Paddington to Birkenhead
Explores the fascinating history of the Great Western Railway route from London to Birkenhead, covering its diverse landscapes, competition with rivals, and legacy.One of the most diverse, complex and thus most interesting railway routes in the land. It set out as part of Brunel's Great Western Railway plan to cover the country in Broad Gauge tracks but, faced with competition from its great rival, the London and North Western Railway, the Broad Gauge never got beyond Wolverhampton and eventually succumbed to the four feet, eight and a half inches proponents. However, by then the GWR had established itself as the principal provider of passenger and freight trains between London and Birkenhead, on the west bank of the Mersey, facing, and on occasions, snarling at, the LNWR opposite. Its most powerful locomotives, the Kings, powered its expresses from 1927 until the end of steam as far as Birmingham and Wolverhampton, whilst Stanier Pacifics worked those between Euston and Liverpool Lime Street. The route passes through the manicured fields and hunting country of the Chilterns, then plunges into that was once the deeply industrial, polluted but still productive Black Country, before emerging into Shropshire, now essentially rural but where the Industrial Revolution may be said to have originated. As the line approaches the important junction of picturesque Shrewsbury, possessor of a station built out over the River Severn and the largest traditionally worked signal box in the world, the Welsh mountains appear on the western horizon. The line then enters the Principality before returning to England at Chester, and the final stretch, along the banks of the Mersey, to journey's end.
A History of Kepstowe Freight Services Ltd.
Documents British hauliers' adventures through the Soviet Union, detailing challenges, corruption, and change.The long-haul overland run to the old Soviet Union, prior to Perestroika, Glasnost and the collapse of communism under Gorbachov back in the 1980s and 90s, has never really been documented in a book. Other than an occasional tale of the difficulties involved verbalised in pub conversations, and passed by word of mouth to those who might be interested enough to listen, it would never see the light of day.This tome is an excellent attempt by the author, Mat Ireland, to put that lack of the written word to rights.There have been a numerous books published about the 'Golden Era' of overland haulage to the Middle East. But while that particular adventure was taking place, there were other 'frontiers' being quietly breached and explored by hauliers pursuing a different market.This book is the story of just such a transport company, Kepstowe Freight.Sometimes known as the 'alternative Middle East', the overland routes into the old Soviet Union have never had their story recorded in print, yet they were just as gruelling on the driver and machine as any trips to the Arabian Peninsula or Iran. Whereas most people's perception of the Middle East is all sunshine and sand, the same people's perception of Russia is often all snow and freezing temperatures. Of course, neither picture is the total truth and the overbearing heat, arid climes and loneliness of the central Russian steppes could easily rival the desertification of Syria and Iraq.Kepstowe Freight was one of the British companies pioneering these early journeys behind the Iron Curtain into the 'dark, scary' world of Soviet Union communism.Featuring mostly previously unseen photographs, A History of Kepstowe Freight Services Ltd repeats drivers' recollections about their escapades and adventures into a land rarely visited by western society, and their attempts at dealing with the inherent corruption, horrendous roads and unpredictable weather along the way. It goes on to show how exponentially rapidly the country changed after its 1990 collapse, with the accompanying culture shock to the populace and especially to the transport system.
G T 3 the Unrealised Dream
Tells the story of John Hughes' persistent efforts to develop gas turbine locomotives, culminating in the creation of the GT3.During the 1930s, with the end of steam locomotion being actively considered, many looked to develop engines powered by diesel and electricity. But for the coming of war in 1939, and the acute recession that followed, much more might have been accomplished. Nevertheless, the die had been cast and during the late 1940s and 1950s designers stepped up their efforts to find efficient and effective alternatives to steam. Amongst their number was John Hughes who, whilst working for English Electric designing turbine engines, saw how this power source might be used to drive locomotives. In part he was encouraged in these endeavours by William Stanier's 1935 introduced Pacific 'Turbomotive' and wished to continue this experiment and exploit its potential more fully.For some the development of diesel and electric engines was the only logical course to take, but not Hughes who doggedly pursued his dream of seeing gas turbine engines dominating Britain's railway network. Despite many setbacks, and lack of funds, he refused to give up and eventually saw his locomotive, GT3, built and then begin a prolonged period of trial running. But having finally achieved this ambition, the powers that be decided that the experiment had gone far enough and would go no further, much to Hughes' anger and frustration.This is a 'what might have been story' which, although ultimately unsuccessful, tells us much about the nature of design engineering and the need for determined, radical thinkers who are prepared to push back scientific boundaries. In this case GT3 came close to being the first of a type of engine that might have changed the direction Britain's railways took as steam came to an end. As such it is a near miss worthy of remembrance.To aid this work Hughes left a unique archive of documents, drawings and photos, in public and private hands, to help us understand the nature of his work and what drove him on despite the long odds he faced.
How to Build a High-Performance Mazda Miata MX-5, 2nd Edition
Build the Miata of your dreams with this all-encompassing, photo-illustrated modification guide. Across four generations and for more than three decades, Mazda's Miata MX-5 has proven itself one of the most popular and versatile sports cars ever created. Its ability to fulfill any goal from street cruising to on-track competition has spawned an extensive performance aftermarket, making it possible for owners to build their dream Miata. In fact, the selection of parts is so broad that it can be difficult for many would-be builders to select and tune the proper combination to achieve their MX-5 goals. Enter author, MX-5 expert, and Flyin' Miata co-owner Keith Tanner and How to Build a High-Performance Mazda Miata MX-5. This thorough manual--revised and updated throughout to cover the fourth-generation Miata--will guide you through how to best modify your car to suit your goals. Key chapters in the book cover: Engine management systems, intake/exhaust, and forced inductionClutch and transmissionSuspension and handlingBraking, wheels, and tiresBody and chassisEngine swapsBeginning with a modification philosophy, Tanner then discusses which upgrades will help you reach your goals and how to tune your MX-5 to maximize its potential. From cross-country touring to autocross to track racing, the Miata can do it all and How to Build a High-Performance Mazda Miata MX-5 ensures you know how to make it happen!
New Ford Bronco Perf Modifications
In 1966, when Ford launched its first-generation Bronco, the other Detroit manufacturers didn't produce anything quite like it. The new little Bronco had utility and charm, and it was more refined than the Jeep of the era. Beginning in 1978, Bronco chassis mirrored the F-150 until 1996. At that time, market forces dictated a change to a vehicle that was more practical, such as the Ford Expedition, which replaced the Bronco.In response to consumer demand and nostalgia, an entirely new generation of Bronco was launched in 2021. However, the planning process began several years later. Ford confirmed the return of the Bronco at the 2017 North American International Auto Show and spent the next four years building excitement for the vehicle's launch.In New Ford Bronco: Performance Modifications, off-road veteran and expert Don Alexander assembled this guide, which includes options to make the new Bronco an even more capable vehicle. Covered are model histories, suspension, brakes, tires, electronics, tops, armor, recovery, drivelines, overlanding, and more. If you already have a Bronco that you want to modify or you are thinking about purchasing one in the future and want to know your options, this guide is vital.
Turbo
The photos in this edition are black and white.Turbochargers are incredibly appealing to performance enthusiasts because of their ability to add free horsepower - and lots of it - to almost any engine or vehicle. Today, it seems easier than ever for the average gearhead to harness the incredible power-building capability of turbochargers. Those who want to increase the performance of their existing turbo system, or those who want to add a turbo to an existing engine, have never had so many components, vendors, and information resources to choose from. Unfortunately, this wealth of options and opinions can be hard to understand and navigate. That's where Turbo: Real World High-Performance Turbocharger Systems comes in. This book is the most complete, detailed, up-to-date resource on anything and everything to do with turbochargers. Whether you're running gas or diesel, 4, 6, 8, or more cylinders, this book will teach you to design, test, install, and maintain your high-performance turbo system. You'll learn how turbochargers work, how to choose the right turbo or turbos for your engine by reading flow maps, and how to tune your engine to run perfectly with your turbo system. Author Jay Miller uses more than 300 photos and the perfect blend of technical and common-sense information to help you build boost fast and make more horsepower and torque. He discusses the various components of a turbocharger and explains how to decode complicated turbocharger model numbers, compressor maps, and other specs. If you run into problems with your turbo system, there's also a detailed chapter on failure analysis to help you figure out what went wrong and how to fix it.
How To Restore Your Volkswagen Beetle
The photos in this edition are black and white.It's about time a thorough, hands-on restoration book has been authored by authorities who know the Beetle like the back of their hands. With this book, you will have everything you need to bring your old or new Beetle project back to life. Perhaps the most charismatic automobile ever, the Volkswagen Beetle was the longest-running, most-manufactured automobile on a single platform of all time. From 1938 to 2003, more than 21.5 million "Bugs" were assembled, distributed, and sold on nearly every continent in the world. Throughout the Beetle's successful run, many of these cars have been relegated to project car status due to their age or condition. Airkooled Kustoms, a VW restoration shop in Hazel Green, Alabama, brings its expertise in restoring these cars to book form with this all-encompassing compilation. Restoring your Beetle is covered through step-by-step sequences from unbolting that first nut through polishing the paint on your freshly restored Bug. The specialists at Airkooled Kustoms walk you through the proper disassembly methods, restoring versus replacing components, and reassembling your restored Bug, covering everything related to the body, undercarriage, and interior along the way.
The Pioneer Route and Electric Railways of Northeast Ohio
The Pioneer Route and Electric Railways of Northeast Ohio presents mass transit in the nineteenth- and twentieth-century urban United States from a business history perspective. Starting in the 1890s, a revolution in transportation--interurbans--emerged from Ohio's largest cities and, within a single decade, extended throughout the surrounding countryside. These systems of interconnecting electric railways were made possible by a favorable political and business culture and fed by an insatiable demand. Driven by a growing population and the desire for efficient transportation services, nascent business organizations acquired the cash, approval of local governments, and essential support of the incipient electrical goods manufacturing industry. In all of this, Ohio would be the leader. Ohio's people, businesses, and resources cultivated the emergence of the electric railway industry to a scale unsurpassed elsewhere in the US. The rise and fall of one of its' largest systems, the Cleveland, Southwestern & Columbus Railway, demonstrates how this marvel of transportation engineering and business acumen developed in Ohio and the effect it had on the Cleveland metropolitan region. Known originally as the Pioneer Route, the Cleveland, Southwestern & Columbus Railway was constructed by a group of investors, bankers, promoters, and industrialists. The CS&C is an ideal example of how an interurban led the way to the development of a modern rural infrastructure in the region.
How to Hop Up Chevrolet & GMC Engines
This Roger Huntington classic will help you understand how things were done in 1951! This book is a reprint of the original edition first published in 1951. Some of the items covered are speed tuning theory and practice, building costs, as well as horsepower and torque specifications for 1937-54 Chevrolet 6 cylinder engines, including the 228, 248, and 270 GMC engines. Procedures and components detailed include fitting the block, stock and special Wayne and Horning cylinder heads, rocker arms, pushrods, cams, boring for larger pistons, rings, drilled crank-shafts, intake manifolds, exhaust headers, ignitions and superchargers.Also highlighted are classic speed equipment components developed and manufactured by Barker, Belond, Besasie, Champion, Clark, Edelbrock, Edmunds, Chet Herbert, Hilborn, Horning, Howard, Iskenderian, Italmeccanica, JE Pistons, Mallory, McGurk, Newhouse, Nicson, Spalding, Tattersfield, Venolia, Vertex, Wayne, Wico and Zoller.Explanation of the Chevy power family is included, as well as the path to power, block modification and assembly, estimating horsepower, and planning the job to get the most performance for your money. Clearances and general operating instructions are provided for the Wayne-equipped engine. Whether you want to hop up your Chevrolet 6 for a period correct build, or are just curious about how things were done in 1951, this little guide will be a fun addition to your library.
Mopar B-Body Restoration
The photos in this edition are black and white.The Chrysler B-Bodies from 1966 to 1970 are the most-restored cars in the franchise's storied history. Popular models among them include the Charger, Coronet, GTX, Road Runner, and Super Bee. Restoring a Mopar B-Body is easier than ever with numerous of available aftermarket parts suppliers. This book offers an in-depth resource for restoring a Mopar B-Body. Step-by-step processes walk you through the tasks of metal repair, suspension rebuild, driveline verification, interior restoration, and more. All components are addressed, creating the most complete resource in the marketplace. With multiple step-by-step procedures and more than 400 color photographs, this is the most-complete hands-on book ever written covering these coveted Chryslers. This will be your primary resource when it's time to tackle a full restoration or complete a simple repair on your prized Pentastar. You won't find a cheaper "part" that helps you more than Mopar B-Body Restoration 1966-1970.
Roads Not Yet Travelled
What will the world be like in 2050? This book explores possible future worlds through eight speculative fiction stories. Taking in automation, big data, climate catastrophe and government dysfunction, each tale looks at the world through the eyes of people whose lives have been influenced by the societies they live in and the transport systems they live with. Asking important questions about our values and the role of transport in society, this book will encourage planners, policy makers, researchers and anyone interested in a positive future for public mobility to take the steps to ensure we get there.
