150 years of British steam locomotives

Fascinating and unsentimental look at the development of British steam locomotives. The author examines the development of major locomotive parts, materials, workshop practices and sets so-called Victorian craftsmanship in its proper perspective, particularly in the early days when much of the labor force was unskilled in anything. The designers themselves are also taken to task for inter-company rivalries that led to unnecessary secrecy and slowed a full understanding of vitally related factors such as valve events, timing, blast pipe dimensions, and boiler ratios. The author argues that the stubbornness, jealousy and limited outlook found in many of the engineers meant that even by the end of the steam era, the steam engine had not begun to approach perfection. Illustrated throughout with black and white photos. 128 pages.