Description

The Locomotives of Robert Riddles showcases the career and engineering legacy of Robert Riddles. He worked with the LMS during wartime and later led locomotive design for the Railway Executive after World War II. This book explains how Riddles created twelve standard steam locomotive designs to meet post-war rail demands.

Each chapter focuses on a specific design, highlighting its performance, practical use, and the challenges Riddles faced. Economic pressures and the 1955 Modernisation Plan influenced the locomotives’ relatively short operational lives. Dieselisation soon replaced many of these engines.

The book features over 200 black-and-white photographs, many previously unpublished. Readers can see locomotives in service across different regions and understand their significance in British steam heritage.

Railway historians, steam enthusiasts, and general readers will find this volume both comprehensive and visually engaging. It offers a clear view of a pivotal era in British rail history and celebrates the engineering achievements of Robert Riddles.