British Rail Shunters: From Corporate Blue to Sectorisation

The role of British Rail’s (BR) diesel shunters was increasingly threatened by the late 1970s, as traffic losses and operational efficiencies contributed to a reduction in fleet size. The decade had begun with 13 types in traffic, but almost half of these would be gone from BR service ten years later. Those that remained continued to serve across the country in a wide range of situations from main stations to goods yards and industrial locations.

As the 1980s progressed, the locos became increasingly colourful as new liveries were introduced and assorted special repaints emerged along with depot emblems and new modifications. This book takes a pictorial look at the shunter fleet during this period of change, ranging from Dover to Penzance and north to Inverness. While Class 08s are the focus as the dominant fleet, other classes are included on their home regions or in industrial use. Beautifully illustrated with predominantly colour images, this book highlights these often-overlooked machines.

Available: NOW

ISBN: 978 1 80282 484 1

Price: £16.99

Series: Britain’s Railways Series, vol 46

Format: Paperback, 96 pages

Author: Simon Bendall