This is Tim Hillier-Graves’ third volume about the LNER’s Chief Mechanical Engineers, following his previous studies of Sir Nigel Gresley and Edward Thompson.

Published by Pen and Sword in June 2021, this hardback book measures around 28.6 cm x 22.4 cm, has 264 pages, and 250 colour and black and white photographs and illustrations. It has a published price of £40, and at the time of writing it can be obtained online from Pen & Sword for a 10% discount and from Amazon for around £30.

With seven chapters, the book is more of a biography than a study of locomotives designed by Peppercorn. Chapter 1 “Born to be an Engineer” covers his early life in Herefordshire through to his apprenticeship with the Great Northern Railway, whilst Chapter 2 “Growing to Maturity” continues his story from the end of his apprenticeship, and Chapter 3 “All Change” traces his career whilst Gresley was CME,

The author has done well to search out Peppercorn’s drawings, and they clearly illustrate his attention to detail. The page on the left shows his drawings demonstrating aspects of steam distribution, whilst in the diagram on the right he demonstrates the amount of energy created by burning 1 lb of coal; this diagram was published in the LNER’s monthly journal.

In 1937 two B17’s were given streamlining similar to the A4s, specifically for hauling the “East Anglian” express from Liverpool Street. It is interesting to compare the two illustrations on the left, as the coloured version at the top is an artist’s impression taken from the photograph at the bottom. Peppercorn travelled on the inaugural run on 27th September 1937 and recorded it in great detail as shown on the right, even making notes of the route’s gradients and the train’s layout.

.Chapter 4 “Peppercorn in his own words” describes his time at Stratford, first as Assistant Mechanical Engineer then Locomotive Running Superintendent. In Chapter 5 “Rising to the Challenge” we learn about his time in charge of Darlington Works, Chapter 6 “Chief Mechanical Engineer” goes through Peppercorn’s achievements, whilst Chapter 7 “Finale” assesses his career.

The following pages are taken from Chapter 6, and we see how Peppercorn develops a Thompson Class A2/3, shown at the top, into his own version of an A2.

Peppercorn achieved wider recognition when A2 No. 525, later LNER No. 60525, bore his name. Here we see the locomotive under construction in Doncaster Works.

Before 525 was officially named, a group photograph was taken at Doncaster Works on 31st December 1947, the last day of the LNER, of some of the staff who had been involved in the loco’s construction. The official naming took place on 18th February 1948 by Ronald Matthews, himself honoured with an A4 bearing his name. Peppercorn gives a passable impression of Winston Churchill with the cigar in his hand.

The author has obviously spent many hours researching the life of this largely unknown and talented engineer. He takes us through his early life as one of 14 children growing up in rural Herefordshire in late-Victorian Britain before becoming an apprentice under Nigel Gresley. With much biographical detail, we see how Peppercorn rose to the top of his profession with Gresley as his leader and mentor.

It was interesting to find just how closely Peppercorn’s life and career followed Gresley’s. Like Gresley, Peppercorn’s father was a Church of England clergyman, and they both shunned an academic qualification by going straight from school into an apprenticeship with the Great Northern Railway under Henry Ivatt. Whilst Peppercorn joined the Great Northern Railway in 1905, that was the same year that Gresley joined the company as Carriage & Wagon Superintendent. Until Gresley’s death in 1941, both men worked in the same department.

The book treats us to a fascinating picture of Peppercorn’s time as an apprentice in Doncaster Works during the Edwardian era, followed by various postings in the locomotive running department., the first being at the large engine shed at Colwick in Nottingham. During the First World War he volunteered and served in the Royal Engineers. After the war, he transferred to workshops at Doncaster, eventually becoming Carriage & Wagon Works Manager in the early years of the LNER.

The author shows how Peppercorn, despite the rigours of a tough engineering career, retained an almost boyish enthusiasm for steam locomotives and their performance. It is clear that he was a man who was passionate about the locomotives he was working with, and was much liked and respected by those who worked with and for him, including the many footplate men he met.

In summary, although there is much technical detail, the author has managed to combine much biographical detail about Peppercorn’s life with a description of his career and achievements in a very readable way. The book is well illustrated and beautifully presented, and written with understanding revealing many interesting insights into the LNER’s last CME. It is highly recommended.

The book is available to purchase from Amazon and from Pen & Sword.

We would like to thank Pen & Sword for providing RailAdvent with a copy of the book for review.