Dawn to Dusk : A Colour-Rail Journey through the 1950s and 1960s

As Colour-Rail moves forward into the digital age and ends its traditional slide reproduction facility, Ian Allan Publishing are delighted to publish a tribute to the collection which has, for many years, formed the most extensive archive of historical railway photographs from all around Britain and provided an unrivalled research resource. As its theme, this volume takes a dusk to dawn journey through the daily life of the railway and its locomotives - historical, evocative, unusual and most importantly, unseen photographs of Britain's railways during the 1950s, right through the final days of steam in the 1960s, to the 1970s.

This was a period of immense change for Britain's railways, and an era which most railway enthusiasts remember with equal amounts of fondness and regret as steam was finally eliminated from the main lines. As the network was restructured during the Beeching years, steam gave way to diesel locomotives, electrics and multiple units - the traction of the future.

Yet, looking back now, the scene during this 1970s is as far removed from the present day as it is possible to imagine, and presents a wealth of nostalgic reminders of the past. Here then is a fascinating collection of Colour-Rail nostalgia - never seen before and never before published in any catalogue.

Over 140 stunning colour photographs, predominantly of steam, which showcase the strength and depth of the Colour Rail collection.