Diesel Pioneers
David N. Clough

The author examines the various classes of diesel locomotive that emerged as a result of the Modernisation Plan. His survey begins by looking initially at the precursors to the designs that were developed from 1955 onwards, such as the LNER prototype of the 1930s and the first two LMS main line diesels (Nos 10000/1). He then concentrates on the pilot scheme designs that emerged during the late 1950s. Some of these designs, such as the future classes 20 and 31, have proved to be hugely successfully with examples still in service almost 50 years after their introduction. Others, however, proved less so, most notably the Metro-Vick Co-Bo class 23 'Baby Deltics'. Also featured are the various prototype locomotives such as D0260 Lion and D0280 (D1200) Falcon and the test-bed locomotives of classes 37 and 47. Alongside the author's detailed narrative of the history and operational record of the various types, the book also includes over 175 vivid illustrations portraying the locomotives featured.