Underlining its importance, the Ju 88 served on all fronts where the Luftwaffe was operational during World War Two and was built in significant numbers. The type also flew with a number of export customers. Containing over 150 photographs, this book tells the fascinating story of the Ju 88, from its creation through to the end of its operational service.

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The first half of the 20th century saw the birth of the aeroplane and its development as an instrument of war and commerce. Within five decades, contraptions barely able to take to the air had given way to jet-powered aircraft, a rate of technological advance unparalleled in any other field. With carefully colourised images, this book chronicles the wide variety of aircraft produced in America before 1950, portraying them in their full glory once more.

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Professor Hugo Junkers can be described as one of the greatest aviation pioneers and a maverick to boot. His approach to how an aircraft should be built was like no other and, rather than modifying, re-designing or copying ideas from other pioneers, Junkers took his own unique route and doggedly stuck to it for the two decades. Proceeding in the face of the theory that aircraft should be built from wood and fabric, all Junkers aircraft were made of metal, a material that was regarded as being too heavy. The Junkers aircraft story can be told in three parts: the first was under the control of Hugo Junkers, the second by the Nazis until the end of World War Two, and the final post-war period, which saw the company exist as a remnant of its former self. The first part of the story is clearly dominated by Junkers' efforts in commercial aircraft production, while the Nazis focused on military machines to help rapidly re-build a new Luftwaffe. Only the iconic Ju 52/3m and the Ju 90 straddle these two periods of the company's history. A pacifist, Junkers, who died in 1935, must have been turning in his grave when the skies were filled with aircraft in his name, waging war a few years later across Europe. This new book edition of Aeroplane's Junkers Company Profile 1895-1969 showcases the aircraft of this manufacturer from the start of operations until the end.

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The invention of the jet engine had a profound effect on the world. Commercial jet aircraft revolutionised travel, opening up every corner of the planet. Few know that the jet engine was invented by an Englishman in 1929. The invention was a masterstroke of genius by 21-year-old Frank Whittle, replacing the piston engine’s thousands of reciprocating parts with one part: a single smoothly revolving turbine. Although the world’s first jet airliner was the British de Havilland Comet, Britain then gave away the technology – not only to the United States but to the Soviet Union as well. The Jet Set, the air hostess and the package holiday all followed. The dream of cheap, exotic travel had been realised. Yet, just like the impact of the internet, there were downsides to the world-reaching power of this phenomenon. Jet tells the story of this brilliant new technology, how it shrank the world and how it changed life forever.

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In the late 1990s, English, Welsh & Scottish Railway (EWS) ordered a large fleet of 250 Class 66 locomotives to replace a variety of freight locomotive types that had been in service with British Rail for many years. However, EWS also required something with a bit more performance, as well as electric train supply, for hauling charter and mail trains, which were still quite common at that time. A partnership with Royal Mail resulted in the Class 67s moving post around the country. When Royal Mail ended that arrangement in 2004, the Class 67s were pushed into other areas of work, including light freight and occasional passenger services, as well as continuing with charters. Although the design of the Class 67s has not been to everyone's taste, they do at least add a bit of variety to the modern scene. During the 20 years that they have been in service, they have been very reliable with only occasional failures. Containing 220 images, this book illustrates all 30 locos in the class during their first two decades in service.

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In 2021, the British Army's 20-year engagement in Afghanistan ended with chaotic scenes at Kabul International Airport. The Parachute Regiment had been involved since the earliest days of conflict and was there at the end to provide security for the final evacuation. The years of conflict saw the Paras endure some of the toughest operational conditions since World War Two as they confronted Taliban fighters in their Helmand stronghold. In 2008, 2 and 3 Paras were deployed to Afghanistan, fighting the Taliban in areas such as Kandahar and Musa Qala. That summer, they fought the insurgents in the fields and ditches of the Green Zone, always taking the fight to the enemy. Written by a former Para and battlefield photographer, this book takes the reader on a visual journey from training for this deployment in Scotland to the desert heat of Afghanistan, showing the soldiers, their equipment, weapons and vehicles. With over 200 colour photographs, it provides a behind-the-scenes look at the Paras both in battle and going about their day-to-day lives at the bases.

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The West Coast Main Line and the line from Kilmarnock south to Gretna were both built to ensure that passenger services from Scotland would connect to towns and cities in England and, more importantly, that it would open up markets for both manufactured goods and mineral traffic, principally coal, which at that time was required in vast quantities for both industrial and domestic use. The line south from Glasgow to Stranraer was to provide a connection with the ferries for both goods and passengers to and from Ireland. Lines to multiple destinations on the Clyde Coast connected with ferries to various islands for an ever-increasing volume of commuter traffic. The various changes to motive power, liveries and services over the last 30 years are reflected in the illustrations, which also record the demise of the once huge volume of coal traffic. South of Edinburgh, there is a look at the Borders Railway, which, when it was opened in 2015, was the longest line to be reopened within the UK. With over 170 colour photographs, this book takes the reader on a journey throughout the south and west of Scotland.

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In the mid-1980s, one of British Rail's major customers of heavy block trains, Foster Yeoman, suggested the unusual arrangement of running its services with locomotives owned by them, rather than BR. Disappointment in the Class 56s on its routes led Foster Yeoman to look elsewhere for locomotives. They eventually agreed a deal with the US firm General Motors to provide them with the locos designated as Class 59s. The Class 59s surpassed everyone's expectations and other customers unhappy with the Class 56s decided to purchase the Class 59s as well. The locos are now over 30 years old and are still performing the work they were designed for. With over 230 images, this book shows the Class 59s through the years across the United Kingdom.

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The West Yorkshire Road Car Company's routes from Skipton and Ilkley up into Wharfedale, Wensleydale and Swaledale are some of the most scenic in Great Britain, and they are captured in this volume of historic bus photographs, taken from the 1950s to the 1970s by some of the finest photographers in their field. Using his first-hand knowledge of West Yorkshire's network, Stuart Emmett takes the reader on a journey in Upper Wharfedale, passing by countless sheep farms along the grass-patched limestone river valleys as he goes from hamlets and small villages like Grassington to market towns like Skipton and Otley, and the spa town of Ilkley. The enduring Yorkshire landscape, which has been used for many films and TV programmes, such as Calendar Girls, All Creatures Great and Small and Emmerdale, complements the little-changed street scenes and villages to give a fascinating backdrop to this captivating collection of more than 170 photographs, many of which are previously unpublished or have rarely been seen in print.

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The second of two volumes covering the railways of the South East, this book focuses on Kent. It details a wide range of different trains including heavy aggregate, inter-regional passenger, test trains, the Orient Express, newspaper and mail trains, railtour excursions, engineers' trains, weed killers and intermodal, steel, coal and nuclear flask traffic. An extensive range of locomotive classes in different liveries, many now consigned to history, are shown at work on main lines and branch lines in the 'Garden of England'. Over 180 colour photographs, the vast majority of which have never been published before, serve to illustrate the variety found in a corner of the country often regarded as a mainly multiple unit commuter carrying environment. The pictures are complemented by informative captions detailing each particular train and its working along with some of the infrastructure found along the routes covered. 180 colour photographs

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Although in the late 1970s they were frowned upon by many for replacing a number of loco-hauled services, and indeed locomotives, for 40 years the High-Speed Train (HST) was the mainstay of express services for many train operators in the UK. It was in the former Western Region of British Rail that they first made their mark in service, and they were on duty there from their earliest days until 2019 when, after years of sterling work, they were withdrawn from frontline express duties. Illustrated with over 190 colour photographs, this book looks at the history of many of the power cars that worked in the region and details the varied Western Region locations, some off the beaten track, where they could be seen operating during their four decades of service. 190 colour photographs

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The F-105 Thunderchief was primarily designed for tactical nuclear operations. For this reason, it was on nuclear Victor alert in Europe (Bitburg and Spangdahlem Air Bases in Germany) and the Far East (Kadena on Okinawa and Osan in the Republic of Korea). After President John F. Kennedy took office in January 1961, his Secretary of Defense, Robert McNamara, shifted the USAF's focus more and more to conventional warfare including, through modifications, the mission of the F-105. When the air war against North Vietnam was initiated in earnest on March 2, 1965, the USAF needed an aircraft with a load-carrying ability, and the only aircraft that could do that job was the Thunderchief. This book not only gives in-depth accounts of various historical F-105 events, with inputs from the pilots involved, but is also lavishly illustrated with over 150 images, many of which have never been published before.

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Multiple units are the unsung heroes of the modern railway system. Although they make up the main form of rolling stock for the majority of rail passenger services operated worldwide, particularly in high-density inner-city and urban traffic, they see much less media coverage than the more popular locomotive types. The many advantages of these units, as opposed to locomotive-hauled trains, include higher capacity, less track damage and lower operating costs, making them an ever more popular choice for modern, cost-conscious railway operators in Great Britain and around the world. Illustrated with more than 180 photographs, this book details the history of the major unit types that have operated on the UK's rail network, beginning with the earliest Victorian-era steam railcars and the first late-Victorian experiments with electric-powered traction, and going right up to the modern hybrid-powered multiple units currently under development. The story is told through a selection of photographs, class details and tables listing the major unit types classified by propulsion method and generation. 180 illustrations

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In 1971, a British Army team undertook the challenge of driving the Pan-American Highway in its entirety from Alaska to Tierra Del Fuego. This included crossing the notorious Darien Gap, the approximately 200-mile-long missing link in the intercontinental highway's length. It took almost 100 days of concerted effort for the expedition to drive, winch and float two Range Rovers through this trackless jungle terrain. This book looks at the region's history and previous expeditions as well as the epic 1971 72 journey. It contains reminiscences from eight members of the expedition as well as previously unpublished photographs, decorative maps and commemorative postal covers. 170 illustrations

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The last 15 years have seen many changes in Scotland's rail network, including the replacement of old rolling stock, an explosion of colourful liveries, the opening of routes, the demise of coal trains and a boom in container freight traffic. Furthermore, electrification has changed a number of the lines beyond recognition. These changes have led to new electric units ousting the diesels and the introduction of HSTs on services between the Scottish cities. Illustrated with over 180 images, this book details the huge variety of trains, ranging from the everyday to the unusual, that have been seen on Scotland's rails in the last 15 years.

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The Class 47 diesel locomotive was a mainstay of British Rail, with 512 built in the 1960s. As such, they were a daily sight throughout the UK, working express passenger and heavy freight trains as well as more mundane local passenger and wagon-load freight all over Britain. For rail enthusiasts, 'bashing' emerged as the art of trying to ride behind as many locos as possible. Largely due to their prolific numbers, the 47s were often disliked by bashers and the 47s were often given the disparaging nickname 'Duffs', but to those who followed them, they were 'Brush', an abbreviation of Brush Type 4, which was how BR originally referred to them. However, as time passed and other classes of locomotive fell by the wayside, a far greater appreciation of them is now the norm. This book records 1982 to 1985 and many days spent trying to travel behind all 507 of the Class 47s that were still in traffic at that time. There were triumphs and disasters in the course of these travels, but you got to go the length and breadth of the country and the book contains a wide variety of colour photographs of Class 47s at work from Inverness to Penzance.

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This book follows the railway through the eye-catching scenery of the west of the county. Over 180 stunning full-colour photographs take the reader on a journey that starts in St Austell, against the backdrop of the clay workings, before moving on through the rich, arable farmland that surrounds the line on the way to the capital city, Truro. West of Truro, the landscape is littered with former mine workings and signs of its rich industrial heritage. The scenery then changes as the line continues on past the busy fruit farms west of Camborne and proceeds on to Hayle. Once across Hayle's unique viaduct, it runs through St Erth before passing St Michael's Mount, skirting Mounts Bay and finishing at the terminus of Penzance. Also explored are the existing branches that are still running, including the Burngullow to Parkandillack line, the only freight-only branch still running, and the passenger branch lines of Truro to Falmouth and St Erth to St Ives. Nostalgically, the Hayle Wharves branch has been included and is the only line in the volume that no longer exists. 180 illustrations

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Travis Air Force Base, situated in Fairfield, California, is the 'Gateway to the Pacific', handling more cargo and passengers than any other American military air terminal, and is the transportation hub for the West Coast. Flying the KC-10 Extender, C-17 Globemaster III, and the C-5 Galaxy, Travis can handle any airlift mission for the United States Air Force, and its airmen have distinguished themselves in military operations at home and around the world, including the recent humanitarian evacuation from Kabul. The logistical capabilities at Travis help maintain America's military might by supplying people and parts to the right places at the right time. With over 150 images, most of which have never been published before, this book documents the aircraft, the technology, the airmen, and the behind-the-scenes operations at Travis.

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This book looks at the Class 56 and Class 58 locomotives and their service around the UK.

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After the Peace of Amiens was broken in 1803, Great Britain found herself at war with an old enemy (France) but also with a new competitor (Napoleon): the latter was the greatest military commander of his times, a man who was able to transform the French Army into the most lethal fighting machine of the early 19th century. The war experiences of 1793-1803 had not been very positive ones for the British Army; the latter was still recovering from the crushing defeats suffered during the American War of Independence and badly needed to be reformed in order to become more efficient and modern. At the turn of the new century, Great Britain was still the greatest colonial power of the world and could count on the most formidable navy of the world; on land, however, her army was too weak to confront the French one on almost equal terms. The British land forces did not have a great leader comparable to Napoleon and were still influenced by tactical models that had been outclassed by the events. During the Napoleonic Wars the British military apparatus did of its best to improve, especially thanks to the guidance of intelligent officers who belonged to a “new generation”. These innovative and capable men reformed the British Army, by improving its standards of service and by creating a new relationship (based on mutual trust) with the men under their command. Wellington was the greatest of these officers and one of the few European generals who had the personal capabilities to contrast Napoleon in an effective way: it was him who “forged” the new British Army, by fighting against the French in the Iberian Peninsula during 1808-1814. After learning from experience, the British soldiers were finally able to face Napoleon on the Belgian fields of Waterloo and thus they wrote the last page of a glorious military epic. Waterloo, however, was just the final result of a long process.

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The Northern line is the most complex of the deep level tube lines, both in its history and operation. Moving through the last 130 years, this book focuses on some of the more unusual aspects of the story. In particular, the uncompleted wartime extensions, other proposed extensions, the express services that once operated on the line and the deep level shelters built in World War Two and intended for an express tube after the war. The Northern City Line is also be included, as well as the closed stations at locations such as South Kentish Town and City Road. Rolling stock and depots get a mention, along with some of the stations along the line. Future proposals, including separating the line into two and a possible extension to Clapham Junction are also covered. With over 120 images, this book provides brief history of the Northern line, from the first deep level tube line opened in 1890 to the recent extension to Battersea Power Station.

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This book focuses on the KC-135 tanker built by Boeing. It will look at every model of the KC-135 built and its introduction into service. There are several other specialised types that performed a non-aerial refuelling task, such as Airborne Command Post, but which retained the KC-135A designation for some years. The ground trainers will also be covered in this book. With over 170 images, this book is the first of two volumes dealing with Seattle's veteran Stratotankers.

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The Fairey Swordfish story is one of an aircraft initially frowned upon when it entered service in 1936, respected by the beginning of World War Two and deemed legendary by the time peace was declared. The Swordfish was the only torpedo bomber Britain had in significant numbers at the beginning of the war and it would prove to be so much more. Designed with one role in mind, the Swordfish evolved into one of the most versatile of naval aircraft. Its slow speed, which was criticised from the outset, proved to be one of its strengths, especially when it came to anti-submarine work. Affectionately nicknamed the Stringbag', the aircraft achieved an outstanding war record beginning with operations in Norway. The attack on the Italian harbour at Taranto that crippled the Italian Navy displayed what the aircraft was capable of and that it was clearly not be underestimated. The Swordfish also played an important role in the invasion of Madagascar, which kept the Japanese at bay early on in the war. The bravery displayed by the aircrew during the attacks on the Bismarck is legendary, while equal, but fruitless, courage was exhibited during the ill-fated Channel Dash. The latter incident, in particular, not only says a lot about the aircraft, but also about the crews. They were under no illusion, being aware that the Swordfish was not the best aircraft they could have gone to war in, but they would fight in it to the death nevertheless. Regardless, it outlived its operational replacement, the Albacore, by some years, mainly because the Swordfish was more suited to escort carrier and Mac-ship operations, a duty it carried out to the bitter end, protecting convoys far and wide. A new book edition of Aeroplane Icons: Swordfish, this book explores the history, creation, development and service of the Swordfish.

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Bus and coach manufacturers advertised in the trade magazines for various reasons it was to sell their products, of course, but also to keep their names in front of the people who made the decisions, to keep their shareholders happy, to boast about their successes and to support the trade press. Over the years, the number of manufacturers promoting their wares has fluctuated from several dozen bus builders competing for orders in the years following World War Two, to the late 1960s, when British Leyland had acquired much of the competition and was starting to abandon popular brands as it moved to rationalise its product range. This impacted the monthly trade magazines as the number of advertisers dwindled, and this led to the closure of the market-leading magazine Bus & Coach in 1970. The book uses trade adverts that appeared in the years between 1945 and 1970 to illustrate the development of new bus and coach chassis and bodies, and the constantly changing visual styles used by advertisers to catch the eye of potential customers.

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In the latter half of World War Two, the War Cabinet sanctioned the formation of a committee to consider a post-war world of air transport. Appointed to chair the group, which included politicians, engineers, businessmen and aircraft builders, was John Theodore Cuthbert Moore-Brabazon (later Lord Brabazon of Tara). This was an inspired choice, as Brabazon was the first man in Britain to hold a Private Pilot's Licence. He had advocated and promoted aviation in Britain from the earliest days. The Brabazon Committee also had the foresight to embrace an emerging method of propulsion: gas-turbine or jet engine technology. They, rightly, placed piston-engines - which were quite advanced at the time - at the forefront but made a case for the gas-turbine. This enabled Geoffrey de Havilland and Ronald Bishop to begin building a pure-jet airliner to be powered by engines designed by Frank Halford. A very brave move from de Havilland and one that gave Britain the lead over the rest of the world. The de Havilland DH 106 Comet aircraft made history as the first jet airliner to fly and also as the first to off er a scheduled jet passenger service. Even though more than sixty years have elapsed since that first flight, the story of the Comet continues to excite and inspire.

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One of the many ingredients required for creating a great aircraft company is the ability to diversify, and this was just one of the strengths that would keep the Fairey Aviation Company in business from 1915 through to 1960. Like so many other aircraft manufacturers of the day, it found its feet by taking on sub-contract work, and, while this was being carried out, it began to build on its own aircraft portfolio. Fairey did not just sit back and produce aircraft in line with specifications, they designed new features that would be incorporated in all aircraft in the future. The company's greatest, and most surprising, success story came about when the ubiquitous Swordfish, affectionately known as the Stringbag' entered production in 1936. The company's venture into rotary wing aircraft would eventually become its undoing, despite huge technical achievements being achieved in a very short space of time. Soaked up by Westlands in 1960, the legacy of the company's final aircraft, the Rotodyne, still lives on today, and only now, in the 21st Century, is the world really ready for such a fantastic machine. This book explores the fascinating history of the company and the aircraft it produced.

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In the early 1990s, the Waterloo to Exeter route was suffering many delays and problems due to the increasingly unreliable diesel locos being used at the time. It was therefore decided that new trains were the best option. At the time, there was an existing order for Class 158 units already being constructed and it was decided to modify the last 22 of these as Class 159s, specifically for use on western England services. The first of these units started work on the line during May 1993 and gradually replaced all the remaining locos and stock. Later, it was becoming obvious that the initial 22 units were no longer sufficient for the increasing number of travellers, so a further eight Class 158s made redundant in the north of England were modified as Class 159/1s and entered service in the mid-2000s. While their service continues to be good, as they are approaching 30 years old, the time is approaching for replacement.

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Passing through some of the most picturesque scenery in the world, several main routes traverse Southern California. Most are freight corridors, but there are a handful of long-distance passenger services, primarily worked by Amtrak. Some of the long-distance and heavy freight services can be powered by up to ten locomotives, equating to around 50,000hp. One of the most scenic routes is on the Union Pacific-owned track between Mojave and Bakersfield, which climbs over the Tehachapi Mountains, reaching a height of over 4,000ft above sea level, requiring locos to work hard on the climb either side of the line's summit. The route over Cajon, one of the busiest freight routes in the world, is also covered, as well as the routes between Barstow and Needles, the central California line, and the highly photogenic Pacific Surfliner route between Los Angeles and San Diego. Lavishly illustrated with 200 images, this book is divided into the main routes in the area, showing the diversity in scenery and train types found. With informative captions explaining the locos, their routes, and the best places for rail enthusiasts to see these trains for themselves, this is the ultimate guide to the railways of Southern California.

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It seems incredible that a mere 33 years separates the maiden flights of the Barnes Wallis-designed R.100 airship from the beautiful VC10 airliner. It is also remarkable that, in 2013, the latter is still in service, albeit in dwindling numbers, but still representing a company that was formed 102 years ago! Although the VC10 was prefixed with BAC by the time of its entry into service, the aircraft represents the rapid rise of Vickers, which actually embarked on its first aeronautical project in 1908, before establishing an official aviation department in 1911. Vickers produced over 70 different types of aircraft during a 49-year period, not including a host of sub-variants, the Wellington, for example, having 19 alone. Not all were successful, but every one contributed, however small, another nugget of experience, which was either ploughed into the next aircraft or stored away for the future. An ability to think outside the box', was another of Vickers' fortes. A good example of this was not only employing Barnes Wallis, but having such faith in his ideas, which must have seemed quite radical at the time, especially his perseverance and ultimate success with geodetic construction. Wallis had no shortage of critics and many dyed in the wool' employees of Vickers, during the early days, left the company because of his ideas. However, history has shown us that he was right about geodetics, and like Hawker with its Hurricane and Supermarine with its Spitfire, only God knows what the RAF would have done without the Wellington at the beginning of the Second World War. This book gives readers an insight into the aircraft produced by Vickers, as well as a history of the aircraft company itself.

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This fascinating story begins with post-World War Two sales of surplus Mustangs to various foreign governments and a few civilian customers. More than a decade later, in 1957 and 1958, the US Air Force auctioned off its remaining inventory of P-51s. These Mustangs became high-speed executive transports in the days before the introduction of the LearJet and other corporate aircraft. Soon after, in the mid-1960s and early 1970s, as the warbird movement was gaining traction, many of the remaining Mustangs came onto the civilian market. Today, these warbirds are the stars of airshows around the world. The effort to restore them to as close to their original wartime condition as possible has reached new levels of authenticity. With over 140 images, accompanied by service histories, this book shows the fighters where they should be seen - in the air.

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Set against the contrasting rural and industrial scenery of northern Lincolnshire, this book illustrates the area's fascinating passenger and freight trains, railway infrastructure, stations and signalling over a 40-year period. Taking the reader on a journey from west to east through the area, it shows many of the locations on the railway and the variety of locomotives and multiple units that have appeared in the area from 1979 to the present day. This book contains over 180 historic photographs, the majority of which have never been published before, each accompanied by an extensive caption. Together they form a comprehensive historic record of the trains in northern Lincolnshire, including many of the changes that have taken place in the railways of the area. They illustrate how passenger and freight services have grown or declined and how the infrastructure of the railways has evolved through a period of 40 years to meet the needs of the modern railway era.

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First introduced in the late 1980s, the Class 442s were like nothing that had been seen before in terms of Southern Region electric multiple units. These stylish and sleek trains were the first electric multiple units capable of reaching 100mph, and after many years travelling on the old Southern slam-door stock, mostly in vehicles that dated back to the steam era, the public's experience of riding in one of the 442s must have been incredible. The class served with several operators, including South West Trains, Southern and South Western Railway. With the advent of COVID-19 and the cutbacks to rail services across the country, after 35 years of service, the Class 442s found themselves on the chopping block. This book is a pictorial tribute of more than 200 images to what was, by far and away, the best electric unit ever to have worked on the Southern Region electrified lines.

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When the RAF was formed in 1918, Great Britain boasted the largest air force in the world, but it was not to last. As soon as the armistice was declared, a rapid disarmament began. After a period of austerity, the surplus military aircraft formed the basis for civil aviation as we know it today. More people learned to fly, and pioneering individuals began to break down barriers and set records leading to a demand for purpose-built commercial, touring, racing and passenger aircraft. During the 1930s, the RAF boasted an array of beautiful silver biplanes, which soon gave way to more sleek monoplane fighters and medium-range bombers ready for the imminent war in Europe. This period is often referred to as the Golden Age of Aviation', and this book aims to capture that spirit. Exploring many significant British aircraft types that were active between World Wars One and Two, with the focus on modern-day survivors and replicas, this volume tells the story of how aviation changed during the period. Covering both civil and military aircraft types, the story is told using over 200 high-quality images of surviving, replica and restored aircraft.

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In just under 25 years, double-deck buses in the UK have undergone a transformation. Every double-decker in normal service in the UK today is a low-floor bus offering easy access to everyone. This book traces the story of the UK's low-floor double-deckers, from the first tentative steps to the widespread adoption of this layout and the moves from diesel buses to diesel-electric hybrids, to gas, electric and even hydrogen buses built for bus companies of all sizes. It covers the London operators that initially drove the low-floor revolution, along with the major groups, the remaining local authority fleets and a range of enterprising independents that operate them. Where once every double-decker for service in the UK was built in the UK, today many chassis come from mainland Europe and, increasingly, from manufacturers based in other and more distant parts of the world - and UK builders have gained an important foothold in Europe, North America, and the Far East as well. The story is told for the first time, on a model-by-model basis, supported by many unseen colour images, which show the buses in use throughout the UK.

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The Class 60 was the last truly British-built diesel locomotive design. From 1990, the locomotive was gradually delivered, with 100 in total going to the Railfreight sectors of Metal, Coal, Construction and Petroleum. Their introduction did not go smoothly, however, and they took almost three years to enter service due to various teething troubles. Once these were ironed out, the class became reasonably reliable, and examples of other classes that were getting very tired at the time were progressively withdrawn. Privatisation saw all the class being sold on to English, Welsh & Scottish Railways and, in 2004, the first Class 60 was withdrawn. Towards the end of the 2000s, almost all of the locos were put into store with a seemingly very bleak future. However, in the early 2010s, a small fleet of the locos received a thorough rebuilding so they could haul DB Schenker's heaviest trains, and eventually 21 locos were refurbished for them, another ten for Colas Rail and a further four for Devon & Cornwall Railways. This has meant that although the majority of the class is still presently rusting away and unlikely to run again, at least a number of examples will still be visible on the national network for a few more years to come. Illustrated with over 190 photographs, this volume looks at the Class 60s from their early days through to the end of the 2010s.

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