NEW FEBRUARY 2018.  The buzzword in British Railways in the 1950s was modernisation. This DVD contains every issue (33 in all) of Transport Age - an informative but little-known lavish glossy magazine they produced for the benefit of their commercial customers, to keep them abreast of new developments. Certainly it makes it clear that the railways were trying hard to gain new business.

The articles were well ilustrated by good quality photographs, many in colour. They included topics such as new ways with containers, Peterborough's new goods station, railway remodelling in the Sheffield area and improved shipping facilities to help with exports. A businessman's personal needs were not ignored - the car sleeper service to Scotland, for instance, the latest innovations in catering for travellers and the new Gatwick Airport station are all there.

There were in-depth analyses of the industry in many areas such as Clydeside and Lincolnshire. Other articles described the work of some of the customers of rail - from the making and distribution of Heinz oxtail soup to razor blades or live chicks or whisky, to name but a few. The full contents list of each issue may be downloaded here

An entirely different publication from the time was the British Transport Review, and its complete run of 40 issues is also on this DVD. This was much less lavish.  Most of the articles consisted solely of text, but a few included drawings, graphs and even photographs - invariably in black-and-white.  It was intended to serve professional people involved in railway management. It kept them informed of what others in transport outside their immediate sphere were doing, thinking or researching. Discussion from its readership found a place at times.

The topics range widely, but generally resemble papers given at a conference.  Examples picked at random include World Trends in Rail Fare Levels, Transport for the Coronation Spectator, the Employment of Older Men and Women, and a series on Keeping Trains to Time.  You can see the full contents lists here.

As a bonus we have added the popular versions of the BTC annual report and accounts for the years from 1954 to 1959. These provide summaries of the full versions, and are illustrated.

All the files are word-searchable and are provided with bookmarks to the main articles.  We have also included a rapid search facility, by which you enter your keyword and all the mentions in every one of the 79 publications (more than 5200 pages in total) come up. One additional guidance file concerning help with the search facility is very recent and is not on the DVDs: you may download that HERE.

If you place an order for this item, the DVD will be posted to you. An amount to help with postage and packing will be added at the checkout, before you commit yourself to buy.

NOTE:-

1. This is a data DVD not a video one. It will not play on an ordinary domestic DVD player.

2. You can also purchase and download the contents of the DVD here.

We very much regret that this DVD can be posted only to UK addresses owing to difficulties we have experienced with customs duties. Overseas customers are of course still more than welcome to purchase the download version – you will receive the same files without incurring the inevitable considerable delay. If you have serious misgivings as to whether your local internet will be up to the task, please feel free to consult us at sales@gersociety.org.uk.