A Railwayman's View - Peter Collins - Volume Three - Eastern Region

Step into the transitional years of British Rail with the third volume of A Railwayman's View, featuring the evocative photography of Peter Collins. This volume shifts the lens from the London Midland Region to the Eastern Region, capturing the drama, change, and sheer variety of the 1970s rail scene — from King's Cross to Yorkshire, East Anglia, and beyond.

At the heart of this collection is Peter's unique position within British Railways, which provided unprecedented access to the railway's working soul. Peter's photographs offer a rare and authentic glimpse into this pivotal period, with scenes rich in detail and character: from the legendary Deltic locomotives at King's Cross to the atmospheric fog-shrouded depots of March and the industrial might of Stratford Works.

Highlights include:

• The varied locomotive scene at King's Cross during the Deltic era — 22 Napier-powered Class 55s dominating the East Coast Main Line with their distinctive thrumming engines echoing in Cubitt's train shed.
• Rare behind-the-scenes access to Stratford Works and depot operations, including views of Class 37s under maintenance unthinkable for civilian photographers.
• The GN suburban electrification revolution transforming London commuting, with Class 313 EMUs replacing steam-age infrastructure.
• Atmospheric images of March TMD shrouded in thick fog, channelling Colin T. Gifford's pioneering documentary style where industrial landscapes become ethereal art.
  
• The Woodhead Route's pioneering 1500V DC electrification in its final operational years, with unique Class 76 locomotives on Pennine coal traffic.
• Liverpool Street before commercialisation destroyed its character, showing the Great Eastern's London terminus with original architecture and authentic railway atmosphere.

This collection doesn't just document locomotives — it captures an era. Peter's photographs portray the Eastern Region as a railway caught between the past and the future, where diesel innovation stood side-by-side with Victorian infrastructure and steam-age operating methods. The mood captures authentic working atmosphere, the energy and movement unmistakable beneath grimy canopies and semaphore signals.

Where possible, locomotives are identified with supplementary details, working histories, and operational context. The comprehensive carriage formation appendix provides exact consist details for specific services — invaluable reference material for historians and modellers alike. Yet this technical precision enhances rather than overwhelms the visual experience, creating compelling historical narrative alongside photographic excellence.

This softback edition maintains the series' high production standards while offering excellent value. High-quality reproduction ensures Peter's atmospheric images retain their impact and technical detail. 

Ian Simpson's insightful foreword contextualizes the collection within railway photography's evolution, whilst Peter's personal introduction explains his transition from Southern Region comfort to Eastern Region's multicultural operating environment.

For enthusiasts, former railwaymen, or anyone who remembers the distinctive sound of Deltic engines under soot-streaked canopies, Volume Three is a compelling journey into the soul of the Eastern Region's diesel golden age.