Martin Shaw
Western Thunderer
I happened upon this during my occasional and usually expensive perusing of book sellers websites, Three principal reasons, HC Casserley was early enough for his photographs to be of interest without pages of Standards and Bulleids, neither of this type appearing in these pages. This despite modern interpretations was one of the principal if possibly shortest main lines radiating from London and whilst the SR had modern trains it also had many antiques. I was born and brought up in the area and knew it well for the first 20 years of my life. A fourth reason, the Southern was best.
The book is very nicely put together, the full page spread suits the negatives well despite the odd focus issue and given the very limited geographical nature is varied and interesting. My personal joy was uplifted by a photo of a year old Schools class 938 St Olaves, named after the school I was forced to attend 30 years later. Superb locomotive, not so sure about the educational establishment. The captions contain copious note from Mike King about the rolling stock, it's more than engines.
Highly recommended especially to those who think the SR is just a tramway.
Martin
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