Motor Vehicles

Hundreds of thousands of classified documents were captured from Germany's aircraft manufacturers and aviation ministry at the end of the Second World War, including details of 'secret project' aircraft designs created by firms such as Focke-Wulf, Messerschmitt, Heinkel, Dornier and Blohm & Voss.  Ongoing new research in archives around the world has revealed many previously unknown plans and proposals for aircraft that were radical, revolutionary or just plain weird.  In this latest volume in his series on German wartime aircraft development, author Dan Sharp reveals a wealth of new discoveries - including never-before-seen drawings and designs. Secret Projects of the Luftwaffe examines Focke-Wulf's designs for enormous fighters built around bomber engines, aviation minister Erhard Milch's unusual rival to the Heinkel He 219 night fighter and Messerschmitt's alternative version of the push-pull twin engine Dornier Do 335. Also revealed are the long-buried secret history of the Blohm & Voss BV 40's repurposing as a suicide bomber, how an American-born car designer came up with the idea for Focke-Wulf's Ta 154 night fighter and the competition that would see Focke-Wulf, Dornier and Blohm & Voss go head-to-head with plans to design the Luftwaffe's last all-new piston engine fighter in 1944-45. Hundreds of original and previously unseen documents have been used to compile this unrivalled look at some of Germany's least-known Second World War project designs, featuring a host of period drawings and illustrations.

While the history of Great Lakes shipping has been discussed frequently over the years, little has been said about the factors that influenced the use, design, and evolution of the boats that made this trade possible. Sail, Steam, and Diesel: Moving Cargo on the Great Lakes provides a comprehensive overview of the development of Great Lakes ships over the past several centuries, from small birch-bark canoes originally used in the region to the massive thousand-footers of today. The author also looks at the economics of vessel operation, including the various considerations involved in expanding the scope of the shipping industry, a move that aided in catapulting America into becoming an industrial juggernaut. Although they might not realize it, millions of Americans have owed their livelihoods to the Great Lakes boats and the cargoes they carried that supported a wide range of industries, and this volume is an excellent way to recognize to what extent our lives have been affected by this region's industry.

South Wales has long been a popular destination for railway enthusiasts, and this book documents the many changes to the region's rail scene in the last thirty years.

The unvarnished, raw truth behind the world's most dangerous sporting event - in the words of those who ride it.

When Keith Helfet embarked upon an ambitious project to create a new body shape for a secondhand Triumph Spitfire using little more than foam offcuts and plaster of Paris, a life as one of the world's most successful automotive designers seemed like an impossible dream. And yet that's precisely what he would become. After studying at London's prestigious Royal College of Art, the South-African born youngster secured a job at Jaguar, where he would meet his mentor - marque founder Sir William Lyons. Thanks to his encouragement and guidance, Helfet would go on to create a number of iconic designs such as the XJ220 supercar, the XK180 and the beautiful F-type concept created in 2000. With diversions into medical imaging, product design, power-assisted bicycles and electric vehicles, Design & Desire offers a personal insight into a unique and varied career that has spanned more than four decades - and counting...

A fascinating read for all divers which contributes to a rich and continually revealing maritime history.

Remarkable Motor Races features a collection of the some of the most amazing motor racecourses from across the world, captured in beautiful photographs that transport you right into to the thrill of the race.

Stately Trains was born out of one man's passion for vintage carriages. Stephen Middleton was brought up in a railway family. His father, grandfather and maternal grandfather all worked for railway companies from pre-grouping through to the British Railways era after nationalisation. His father had a First Class pass for rail travel, thus it is no surprise that Middleton junior experienced regular luxury travel on East Coast Pullmans between Yorkshire and London. At the age of five he longed to be a steward working on the Pullman cars. Fate took him in a different direction but that yearning did not leave him and in 1992, after seeing an advertisement in Steam Railway magazine, his enthusiasm for railway carriages was rekindled. The advertisement drew his attention to an unrestored Great Eastern Railway carriage (No.14) that coincidentally had been used as the district engineer's saloon at Ipswich when his father had started work on the railway there. He made a successful bid and embarked on a restoration journey that was to create a collection of historically significant pre-1914 luxury carriages.These further restorations have included a first class saloon built for the Great North of Scotland Railway in 1894 and three directors saloons, one built for the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway in 1906, one for the London & North Western Railway in 1913 and one for the Great Eastern Railway that dates from 1911. In addition to the Great Eastern Railway's coach (No.14) referred to previously, a family saloon built for the GER (1897) and believed to have been used by Queen Victoria's granddaughter Princess Alice has also been acquired and brought back into use.That royal connection has been reinforced by what is considered to be the 'jewel in the crown' of the collection in the form of a London & South Western Railway carriage that was constructed specifically for Queen Victoria's royal train in 1885 and later converted for her personal use during her golden jubilee celebrations in 1887. Still to be restored are another GER family saloon dating from 1877 that was later to be converted for the use of Edward, Prince of Wales and a coach that, when completed, will be the oldest operational Pullman carriage in the world. In the midst of gathering this stock together, Stephen has also restored an 0-6-0 saddle tank, Illingworth, that was built in 1916 and has, during its long career, helped the war effort in both the First and Second World Wars. As a 'sideline', Stephen and many volunteers have been involved in the purchase and setting up of a charitable trust and subsequent restoration of the 1903 North Eastern Railcar. This is a true pioneer being the first railcar in the world to use internal combustion to drive a generator which in turn powered electric traction motors. Each piece in the collection has had a fascinating history from its construction through its working life and on into preservation. Along the way Stephen has collected many photographs and much information/memorabilia to complete their stories and these form the basis for this book.

Mike Nicholson is a highly respected former rally co-driver who partnered some of the most famous rally drivers of the time including Jimmy McRae, Tony Pond and Pentti Airikkala. In this tongue in cheek book Mike takes the lid off the glamorous side of rallying recalling the highs and lows of his career.

One of the world's most loved cruise lines, P&O Cruises can trace its history back over 175 years. Through an impressive and unique collection of imagery, this book details the history of P&O Cruises and explores the impact P&O had in shaping the British Empire.

More than 150 years later, we still do not know what prompted Captain Briggs, his wife and baby, and the crew of the Mary Celeste to abandon ship mid-ocean, and the speculation continues to this day. Delve into this mysterious case and shed light on possible solutions, credible hoaxes, and tales of other ghost ships.

Trains are a great way to get from one place to another. They can carry people, crops, animals and more. There is so much to learn about trains, so, hop aboard and let¿s go!

A stunningly illustrated tribute to all things aeroplane, Aviation celebrates the ingenuity of aeroplanes, biplanes, monoplanes and helicopters past, present and future.From the first hot air balloon flight by the Montgolfier brothers, through to the the legendary Wright Flyer and the revolutionary Concorde, this beautifully illustrated book by the award-winning artist Dieter Braun is the perfect gift for lovers of all things plane.

This nostalgic collection of rare and previously unpublished images celebrates the fleet of this iconic much-loved company.

Explore a selection of stunning photographs celebrating steam on this famous and picturesque railway.

Rare and previously unpublished images documenting the popular regional bus operator CT Plus Yorkshire.

The final volume in this heavily illustrated series exploring the pre-Grouping joint railway lines of Britain focusing on the Midlands, Wales and the South West.