British Steam Military Connections

In Great Britain there existed a practice of naming steam railway locomotives. The names chosen covered many and varied subjects, however a large number of those represented direct links with military personnel, regiments, squadrons, naval vessels, aircraft, battles and associated historic events. Memorably the Southern Railway (SR) created a Battle of Britain class of Light Pacific locomotives, which were named in recognition of Battle of Britain squadrons, airfields, aircraft and personnel. The Great Western Railway (GWR) re-named some of its express passenger Castle Class engines after Second World War aircraft. Names were displayed in varying styles on both sides of the locomotives, additionally some nameplates were adorned with ornate crests and badges. Long after the demise of mainline steam, rescued nameplates are still much sort after collectors' items, which when offered for sale command high prices. This generously illustrated publication highlights the relevant steam locomotives at work and explains the origins of the military names.

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Some books that may interest you

Private Beatson's War By: Stuart Humphreys, Shaun Springer	The Roman Invasion of Britain By: Birgitta Hoffmann	Johnny Get Your Gun By: John F Tucker
St Julien By: Graham Keach	The Armed Forces of the United Kingdom 2010-2011 By: Charles Heyman	The Fate of War By: Duane Schultz
Edmund Blunden By: Philip Guest, Helen McPhail	The Dispatches and Letters of Lord Nelson By: Horatio Nelson, Viscount Nelson Edited by: Nicholas Harris Nicolas	A Serpent's Tale By: Lorett Treese