The BR Blue period continues to grow in popularity a mark of this being that is now the fifth volume in what is a popular series. Regular author John Dedman
- whose previous volumes in the series have been Southampton & the New Forest" " Western Region South & West" & " Freight in the 1980s"
- now turns his attention to the passenger traffic of the period both locomotive hauled & DMU operated. In the compilation of any book there is always a decision to be made between portraying the regular or unusual. John has opted to do both hence we see the standard locomotive hauled Inter-City & cross country services as well as the DMU including occasions when a locomotive & perhaps two coaches might have replaced a DMU or a rake of DMUs replaced a locomotive hauled train! The coverage is almost country wide although the majority feature in area where locomotive & DMU operation was prominent."

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Following nationalisation in 1948 the newly created British Railways initially continued to construct coaching stock based upon the designs of the ' Big Four' railways. However in 1951 the first of the standardised Mark 1 coaches was manufactured; these coaches in their various forms
- sleepers buffet & restaurant cars horse boxes & other non-passenger vans griddle cars suburban non-corridor stock etc
- were built until 1963 & formed the mainstay of the passenger railway through the 1960s & 1970s. Although now are all withdrawn from regular service a number remain registered for main-line use through the operation of charter trains whilst significant numbers have also survived into preservation. From the early 1960s development work took place on the replacement standard coaching stock; the result was the Mark 2 that was launched in 1964. Built over the next decade the Mark 2 was constructed in several different variants up to the Mark 2F. Each of these variants saw distinct improvements to the facilities differed although retaining the same basic outline. As with the Mark 1 coaches the Mark 2s are now largely withdrawn although a handful remain in main-line service such as those on the Arriva Trains Wales' Holyhead-Cardiff service; others have entered preservation. This book is a follow-up volume to Hugh Longworth's earlier encyclopaedic studies of steam locomotives & DMUs. Each individual coach is listed according to Lot numbers with information about where they were built introduction withdrawal & fate. Alongside the tabular material will be a selection of mono photographs portraying the various types of coach being described. BR Mark 1 & Mark 2 coaches are widely preserved & can be seen at most of the major heritage railways across the country including The Bluebell the Great Central Railway North Yorkshire Moors Railway Swanage Railway & West Somerset Railway.

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It is 1036. Halfdan is a Viking mercenary who is determined to travel to Constantinople & become one of the Viking Guard serving Empress Zoe. He promises to take his daughter but one morning Solveig wakes up to find him gone. Setting off in her own tiny boat she is determined to make the journey from Norway to the breathtaking city. Her boat is washed up but Solveig is undeterred. What awaits Solveig as she continues on her summer journey across the world? She finds passage with Viking traders witnesses the immolation of a young slave girl & learns to fight. She sees the clashes between those who praise her Norse Gods & the new Christians. In this perilous & exciting world a young girl alone could be quickly endangered or made a slave. Will Solveig live to see her father again & if she survives will she remain free? A glittering novel that explores friendship & betrayal the father-daughter relationship the clash of religions & the journey from childhood to adulthood. ...

Meet the Railway Rabbits! Join the irrepressible Longears family as they get in & out of scrapes meet new friends & perform daring rescues. But Burdock the buzzard & the terrifying Red Dragon are always on the lookout for naughty rabbits who stray too far from home... Heartwarming hilarious with Anna Curreys charming illustrations this is a brilliant new animal adventure series from a bestselling childrens author. ...

The Braddock Boys: Colton Deputy Shelly Lancaster is lookin for a man... Not for love
- good Lord no. She just wants some hot heavy
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OS Explorer Map is the Ordnance Surveys most detailed map & is recommended for anyone enjoying outdoor activities such as walking horse riding & off-road cycling. The series provides complete GB coverage & can now be used in all weathers thanks to OS Explorer Map
- Active a tough versatile version of the OS Explorer Map.
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Rising from an inner city background abandoned by his pro cyclist father as a toddler Bradley Wiggins became a prodigious talent. World Junior Champion World Champion & Olympic Champion were all titles that came his way at a startlingly young age but what he really wanted was success on the road. Wiggos reinvention on the path to becoming Britains first Tour de France winner in over a hundred years of racing is one of sports most uplifting & inspiring stories. In this captivating & insightful narrative Wiggins old friend & colleague John Deering sets this remarkable story against the backdrop of Wiggins crushing Tour victory his races along the thousands of kilometres of French tarmac telling the tale of his brutal procession from Liege to Paris in counterpoint to his fascinating life. From a Kilburn council estate to the Champs Elysees via the Olympics Paul Weller & the worlds most glorious sideburns the legend of Bradley Wiggins is unravelled like never before. ...

Wednesday 1 August 2012 will live forever in the memory of all those who witnessed Bradley Wigginss stunning Time Trial gold ...

On 22 July 2012 Bradley Wiggins made history as the first British cyclist to win the Tour de France. Ten days later at the London Olympic Games he won the time trial to become his country's most decorated Olympian. In an instant ' Wiggo' the kid from Kilburn was a national hero. Two years previously however Wiggins had been staring into the abyss. His much-hyped attempt to conquer the 2010 Tour de France had ended in public humiliation. Poor results & indifferent form left him facing the sack from Team Sky. & then he was hit with the tragic news of the death of his granddad George the man who had raised him as a young boy. At rock bottom Wiggins had to reach deep inside himself & find the strength to fight his way back. Outspoken honest intelligent & fearless Wiggins has been hailed as the people's champion. In My Time he tells the story of the remarkable journey that led him from his lowest ebb to win the world's toughest race. In his own words he reveals the personal anguish that has driven him on & what it's like behind the scenes at Team Sky: the brutal training regimes the sacrifices & his views on his teammates & rivals. He talks too about his anger at the spectre of doping that pursues his sport how he dealt with the rush of taking Olympic gold & above all what it takes to be the greatest. ...

On 22 July 2012 Bradley Wiggins made history as the first British cyclist to win the Tour de France. Ten days later at the London Olympic Games he won gold in the time trial to become his country's most decorated Olympian. In an instant ' Wiggo' the kid from Kilburn was a national hero. Outspoken honest intelligent & fearless Wiggins has been hailed as the people's champion. From his lowest ebb following a catastrophic attempt to conquer the 2012 Tour & the loss of his granddad who had raised him as a boy My Time tells the story of his remarkable journey to win the world's toughest race. It

Includes:: a brand new chapter shortlisted for the British Sports Book award for best autobiography.

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