This book largely focusses on an era from 1923 until 1948, which many people consider to include the golden age of Britain’s railways. It was a time when the railways were managed and operated by four private railway companies, namely the LMS, LNER, GWR and SR. The book itself concentrates on just two of these companies, the LMS and the LNER, together with the use of steam locomotives, which was the main form of traction on the railways at that time. Locomotive sheds and works. were the mainstay of Britain’s railway network. Railway works were responsible for building, maintaining and eventually scrapping of locomotives, whilst sheds were the depots which housed and serviced locomotives. These places were generally out of bounds to members of the public, for reasons of health and safety and for security purposes. However, the photographs which appear in this book reveal the true extent of what these places were like, and some give an insight into how steam locomotives were built. Many of the photographs used are rare and unusual for a variety of reasons, with some being published for the first time. They should appeal to railway historians and steam enthusiasts alike.