{"title":"Books by John Jackson","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"9781398118218","title":"Churches of Bedfordshire","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Saxons put the county of Bedfordshire on the map, and signs of the earliest churches from this period remain today. Church building continued after the Norman Conquest, not least the foundation of the Abbey at Elstow by William the Conqueror’s niece, Judith of Lens, towards the end of the eleventh century. One of Bedfordshire’s most famous sons, John Bunyan, was baptised in the church of St Mary and St Helena, at Elstow, over 500 years later, just one of approximately fifty places of worship featured in this selection of Bedfordshire churches following John and Jenny Jackson’s extensive travels around their home county’s places of worship.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWith around 100 supporting photos, their selection is not just about the best in the county. It is a cross-section that reflects different styles, periods and locations within one of the country’s smallest counties. Many of these more remotely located churches are in little-known villages, but nevertheless offer a charm of their own alongside the more sizeable communities of Bedford and Luton. This book aims to show the wide diversity on offer within the Bedfordshire area of the diocese of St Albans. This fascinating picture of an important part of the history of Bedfordshire over the centuries will be of interest to all those who live in or are visiting this attractive county in England.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44581220221106,"sku":"9781398118218","price":15.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781398118218_dc3e61f4-6198-42cb-b603-08cfbc4fdfd2.jpg?v=1786018106"},{"product_id":"9781398102675","title":"Railways of Derbyshire in the Twenty-First Century","description":"The city of Derby has a long association with the country’s railway heritage, not just as a focal point for the county’s railway passengers but also its long tradition of manufacture. Today, Derby enjoys passenger services to destinations as far apart as London, Scotland and the South West of England. But the county of Derbyshire offers so much more. With towns such as Chesterfield and Buxton, as well as some tiny rural communities, it is still well served by passenger trains.Looking at freight traffic, the days of constant streams of coal trains passing may have long gone, but there’s still plenty on offer to the enthusiast. In particular, the county’s hills are a source of important materials for the UK construction industry. The railways of Derbyshire continue to play a leading role in getting these materials to market with a network of regular deliveries to the end customer.This book takes a whistle stop tour of the county’s stations, looking at both the passenger and freight trains seen since the turn of the century.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56297898541429,"sku":"9781398102675","price":15.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781398102675_6d2358bd-ebed-4bdf-b3e7-ecb963e63f82.jpg?v=1786018366"},{"product_id":"9781398117792","title":"Trains Around Doncaster","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe South Yorkshire town of Doncaster has long been a hotspot for railway enthusiasts. Glancing at the railway map, it’s easy to see why. With its prominent position on the East Coast Main Line, it is also an important passenger interchange for a variety of destinations around Yorkshire and Humberside. With no fewer than seven different passenger operators calling at the station, there’s plenty of variety. Doncaster’s freight traffic may have suffered as a result of the twenty-first-century downturn in coal movements, but there’s still a lot on show, with all the major rail-freight operators making regular appearances in the area.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn this book, John Jackson documents what Doncaster’s railways have to offer in the twenty-first century.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56297918005621,"sku":"9781398117792","price":15.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781398117792_d105afc1-ad79-464d-8d70-b0a9caea6a7f.jpg?v=1786018092"},{"product_id":"9781398102392","title":"Exploring Devon and Cornwall's Branch Lines","description":"The two most westerly counties in England remain hugely popular for travellers looking for a break in the UK. Perhaps less well known is the fact that, against all the odds when faced by the Beeching Axe, a number of popular destinations can still be reached by today’s railway. From Barnstaple to Gunnislake, Exmouth to Falmouth, John Jackson explores the variety of lines and stations that remain on the railway map in the counties of Devon and Cornwall.With much of the area’s industry now consigned to history, there is little remaining freight traffic in the area. The main exception is the flow of Cornish china clay for export that is still carried by rail and centred on the area around Par and St Blazey. The author has spent countless hours chasing these somewhat elusive workings in recent years.From rolling countryside to seaside views, these two counties have it all.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56297976693109,"sku":"9781398102392","price":15.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781398102392_4cab4d6f-2926-48c2-8739-4c7a9b1624b4.jpg?v=1786018361"},{"product_id":"9781398124455","title":"The Birmingham to Derby Line","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis important stretch of railway line through the Midlands connects England’s second city with the strategically important railway centre of Derby. The area is served by local passenger services as well as forming part of the strategically important cross-country route linking Scotland and the North East of England with Bristol and the South West. However, it is the variety of freight traffic that draws the rail enthusiast to this area. The frequent passing of coal trains may have ceased, but this key stretch of railway still has a lot to offer. From oil and steel to aggregates and container traffic, all the country’s main freight operators are regular visitors to the area. This rail enthusiast popularity extends to the intermediate stations of Burton-on-Trent and Tamworth. The latter’s split-level platforms are particularly busy as the town sits at the crossroads of this cross-country route and the West Coast Main Line, which passes below. Less well-known outside of the enthusiast circle is the important junction at Water Orton, where services towards Leicester and the east of England leave the main Derby line.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn this publication, John Jackson examines the 40 miles of railway from Birmingham to Derby in detail. The selection of photographs includes a nostalgic look back at the now-closed diesel depot at Saltley, close to the heart of Birmingham, as well as demonstrating the railway’s importance to Derby that continues to the present day.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56298116743541,"sku":"9781398124455","price":15.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781398124455_6c91ed06-32f9-4c2d-92f5-1953d15a1f27.jpg?v=1786018333"},{"product_id":"9781398102637","title":"Trains Through Nuneaton","description":"Nuneaton, the largest town in Warwickshire, sits on an important railway crossroads in the Midlands. At its Trent Valley station, the busy West Coast Main Line heads broadly north to south with the important link between Birmingham and Leicester crossing east to west. An equally important line heads south-east from the town, through Coventry and Leamington Spa, carrying local passengers as well as an important freight link with the docks at Southampton. This line to Coventry and beyond has had a chequered past and was one of many victims of the Beeching Axe before, fortunately, reopening to passengers in the late 1980s.The author has spent many thousands of hours watching and photographing rail movements through Nuneaton station. This publication takes a look at the considerable variety of both passenger and freight traffic on offer to the enthusiast, ranging from the everyday to the unexpected.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56298255155573,"sku":"9781398102637","price":15.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781398102637_4c7ec157-69a9-4c63-9ce0-10cee042fd59.jpg?v=1786018364"},{"product_id":"9781398109001","title":"Trains Around Eastleigh and Southampton","description":"This area of the south coast of England has long been a popular ‘hotspot’ for enthusiasts to sample the variety of traffic on offer on today’s railway. The area is home to one of the UK’s most significant ports as well as railway workshops that continue to see a variety of uses despite mounting competition from overseas. Interest is sustained by virtue of both Freightliner’s base on the outskirts of Southampton and GB Railfreight’s recent takeover of the yard at Eastleigh. In addition, both DB Cargo and Colas Rail locos are regular visitors to the area.In Trains Around Eastleigh and Southampton, John Jackson takes a look at the variety of traffic passing through the area. The freight traffic for both the railway industry’s external customers and its own Network Rail use is included. This area of Hampshire also serves as an important commuter catchment area for London and a popular destination for rail travel for leisure purposes. The modern-day rail picture is completed with a look at these passenger services operated by South Western Railway, Southern and Cross Country.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56298310336885,"sku":"9781398109001","price":15.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781398109001_3cbcf4b1-baaa-4ce9-9d2a-066678fcb310.jpg?v=1786018558"},{"product_id":"9781398102699","title":"Railways of Leicestershire in the Twenty-first Century","description":"A quick look at today’s map of the county of Leicestershire and it’s easy to see that its county town, Leicester, sits at an important railway crossroads.With London to the south and the East Midlands cities of Derby and Nottingham to the north, the line linking St Pancras and Sheffield is crossed in Leicester by one of England’s most important east–west link lines. This link provides passenger rail journey opportunities to and from Birmingham to the west and the cities of Peterborough and Cambridge to the east. In addition, it is playing an increasingly important role as a freight route to and from East Anglia, including connecting the UK’s largest container port at Felixstowe with a number of terminals across the country. The line between Leicester and Burton on Trent may have lost its passenger service, but it remains an important access route to the quarries in the area around Coalville.The county’s railways may have been drastically pruned by the Beeching Axe, but they still have a wide variety of traffic on offer. In this book John Jackson looks at the variety of traffic at work on the county’s main lines. The story is completed by a glance at today’s roll of Brush’s workshops in Loughborough and loco servicing and stabling facility now occupying the former depot at Leicester itself.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56298357227893,"sku":"9781398102699","price":15.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781398102699_a0b7a0a7-104a-4803-953c-4b191cc5f3a0.jpg?v=1786018368"},{"product_id":"9781398108868","title":"Containers by Rail in the UK","description":"The importance of our railways in the movement of sea containers cannot be overstressed. Industry figures suggest that one in four of all containers arriving at UK ports move onwards via the UK rail network. This is particularly significant to the railfreight sector given the dramatic downturn in coal traffic in recent years.Four of the country’s major players in the freight sector – Freightliner, DB Cargo, GB Railfreight and Direct Rail Services – all move significant volumes of container traffic to almost all parts of the UK. This book takes a look at these movements, from the major ports of Felixstowe and Southampton to destinations as far afield as Bristol and the Scottish Highlands.John Jackson takes an in-depth look at the diversity of locomotives and container wagons used on these services provided by these key players on our twenty-first-century railway.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56298401857909,"sku":"9781398108868","price":15.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781398108868_bb5c062f-dac2-4353-a549-2f608cab0c76.jpg?v=1786018553"},{"product_id":"9781398108981","title":"25 Years of the Class 66","description":"The ubiquitous Class 66 locomotive first emerged onto the British freight scene in 1998, with many people getting their first close-up look at these engines at the Open Day at Toton in August that year. The twenty-fifth anniversary of the class in operation in Britain was celebrated in 2023. Since pioneer 66001 went on display at the, then, EWS-owned depot back in 1998, over 400 of these machines have seen service in Britain through all the major rail-freight operators. This book looks at the rapid cascade of these locomotives across the country in that twenty-five-year period. The Class 66’s area of operation extends from the china-clay traffic in the South West of England through to services to both Fort William and Inverness in the Scottish Highlands. It is also a celebration of the variety of traffic on offer to the observer of our railways today.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56298403070325,"sku":"9781398108981","price":15.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781398108981_8580bbce-e740-4d1b-b463-19b3e124861b.jpg?v=1786018557"},{"product_id":"9781398123533","title":"The Changing Rail Scene in South Wales","description":"\u003cp\u003eSouth Wales has long been a popular destination for railway enthusiasts. The area’s industrial heartland has ensured a continuous procession of trains carrying a variety of freight traffic. While most of the coal traffic may have gone, the visitor to Cardiff or Newport can still be rewarded with a mix of twenty-first-century rail freight.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn this book, the many changes to the South Wales rail scene in the last thirty years are traced. The 1990s will be remembered as the decade of privatisation. The many freight trains on display before the arrival of the ubiquitous Class 66 saw the end of much of this variety of motive power. In particular, the English Electric Type ‘3’ and Brush Type ‘4’ gave way to General Motors’ Class 66 locos shortly after privatisation.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOn the passenger front, most Welsh services have been in the hands of Arriva, under their Arriva Trains Wales branding. More recently, these services have been operated by Transport for Wales. The electrification of the Great Western Main Line from London Paddington to Cardiff has seen the end of the ever-popular High Speed Trains on services to the capital. The long-serving ‘Pacers’ have also gone and there are motive-power changes in the Valleys as well as on the main line.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eJohn Jackson draws on his substantial photographic archive as he explores the changing rail scene in South Wales from the 1990s to the present day.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56298470015349,"sku":"9781398123533","price":15.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781398123533_7569759c-26cf-4aaa-af2a-2d85e3f612dc.jpg?v=1786018303"},{"product_id":"9781445672687","title":"British Freight Trains","description":"Anyone who has tried to watch freight moving on UK rails in the last few years will realise these are challenging times for the rail freight industry. Stand by any railway line and you may have to wait a while to see a freight train of any sort pass by. Indeed, many large areas of our rail network see no regular freight traffic at all. Against a backdrop of declining volumes, the competition between the various freight companies has never been so acute. The ‘big five’ freight haulage companies, DB Cargo, Freightliner, GB Railfreight, Direct Rail Services and Colas Rail, dominate the market. It is no surprise that all five companies include the ubiquitous Class 66 within their fleets, with over 300 examples of the class operating across the country. The observer could be forgiven for thinking that these are the only traction in use today. Of course they dominate the current UK freight scene but that is by no means the whole story. Numerous other classes of both diesel and electric locomotives contribute to the mix of rail freight traction on display in the UK today. Class 37 diesels and a reducing number of AC electric locomotives have notched up half a century of freight haulage. They can be seen today working alongside newer examples such as the Class 68 and 70 locomotives.With an array of rare and unpublished images, John Jackson offers a fascinating overview of the freight scene today.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56299462820213,"sku":"9781445672687","price":15.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781445672687_3f5f156e-3899-4174-9014-ef65e743fa7d.jpg?v=1786020951"},{"product_id":"9781445683164","title":"Class 68 and Class 88 Locomotives","description":"In 2012, Direct Rail Services (DRS) placed an order with Vossloh (now Stadler Rail) for its first Class 68 diesel locomotives. The fleet size has now grown to thirty-four. Their later order was for ten Class 88 locomotives, an electro-diesel variant of the Class 68. Since delivery, the 68s have worked alongside the operator’s fleet of ageing, so-called ‘heritage’, locos. With these locos now at their disposal, they are surely destined to be the mainstay of the company’s fleet for some time to come.In addition to their use as a mixed traffic locomotive for DRS themselves, the company lease these locos to passenger train operators such as Scotrail and Chiltern Railways. Their wide range of duties is covered in this book. Here, John Jackson tracks the first few years of their use on an increasing variety of workings.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56300109496693,"sku":"9781445683164","price":15.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781445683164_e852caaf-055b-43e6-b13a-bc2e7e5f030f.jpg?v=1786020460"},{"product_id":"9781398117839","title":"Railways Around the Fens","description":"\u003cp\u003eOccupying approximately 1,500 square miles of the East of England, the Fens are notorious flatlands lying very close to sea level. Extending across much of Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Lincolnshire, they offer a rare chance to see Britain’s railways in action against one of the most attractive rural backdrops in the country.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSadly, the Cambridgeshire town of Wisbech, often referred to as the capital of the Fens, has long been removed from the railway map. Today’s Fenland railways, however, linking Cambridge and King’s Lynn and the cathedral cities of Peterborough and Ely, both continue to cross this beautiful countryside. Various passenger-train operators provide vital links serving local communities, while longer-distance ones offer both commuters the chance to reach London and the leisure traveller a choice of airports. Most UK freight operators also cross the Fens with the major port of Felixstowe ensuring a constant procession of container trains through the area.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Fens’ attraction is in its rural setting where today’s modern railway sits alongside relics of a bygone age, including manually operated level crossings and semaphore signals. John Jackson takes an in-depth look at what the railways of the Fens have to offer today through a vibrant selection of images and informative captions.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56312238637429,"sku":"9781398117839","price":15.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781398117839_da6af9f6-8e81-4c59-af79-936f9ad42a1b.jpg?v=1786018094"},{"product_id":"9781529227222","title":"Cross–Examination on Trial – Advocacy and Vulnerability in Criminal Trials","description":"Amid growing public concern about the negative effect cross-examination has on vulnerable witnesses, this book examines the effect of recent reforms to the practice across the different jurisdictions of the UK and Ireland. Drawing on observations and transcripts of trials and interviews with judges, advocates and intermediaries, the book provides an evaluation of cross-examination in trials involving vulnerable witnesses and the extent to which reforms are producing meaningful change. The book’s analysis sheds new light on the significance of cross-examination in criminal trials and provides evidence-based solutions for further changes to enable vulnerable witnesses to give their best evidence to the court.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56368064397685,"sku":"9781529227222","price":84.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}]},{"product_id":"9781398123878","title":"50 Gems of Bedfordshire","description":"\u003cp\u003eBedfordshire may be among England’s smallest counties, but its 700,000 residents and increasing visitor numbers have a wealth of places to explore within its boundaries. Alongside the urban areas of Luton and Bedford, the county offers plenty of green spaces, including the Chiltern Hills. The county has connections with John Bunyan, author of Pilgrim’s Progress, Catherine of Aragon and the Whitbread family, dating back some 250 years when the brewing pioneer was MP for Bedford. In this book local authors John Jackson and Jenny Jackson reveal the vital role a Bedfordshire barn played during the Second World War, exactly why Luton Town Football Club are appropriately nicknamed ‘The Hatters’, the churchyard that inspired J. M. Barrie’s character of Wendy in Peter Pan, and much more.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e50 Gems of Bedfordshire explores the many places and their history that make this part of the country so special, including natural features, towns and villages, buildings and places of historical interest. Alongside justly famous attractions, others will be relatively unknown, but all have an interesting story to tell.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56368752230773,"sku":"9781398123878","price":15.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781398123878_980aea5d-27e9-4c61-95dc-8bf862faa11e.jpg?v=1786018315"},{"product_id":"9781398124493","title":"40 Years of Class 90 Locomotives","description":"\u003cp\u003eAt the end of the 1980s a fleet of fifty Class 90 electric locomotives was to commence service for British Rail. The rail privatisation in the following decade saw the fleet divided between a number of private operators, including Virgin Trains and Rail Express Systems. Their duties extended to both passenger and freight work across most of the country’s electrified network.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhile some examples have been sidelined, the majority of the fleet is still going strong approaching its fortieth anniversary in traffic. During that time, these locomotives have sported a variety of liveries, reflecting their diverse ownership and usage. The class spent many years at work on passenger duties along the length of the West Coast Main Line as well as Great Eastern flagship services between London and Norwich. These stalwarts even made appearances on both Anglo-Scottish sleeper services and were frequently hired in to perform East Coast Main Line passenger duties between King’s Cross and Yorkshire. Often operating in pairs, the class was used by both Freightliner and DB Cargo for their longer-distance container workings.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eJohn Jackson highlights the diversity of the class with photographs from all electrified corners of the UK railway network across their four decades at work, proving they retain their worth on the network today.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56368752427381,"sku":"9781398124493","price":15.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781398124493_7e42c404-08be-43c5-8661-92713f0721ed.jpg?v=1786018335"},{"product_id":"9781398126695","title":"Goods Wagons in the UK","description":"\u003cp\u003eSince the railway’s TOPS coding system was introduced in the 1970s, much has changed in the railfreight sector, notably rail privatisation in the mid-1990s. This book documents the wide variety of wagons built in the twentieth century and around the millennium that remain in use or were so until recently.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eJohn Jackson sheds light on the assortment of letters and numbers these wagons carry, the UK wagon numbering systems in place today being complex and sometimes off-putting to the observer. Wagons built since 2008, for example, including some conversions and rebuilds, now conform to the Europe-wide system of wagon numbering (RIV). Earlier private-owner and air-braked wagons, however, do not. There is no doubt that a greater understanding of the UK wagon fleet enhances the appreciation of the rail enthusiast’s hobby, whether for railway modelling purposes or simply enjoying watching the real thing, or both.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDrawing on one of the largest collections of wagon photos on the internet, John Jackson explores almost 200 wagon survivors with the featured wagons arranged numerically for ease of reference.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56368754295157,"sku":"9781398126695","price":15.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781398126695_4e4c8333-0468-4ed2-8b67-f55684c16398.jpg?v=1786018398"},{"product_id":"9781398126855","title":"Trains Through Bletchley and Milton Keynes","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe stations at Bletchley and Milton Keynes are 2 miles apart on the busy West Coast Main Line, approximately 50 miles north of London Euston. The railway first came to Bletchley in the 1830s, while the city of Milton Keynes was not conceived of until the 1960s; its Central station did not open until 1982. Before then, the area’s rail focus was the old town of Bletchley on the southern fringe of what became Milton Keynes. In addition to the town enjoying north–south rail services on the WCML, it was well served by services to Oxford, Buckingham and Banbury to the west and Bedford and Cambridge to the east. Much of the east–west route has gone with just the 16-mile branch to Bedford in use today. Nevertheless, Bletchley still hosts a depot and stabling sidings, chiefly for passenger units nowadays.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe area’s rail lines demonstrate how busy the WCML is here, with trains passing almost every minute of the day. Despite the inevitable downturn following the Covid-19 pandemic, around 5 million passengers still use Milton Keynes’ Central station each year. With both local and express passenger trains regularly passing on this four-track rail highway, it is a remarkable timetable achievement to accommodate any slower moving freight trains.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eJohn Jackson examines the traffic in the area in detail through a wealth of original images and informative captions.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56420568465781,"sku":"9781398126855","price":15.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781398126855_ac5d2e26-4848-4777-b765-3e437668c7a8.jpg?v=1786034270"},{"product_id":"9781398126794","title":"Locomotive Liveries in the Privatisation Era","description":"\u003cp\u003eMany will recall the days last century when British Rail ‘blue’ dominated the liveries of most locomotives and rolling stock. The safety feature of yellow ends was the only concession. This external appearance was to be the norm for almost two decades until, in the 1980s, rail sectors were introduced and a little more variety crept in.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt was not until the privatisation of the UK’s railways in the mid-1990s that this colour-scheme stranglehold was to be fully broken. The newly appointed train operators of both passenger and freight traffic saw the opportunity that branding offers to an industry that had been slow to realise that ‘shop window’ potential. The thirty years since privatisation has, without a doubt, made the rail scene far more attractive to the enthusiasts’ eyes. Displaying the corporate liveries of these businesses has become the norm. Locomotive liveries have become far more distinctive and, with many examples, identification with the railways’ key customers is being recognised.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eJohn Jackson takes a detailed look at the corporate liveries applied by the rail fleet operators in the years following privatisation. From connecting with the events and milestones of the royal family to the country standing alongside Ukraine, this book explores the increasing number of examples seen since rail privatisation in the mid-1990s.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56420569219445,"sku":"9781398126794","price":15.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781398126794_8c602234-5bcc-44c0-abed-f59fe7ad2221.jpg?v=1786034270"},{"product_id":"purposeful-maths-teaching","title":"How to think about Maths Teaching","description":"Great maths teaching opens doors for pupils, giving them new ways of   experiencing the world. But, like maths itself, great maths teaching is not merely following a   formula or memorising a set of teaching strategies. As maths teachers, we need   to make decisions that lead to great learning. This means knowing what it   means to learn maths, how pupils learn maths, and the actions we can take to   do this. This book unites these elements, providing a practical guide to help maths   teachers think about teaching so they can apply the evidence around effective   maths teaching in their classrooms.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57502262100341,"sku":"9781036019839","price":17.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781036019839.jpg?v=1789395854"},{"product_id":"british-freight-trains-in-the-2020s","title":"British Freight Trains in the 2020s","description":"\u003cp\u003eIt has been thirty years since the transition from a nationalised to a privatised railway in Britain. Much has changed on the railways since then, particularly in the battle for market share for the rail sector in the freight transport marketplace.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBritain's privately owned freight operators have had to contend with a rapidly changing environment as well as fierce competition from the road hauliers. This inevitably means competing amongst themselves to try and gain market share in moving freight. These challenges are set against the global backdrop of needing to pursue ‘greener’ goals, and at a time when both electricity and diesel fuel prices continue to rise. Perhaps the most significant impact has been felt by the elimination of the movement of coal from the country’s railways. Other traditional markets, such as the steel sector, are looking increasingly vulnerable for freight operators. The need to adapt to these changes has never been more important.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eJohn Jackson takes an in-depth look at the various operators in this sector, as well as the types of freight now being carried. From shipping containers from British ports to a variety of construction materials for the ever-changing population needs, there is still plenty of freight action to be seen on Britain’s railways.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57503814386037,"sku":"9781398131781","price":15.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781398131781.jpg?v=1786867526"}],"url":"https:\/\/backstory.london\/collections\/author-john-jackson.oembed","provider":"Backstory","version":"1.0","type":"link"}