NEW BOOKS as reviewed by Tony Wright
A CELEBRATION OF LNER GRESLEY A4 PACIFICS, by John Jennison, Irwell Press. PRICE: £28.95
s usual, with most of Irwell’s titles, I’m sent the manuscript beforehand to proof read, make comments and to ‘expand’ in some cases the captions to the photographs. I hope this ‘expression of interest’ doesn’t preclude or even exclude me from writing an objective review. It’s the latest in this highly-regarded series of ‘Celebrations’, each one focusing on famous classes. Previous ones have featured Gresley’s non-streamlined Pacifics, Stanier’s ‘Princess Coronations’, the ‘Britannias’ and the SR ‘West Country’ and ‘Battle had lost its corridor tender by September 1966! But these are minor quibbles; those of a pedant, and I’m precious about my input being credited. They should not detract in any way from the reader’s enjoyment of this wonderful new volume. Just love it for what it is, enjoy it for what it is and use it for what it is; it’s good value for money and should appeal to all – even those (unlike me) too young to have seen these ‘Streaks’ in their post-War heyday on the ECML. Thoroughly-recommended.
