LMS JOURNAL

Issues

LMSJ Issue 18

ISBN 978 1 905184 28 6

LMSJ 18 Cover

Contents

  • THE INAUGURAL 'ROYAL SCOT'by Barry C. Lane
  • LMS 36/50 TON STEAM BREAKDOWN CRANESby Peter Tatlow
  • FURTHER INFORMATION ON THE CLAUGHTONSby Bob Essery
  • LMS SIGNALS No. 16by L. G. Warburton
  • COAL TRAFFIC IN THE BIRMINGHAM AREA Part 1by Keith Turton
  • EXPERIENCES OF AN ENGINEMAN ON THE LT and SR DURING THE LAST YEARS OF STEAMby Jim Jackson
  • LMS TERRITORY
  • WARTIME AMBULANCESby Nelson Twells
  • A TOUR OF INSPECTION OVER THE SOMERSET AND DORSET LINEby Neil Burgess

EDITORIAL

I hope readers will agree that we have an interesting mixture of articles for this edition of LMS Journal. One subject that has not been covered in any depth is the problems caused to the railways during the Second World War and the first of a series of separate articles recording these events appears in this edition. Graham Warburton's signal series examines the role of the Signal £ Telegraph Department during the war whilst a short feature by Nelson Twells records the gift of three ambulances by the employees of some American railways to the LMS. Future editions examine other aspects. Other articles in this issue cover a variety of subjects, including Peter Tatlow's major work on LMS breakdown cranes.

I was particularly pleased to receive the contribution from Barry Lane with the pictures that show the locomotive changeover on the inaugural 'Royal Scot' and Neil Burgess's carefully researched article on the Somerset £ Dorset Joint line, while Jim Jackson's experiences of work on the London Tilbury £ Southend section provided me with an insight into a rather different railway company to my Saltley experiences. Finally, I should not overlook Keith Turton's article on Birmingham's coal traffic. Whilst the record of the various types of wagons that were privately rather than railway company owned is well covered, the record of the traffic they carried is rather sparse, so I am pleased to be able to cover this aspect of railway operation.

Turning to the second half of the year, I am delighted to be able to advise readers that this year's Warley Model Railway Exhibition, to be held at the NEC Birmingham on 1st and 2nd December, will be rather special. LMS Journal / Midland Record and the LMS Society have been invited to participate in an 'exhibition within an exhibition' that will record the 85th anniversary of the end of the pre-grouping era and the start of the grouping, and the 60th anniversary of the end of the grouping and the beginning of British Railways. In addition, there will be layouts depicting the post-1923 grouping and post-1948 British Railways eras.

Bob Essery

LMS Crest