LMS JOURNAL

Issues

LMSJ LMS 85th Anniversary Issue

ISBN 978 1 905184 40 8

LMSJ LMS 85th Anniversary Issue Cover

Contents

  • THE LONDON MIDLAND £ SCOTTISH RAILWAYby Steven Robertson
  • WOLVERHAMPTON HIGH LEVELby Bob Essery
  • WARTIME WAGON POOLING AND ONE DISSIDENTby Keith Turton
  • 4-6-0 LOCOMOTIVES ON THE LMS NORTH DIVISION by Peter Tatlow
  • INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE EQUIPMENT OF PASSENGER TRAINS ON THE LMSby Noel Coates
  • THE LMS ROYAL SCOT LOCOMOTIVESby William Dunn
  • LINESIDE ESTATES LIMITEDby Graham Warburton
  • WALKER/PAGEFIELD 6-TON CRUISER TYPE MOBILE CRANES FOR LMS GOODS YARDSby Nelson Twells

EDITORIAL

The idea of a special enlarged edition of LMS Journal began when Paul Jones, Exhibition Manager of the Watley Model Railway Club, telephoned me in order to discuss the arrangements for the 2007 exhibition, to be held on 1st and 2nd December at the NEC, Birmingham. He began by saying that at the end of December, just four weeks after the show closes, would be the 60th anniversary of the end of the grouping and the start of the era of British Railways, to which I quickly responded, and therefore the 85th anniversary of the end of the pregroup period and the start of the grouping. This momentous event was intended to improve the efficiency of the railway system when, with a few exceptions, all the railways in Great Britain became part of one of four companies that were commonly described as 'The Big Four'. Sixty years later there was a further upheaval to the British railway system when the railways were nationalised. Since both changes became effective on 1st January 1923 for the grouping and 1948 for nationalisation, we felt that the forthcoming exhibition, which was also the 40th Warley exhibition, should mark this event with what is in effect an 'exhibition within an exhibition'.

He continued by confirming that he would like the LMS Group to play a major part and we discussed what could be arranged. I said that Wild Swan would also have new LMS publications that would be at the show. It was during my telephone call to Nelson Twells, the Hon. Secretary of the LMS Society, that he suggested the idea of an edition of LMS Journal that was filled with articles written by LMS Society members. As it has turned out, a number of Society members have written articles but others have come from the ranks of established contributors. However, there is one exception.

Earlier this year, I met Mark Norton, whose father took many splendid railway pictures, many in the Midlands area. Indeed, it was his work that has enabled me to complete an article on Washwood Heath, which is in Midland Record No. 26, and when I saw his excellent pictures of Wolverhampton, I couldn't resist including them, which helps to explain why the editorial picture is an earlier view of Wolverhampton.

I hope that all readers will enjoy this issue and I close by thanking everyone for their support and wish you all a happy Christmas and prosperous New Year.

Bob Essery

LMS Crest