Southern Way Special 21

By Simon Lilley

The Southern Railway is closely associated with its electrification programmes, but in July 1947 the board authorised the construction of three mainline diesel-electric locomotives. These entered service between 1950 and 1954. Their work on the Southern Region was mostly on the South Western mainlines to Exeter or Bournemouth. Both Nos 10202 and 10203 spent a week on the South Eastern section working the 'Golden Arrow' and 'Night Ferry' services at different times. In the summer of 1955, all three locomotives were transferred to the London Midland Region and remained there until they were withdrawn in December 1962. They worked predominantly on West Coast Main Line on passenger duties that ranged from local services between Euston and Bletchley to the prestigious 'Royal Scot'.

This new 'Southern Way Special' draws heavily on original archive material from the Southern Railway and BR and covers the background story to their authorisation, design and construction and their entry into service. Individual chapters detail the whole of their service life firstly on the Southern and then on the London Midland, the first book to do so. The final chapter looks at their utilisation, works visits, annual mileage and fuel consumption, making use of data collected by BR at the time but which has remained unpublished until now.

Each chapter, wherever possible, uses previously unpublished photographs. These are accompanied by detailed captions drawing out particular points of interest, such as technical or equipment or other detail differences. Two Appendices are included: one covering the main dimensions of the three, the other is an individual locomotive history providing the reader with a concise and detailed history of each of the trio of locomotives.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0FFMXV9L5
• ISBN13: 9781800353534
• Release Date: April 2026
• Publisher: Crecy Publishing