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2021
Pen & Sword Transport.
Hard cover
303 pages, 20.83 x 28.45 centimetres, $48.46 Amazon.
In this volume, author and British Railway veteran Neil Smith presents a wonderful miscellany of the London & North Western Railway (LNWR) drawn from the Railway Magazine archives. Charting the line's evolution from the close of the Victorian Era into the start of the twentieth century, The LNWR explores a wide variety of subjects through original articles and personal interviews. Plus, numerous historic illustrations and photos bring the story to life. The twenty-seven chapters cover topics including, notable stations such as Birmingham New Street, Carlisle Citadel, and Manchester London Road, Wolverton Carriage Works and Earlestown Wagon Works, "Engine Drivers and Their Duties" by C.J. Bowen-Cooke, The Irish Mail and the American Special Trains, Webb Precedent and Compound Locomotives, and Royal Saloons. The Opening and Early Years of the Liverpool & Manchester Railway, the Grand Junction Railway, and the London & Birmingham Railway.
2021
Pen & Sword Transport.
Hard cover
382 pages, $23.69 Amazon.
In many ways this title featuring the evolution of cross-channel boat trains and the many dedicated services responsible for moving international passengers to and from transatlantic steamers, is an extension of luxury railway travel. But that's not the full story as it encapsulates more than 125 years of independent and organized tourism development. At the end of the nineteenth century, faster and more stable twin-screw vessels replaced cross-channel paddlers resulting in a significant expansion in the numbers of day excursionists and short-stay visitors heading to Belgium, France, and the Channel Islands. Continental Europe, as it had done since the end of the Napoleonic Wars, beckoned, introducing ideas of modern-day mass tourism. Numerous liners bestriding the globe were British domiciled. Major ports became hives of commercial activity involving moving freight and mail, as well as transporting all manner of travelers. Not only was there intense competition for passenger traffic between the Old and New World and Britain's imperial interests, greater numbers of well-heeled tourists headed off to warmer winter climes, and also experimented with the novel idea of using ocean steamers as hotels to visit an array of diverse destinations. Cruise tourism and the itinerary had arrived as "Ocean Special" boat trains became essential components of railway and port procedures. While some railway operations were dedicated to emigrant traffic, continental and ocean liner boat trains were also synonymous with the most glamorous travel services ever choreographed by shipping lines and railway companies working closely in tandem. This well illustrated book explores the many functions of boat train travel.
2022
The History Press.
Paperback
168 pages, 24.51 x 22.4 centimetres, $43.95 Amazon.
In 1873 a company was formed to construct the first railway across Canada, soon branching out into shipping. Ships were chartered from the Cunard Line for service between Vancouver, Yokohama, Shanghai, and Hong Kong, they were awarded the mail contract in 1889 for the service across the Pacific, and by 1903, Canadian Pacific purchased Elder Dempster & Company, and sailed from Liverpool to Quebec and Montreal. They obtained control of the Atlantic, rail, and Pacific routes, and later interest in the Canadian-Australasian Line, becoming "The world's greatest transportation system", bridging two oceans and linking four continents. Canada's largest operator of Atlantic and Pacific steamships until after the Second World War, CP Ships boasted such names as Empress of Britain, Empress of Ireland, and Empress of Canada. This new history of the shipping side of Canadian Pacific includes a wealth of illustrations and a detailed fleet list. (Note: CP was incorporated in 1881, not 1873.)
1994
Boston Mills Press.
Hard cover
216 pages, 8.75 11.25 inches, $64.48 Amazon.
Here, for the first time, is the full story in word and picture of a truly remarkable ship, the Empress of Britain. She served as a luxury liner in the 1930s, and then was converted to military use during World War II. But everything came to an abrupt end on 26 Oct 1940. A German plane bombed the Empress of Britain, then two days later torpedoes from a U-boat mortally wounded her. She became the largest Allied ship to be sunk on the high seas during the war.
1998
Goose Lane Editions.
Hard cover
224 pages, 22.23 x 23.5 centimetres, $96.00 Amazon.
In the early hours of 29 May 1914 the Canadian Pacific Ship Empress of Ireland plunged to the bottom of the St. Lawrence River taking 840 passengers to their deaths. It was the worst disaster in the golden age of transatlantic travel as more passengers went down with the Empress than with either Titanic or Lusitania. Forgotten Empress reveals the complete history of this ship, her death throes, the official inquiry, salvage efforts, and the unusual connection between the Captain and the infamous London cellar murderer Dr. Crippen.
The story of Liverpool's Riverside Station that brought trains direct to the ocean liners docked beside the Princes landing stage on the Mersey River. Thousands traveling to or from Liverpool to North America, or other parts of the world, passed through this now closed station - 17 May 2023.
To connect the Liverpool Riverside station to the main line of the Mersey Docks & Harbour Board (MD&HB), and also to the nearest main line at the London & North Western Railway (LNWR) Waterloo goods station required the laying of a line 48 chains (3,168 feet) in length. From the northwest end of Riverside station to Waterloo the line was laid entirely on the street in tramway style. From Riverside Station the line ran between Princes landing stage and Princes Dock as a double track formation. It then curved right to cross a swing bridge (now known as Princes Parade) over the entrance to Princes Dock. After crossing the bridge the line continued in a northerly direction until it met the north/south MD&HB's mainline. Before it reached the mainline it became single track. At this location standing directly above the mainline was the Princes Dock Liverpool Overhead Station. It ran parallel to the mainline for a short distance and then connected to it at a point just south of the Waterloo goods station. A spur ran from the MD&HB line and crossed Waterloo Road and then ran into the goods station - 7 Apr 2020.
Waterloo Tunnel is an abandoned railway tunnel 852 yards long underneath Liverpool that opened on 1 Aug 1849. Originally, track from the west portal only reached as far as the Waterloo Goods station, now the site of the Kingsway Tunnel ventilation shaft of the Mersey River road tunnel. After 1895 track was extended to the dock at Liverpool Riverside Station next to the floating Princes landing stage for direct connection to the ocean going passenger liners. The eastern portal opens into the short (69 yards) Byrom Street Cutting. The west portal of the Victoria Tunnel starts at the opposite end of the cutting then runs 2,706 yards southeast to the portal at Edge Hill Station. The tunnels were given two different names, because initially, trains in the Victoria Tunnel were cable hauled, while in the Waterloo Tunnel locomotive hauled. The last passenger train passed through the tunnels in 1971. On 19 Nov 1972 both tunnels were closed - 19 Apr 2020.
There are several other videos of people exploring the tunnels such as:
2 Mile Long Tunnel Under Liverpool
Liverpool Waterloo & Victoria Derelict Tunnels Urban Explore
Abandoned Liverpool Railway Tunnels Part 1
Abandoned Liverpool Railway Tunnels Part 2
Some of these posters may not be original Canadian Pacific Railway posters but are interesting none the less for capturing the spirit of the age. Can you spot the fakes?
