The LNER Encyclopedia

As i've mentioned several times previously, I have a book due out in the coming months, 'The North Eastern Railway in the First World War', due to come out in August. For those on facebook, I have set up a page to publicise the book and also to share links/photos of interest, not just regarding to the NER in WW1 specifically but also north eastern railways in general and also the Great War. Also happy to share links to similar books, railways etc etc.

Feel free to join;

https://www.facebook.com/TheNorthEaster ... stWorldWar

I'll use this topic to keep everyone updated as to the launch of the book etc

Hi Rob

look forward to seeing the book come out, as my father's uncle 'Little Joe' Leonard started out as an NER locomotive cleaner at York, and joined up with the ROD in 1916. On completion of his war service, he returned to the NER as a fireman, and served in the LNER at York as a Top Link driver, completing his railway service under BR.

Regards

Greedy Boards

(Definitely not on Facebook)

Just finished researching this memorial in Newcastle

http://www.newmp.org.uk/detail.php?contentId=8252

Putting together some info about the Goods Stations they worked at.

plugcoupler wrote:Just finished researching this memorial in Newcastle

http://www.newmp.org.uk/detail.php?contentId=8252

Putting together some info about the Goods Stations they worked at.

You may be interested to know that as Forth Banks offices is now shut and having seven bells knocked out of it the memorial has been moved. It is now in Raven House Network Rails new Offices on Askew Road Gateshead.

Thanks TRESTROL, I was, partly, responsible for its relocation.

The thought was, that if it was left it might not survive the remodelling of the building and,

even thought it was only seen by railway staff, it wouldnt be seen by anyone, except the police,

if it was left at Forth Banks.

The memorial was renovated before relocation to Raven House.

Hello Plugcoupler, Thanks for the info, only spotted it the other week. I thought it may have been located in the main entrance not where it is. You are not a resident of Raven House are you by any chance?

Book now complete and off to the publishers.... think the real panic will kick in once it's released and I wait for the inevitable corrections or being told i've missed something major!

Rlangham wrote:Book now complete and off to the publishers.... think the real panic will kick in once it's released and I wait for the inevitable corrections or being told i've missed something major!

Having written a number of books (not railway related) I can tell you that the real panic kicks in when you realise there's a problem after its gone to the the printers and you know that its going to be published with an error but nothing you can do to avert it.

Maybe a little late for this thread now, but I have just been lent copies of some fascinating documents concerning the preparations made by the Police in the Alnwick area for possible invasion during the First World War.
One of the primary considerations was to deny the Germans access to food supplies and arrangements were made to evacuate all livestock from coastal areas to remote areas inland. One document details how, if the invasion took place at night, cyclists would ride out along the NER Coldstream Branch and wake the Signalmen so that the line could be opened to allow livestock trains through to Kirknewton and Akeld from where the animals would be driven into the hills.
Other documents list the types of transport available such as how many people owned bicycles, horses, carts etc. and details how they would be commandeered or destroyed, while another gives a snapshot of how much lamp oil, coal and food was stored by the railway, shops and members of the public on a particular day.
It is all interesting stuff and reinforces just how different the world was 100 years ago.

Still most definitely of interest and I would love to see them! I hope the book will bring out further information such as this, both for my own interest and for inclusion in a future reprint (presuming there's enough interest)

Provisionally booked in for a talk to the Western Front Association's Tyneside Branch on the evening of Monday 21st April 2014 - as well as my previous booking on Saturday 5th April 2014 to the North Eastern Railway Association at York. If you're interested in booking me for a talk on the NER in WW1, please get in touch

Back from a superb week in Wales enjoying the narrow gauge lines out there - have a couple more talk bookings which i'll post up soon. Have also received a .pdf file of how the book will look when printed, very exciting! Currently looking for suitable societies/publications etc to review the book, have already approached Heritage Railway Magazine and Steam Railway - any other thoughts?

NERA of course. Would the Railway Magazine be interested?

Caledonian wrote:

Rlangham wrote:Book now complete and off to the publishers.... think the real panic will kick in once it's released and I wait for the inevitable corrections or being told i've missed something major!

Having written a number of books (not railway related) I can tell you that the real panic kicks in when you realise there's a problem after its gone to the the printers and you know that its going to be published with an error but nothing you can do to avert it.

Ah, that'll be like when someone reading an advance copy pointed out it was unlikely that the NER carried 87 MILLION horses during the Great War then!? Hopefully have given the publishers enough notice to change it....

On the plus side, I received the new front cover design today, which I have attached. I know the EF1 is the wrong colour but apart from that very very happy with it!

No need to panic.
Nothing can go wrong, or can it?
Look what happened to the latest Bridget Jones and the David Jason book this week.
40 pages from each got swapped to the other.

Looks good and I will be getting a copy when it comes out.