Books by Stephen Owens

This book is a portrait of the period that became known as the era of BR Blue - the 1970s and 1980s. The railway appeared to be caught up in a world of its own. It was still recognisably the one from the steam era, and happy to be living in the past rather than making strides toward the future. As with most of the nationalised industries, labour relations were somewhat fraught. The railway invested in electrification and everything else was standardised to minimise costs. Unsurprisingly, stagnation haunted the network. Some would suggest the railway was doing a particularly fine job given the circumstances. It was fortunate to be blessed with a dedicated workforce and supported by thousands of people who travelled by train. For those of us who remember those days fondly, this is how we would prefer to remember that time.

From 1978 onwards, during the period often referred to as BR Blue, Stephen Owens was able to photograph for posterity some of what he saw on the railway. Some might suggest the period didn't have the interest of the steam era - how could it? It was an era when the railway appeared neglected and threadbare; it was being run on a shoestring, and it looked and felt like it. Be that as it may, it had its devotees and supporters. Some rail enthusiasts instinctively recognised that the situation couldn't and wouldn't last. In a way it was similar to the end of steam: the clock was ticking, but this time no-one knew when it would stop, nor what would follow. With a wonderful selection of images, this nostalgic look back at the era of Rail Blue in northern England will delight rail enthusiasts both young and old.