ABC British Railways Locomotives 1957

The series of reprints of the famous Ian Allan Publishing 'abc' volumes from the 1940s to the 1960s have been welcomed both by the generation of enthusiasts who used them when they first came out, and also by those who were not around at the time.

The abc Combined Volumes listed all the locomotives in operation on Britain's railways at the time, with details of each class and shed codes, divided by Region or Big Four company pre-nationalisation. Over the years many of the abc 'Combined Volumes' have been reprinted but the Summer 1957 edition, published in April of that year, has never been reprinted since the year of its initial publication.

It lists all the locomotives operating on British Railways in the summer of 1957 and includes the significant numbers of pre-Grouping and Big Four locomotives that were still in existence as well as the British Railways built Standard locomotives.

Also included are the diesel and electric locomotives and multiple units which were entering into service in increasing numbers following the Modernisation Plan of 1955 and which were to replace the steam locomotives. Alongside the Summer 1957 Combined Volume, this reprint also includes the Autumn 1957 Locoshed Book, published in June 1957, which has also never been reprinted since the year of its initial publication.

The Locoshed Books were also highly sought after by enthusiasts as they listed the shed from which each locomotive on Britain's railways at time worked.

Together, these two volumes provide a detailed picture of Britain's railways before the mass withdrawal of steam operation.