Steaming to Victory

How Britain's Railways Won the War

Michael Williams

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Paperback

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English

Arrow Books Ltd
27 March 2014

British & Irish history; 20th century history: c 1900 to c 2000; Second World War; Railway transport industries; Trains & railways: general interest

The definitive history of the British railways during the Second World War.

In the seven decades since the darkest moments of the Second World War it seems every tenebrous corner of the conflict has been laid bare, prodded and examined from every perspective of military and social history.

But there is a story that has hitherto been largely overlooked. It is a tale of quiet heroism, a story of ordinary people who fought, with enormous self-sacrifice, not with tanks and guns, but with elbow grease and determination. It is the story of the British railways and, above all, the extraordinary men and women who kept them running from 1939 to 1945.

Churchill himself certainly did not underestimate their importance to the wartime story when, in 1943, he praised 'the unwavering courage and constant resourcefulness of railwaymen of all ranks in contributing so largely towards the final victory.'

And what a story it is.

The railway system during the Second World War was the lifeline of the nation, replacing vulnerable road transport and merchant shipping. The railways mobilised troops, transported munitions, evacuated children from cities and kept vital food supplies moving where other forms of transport failed. Railwaymen and women performed outstanding acts of heroism. Nearly 400 workers were killed at their posts and another 2,400 injured in the line of duty. Another 3,500 railwaymen and women died in action. The trains themselves played just as vital a role. The famous Flying Scotsman train delivered its passengers to safety after being pounded by German bombers and strafed with gunfire from the air. There were astonishing feats of engineering restoring tracks within hours and bridges and viaducts within days. Trains transported millions to and from work each day and sheltered them on underground platforms at night, a refuge from the bombs above. Without the railways, there would have been no Dunkirk evacuation and no D-Day.

Michael Williams, author of the celebrated book On the Slow Train, has written an important and timely book using original research and over a hundred new personal interviews.

This is their story.

By: Michael Williams
Imprint: Arrow Books Ltd
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 198mm, Width: 129mm, Spine: 24mm
Weight: 277g
ISBN: 9780099557678
ISBN 10: 0099557673
Pages: 400
Publication Date: 27 March 2014
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Michael Williams writes widely on railways for many publications, including the Daily Mail, The Independent, the Independent on Sunday, the New Statesman, The Oldie and the railway specialist press. He is a veteran Fleet Street journalist, having held many senior positions, including Deputy Editor of the Independent on Sunday, Executive Editor of the Independent and Head of News at The Sunday Times. He is currently Senior Lecturer in the School of Journalism, Media and Communication at the University of Central Lancashire. He commutes regularly by train on the 440-mile return journey between his home in London's Camden Town and his office at Preston in Lancashire.

Reviews for Steaming to Victory: How Britain's Railways Won the War

As gripping as a fictional thriller…It is the human tales of evacuees, locomotive cleaners, crews, porters and ticket collectors that make this such an enthralling read…Michael Williams has written this book in an easy reading graphic style bringing to life the heroics and anecdotes of those he interviewed. His journalistic style makes this a compelling read 4 stars * Sunday Express * Thoroughly researched…a good summary of the character shown by railwaymen and women * Daily Mail * Stirring, awe-inspiring and quirky. 4 stars * The Scotsman * An elegant evocation of the wartime railways, a facet of Britain’s richly detailed ‘home front’ story that deserves the prominence that this book will help to attain. * BBC History Magazine * Michael Williams has written a highly readable book and one that is accessible to all. * Britain at War magazine * Books about railway history seem to appear in an endless stream, so it is a real pleasure to find one that not only has something new to say, but tells its story with style and enthusiasm. * Who Do You Think You Are? magazine * a compelling, easy read, and one that provides an excellent overview of a huge and complex subject * Steam Railway * Comprehensive and compelling * Christian Wolmar * Hugely enjoyable -- David Edgerton, Prof of Modern History, Imperial College, author of Britain's War Machine compelling and accessible * Railway Magazine *