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| Title: | Speedlink (2+ books) |
|
| Author: | David Larkin | |
| Publisher: | Crecy | |
| Format: | Book | |
| Subject: | Wagons | |
| Category: | Detail | |
| Spec: | A4, hardback, 160 pages, 334-353 B&W photos, ISBN: 978-1-80035-277-3 | |
| Publication date: | 2024 | |
| Summary: | The first in a multi-part series of hardback books detailing the wagons used on the Speedlink network in the 1970s and 1980s. | |
| Review: | Although David Larkin is still working his way through the 'Acquired Wagons of British Railways' series (see here and which will reach Volume 7 in March 2025), he has not neglected more recent wagons. In 2024, the first in a new series appeared, looking at the wagon types used on BR's Speedlink freight network from its inception in 1977. These are large-format, hardback books with numerous photos, all in black and white. The first volume introduces the topic and details some of the wagon types that were either recently built or which were modified for use on the Air-Braked Network. It then looks at the early Speedlink types, such as the VAA/VBA/VCA vans, OAA opens and the SAA and BAA steel-carriers. The second volume (ISBN 978-1-80035-314-5) continues with overviews of the types built in the 1970s and 1980s, including BBA and BDA steel-carriers, HBA hoppers, OBA and OCA opens, SPA plate wagons and VDA and VGA vans. Less numerous types like the BPA Boplates, BRA Borails and FNA nuclear flask wagons are also covered. Volume 3 (to be published in September 2025) will consider the European wagons that appeared on Speedlink services, while it is also planned to cover the various private-owner fleets. Although I welcome the publishing of these books, I do have a couple of reservations. First is that some of the photos have been published in other books (such as the Working Wagons series), which interested readers will probably already have. Second is that the reproduction of some of the photos is rather poor, being dark and murky. Having said that, finding c.350 photos for each volume may have entailed a bit of 'barrel-scraping', particularly for rarer types, and the majority of the photos are fine. It is perhaps also a shame that it was not possible to extend the coverage to include developments over the past 30 years (maybe even with colour photos). After all, some of the wagon types shown are still around today, albeit in dwindling numbers. The first two volumes are priced at GBP25 each, though can be had for less on Amazon. | |
| Reviewed: | 11/02/2025 by Thomas Young (Comments made by others can appear in the notes section towards the bottom of this page) | |
| Sample pages: | (Click on any image to view full-sized in a new window)
The cover of Volume 1
The contents page shows the breadth of topics covered by this volume. The two appendices were a list of Speedlink yards as at 1980 and a list of trunk Speedlink workings as at May 1986.
Each section has a short introduction but the bulk of the content is photos and captions, along with data that is highlighted in yellow boxes. This is a page about Ferry Tube wagons.
With chapters detailing individual types, the pages are sometimes a bit 'samey', not helped by the captions being to a rather repetitive standard format.
The cover of the second volume is to the same design as the first.
Some of the photo reproduction is rather poor, this page showing perhaps the worst examples. The majority are much better, though some have already appeared in earlier books.
For the types that were rebuilt, there are lists of former numbers, based on data obtained by Mr Larkin from BR in the 1980s (and also used here on LTSV). Unfortunately these contain a few errors, such as two new numbers both having the same original number.
The chapter on BPAs states that former identities are not available (although I found some from somewhere), while that on BRAs seems to ignore the fact that these too were rebuilds.
The use beyond Speedlink by the wagon types covered is also considered, such as this page showing OCA opens rebuilt as ZCA ballast wagons and OTA timber carriers. Coverage only goes up to about 1991/1992 though. | |
| Notes: | No notes have been left yet. ?There may be some notes posted but which have not yet been approved. |
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| Edits: | This item has not been edited. | |