Kidderminster Diesel Depot: The Old Oak Common of Preservation is a new book from publishers Chime Whistle Publishing and is a pictorial guide through Kidderminster Diesel Depot on the Severn Valley Railway.
The book is written by author Jonathan Webb and features around 300 pages full of pictures showing staff and volunteers working on the diesel locomotives based at the Severn Valley Railway.
This hardback book measures 30.5cm x 21 cm and at the time of writing can be picked up for £29 from Chime Whistle Publishing.
The locomotives featured in the book range from Class 50s, 50033 ‘Glorious’ to Warships and beyond.
Chime Whistle’s latest book provides an incredible insight into the behind the scenes work that goes on at the depot, and some scenes that the general public won’t be able to capture.
The book mainly features large photos on every page, with just captions to explain the photos. You can look through from beginning to end, or you can just pick a random page to explore. We found ourselves spending a good few minutes exploring each image as there is so much detail in each.
I found it fascinating how much work goes on behind closed doors, whether it be engine repairs or giving the locomotive a fresh lick of paint.
In summary, even if you hadn’t had an interest in diesel locomotives at the Severn Valley Railway, you will find this book a really interesting insight into the diesel world at the Severn Valley Railway, sometimes a picture really is worth a thousand words, and there are hundreds of pictures in this book.
The book is available to purchase from Chime Whistle Publishing.
We would like to thank Chime Whistle Publishing for providing us with a copy of the book for review.
Responses
Hi William,
If I might just correct you a little. There are 26 diesel locos listed as being based on SVR according to its website, 27 if you include the DMU. The Severn Valley Railway itself do not own any of them, Those not privately owned are under the care of the SVR (Holdings) company, which are the various diesel shunters used to ‘service’ the railway. All main line loco’s on the SVR are in the hands of private groups/societies etc, who also funded the building of the Kidderminster Diesel Depot too. Just a little credit to where its due, please.
Wow I must say, the Severn Valley Railway really does have plenty on it’s plate when it comes to Restoring/Preserving ex-British Rail Diesels within the UK Preservation Movement… Giving the SVR even further more to do when running A Restored ex-Cross Country (Heritage) Railway up and down the Versatile Valley of the River Severn en-route.
Furthermore, This’ll be a fine ”must-read” book for when it hits the shelfs of mostly station gift shops… I also like how the SVR’s own diesel depot at Kidderminster is creatively described as the ”Old Oak Common” of the UK Preservation Movement.
Quite A Creative Way of keeping the Spirit of ”Old Oak Common” Alive – Even though these Diesels the SVR own and run are well maintained at it’s Kidderminster Located Diesel Works/Allocating Accommodation.