Another beautifully illustrated book from a best selling author of steam. The author has covered the 1960s in Europe as steam was giving way to diesel and electric power to drive its railways. – Most Highly Recommended
NAME: European Steam in the 1960s FILE: R3285 AUTHOR: Peter Waller PUBLISHER: Unique Books BINDING: hard back PRICE: £29.99 GENRE: Non Fiction SUBJECT: locomotives, steam power, railways, railroads, rolling stock, rail infrastructure, European steam, 1960s, diesel, electric traction, Belgium, Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, East Germany, West Germany, Spain, Portugal ISBN: 978-09957493-8-2 PAGES: 160, 220 colour photographs IMAGE: B3285.jpg BUYNOW: LINKS: DESCRIPTION: Another beautifully illustrated book from a best selling author of steam. The author has covered the 1960s in Europe as steam was giving way to diesel and electric power to drive its railways. – Most Highly Recommended
At the end of the 1950s, steam was still the primary source of power on the railways, but diesel and electric power was beginning to establish dominance.
During the 1960s, steam was being replaced everywhere but steam engines were still in use to haul passenger and freight trains. Some were impressive and valued work horses.
By the end of the 1960s, most of these reliable locomotives were taken out of service. Many were scrapped or simply taken to disused lines and left to rot. In some countries, notably Sweden, steam trains were retained as a strategic reserve and maintained in operational condition. Increasingly, steam engines are being restored and put back in operation on museum tracks and now, on occasion, being allowed back on to main lines, maintaining this valuable heritage.
For this book, the author has assembled images taken by widely-travelled railway enthusiasts of steam operation during the 1960s in a unique celebration of this period and its iconic steam locomotives.