British Rail Through the 1980s

The 1980s was a decade of change for British Rail as the BR regions began to be replaced by sectorisation. The BR Blue livery, however, lived on through the decade, gradually being replaced by new liveries.

In this photographic journey through the rail network of the 1980s, Stephen Dance portrays the last years of BR Blue and Large Logo liveries, alongside the new sectorisation and special liveries. Images include Deltics and other motive power on the East Coast Main Line; the Midland Main Line prior to the introduction of HSTs; Class 50s and other motive power on the Western Region; the electrification of the Great Eastern Main Line; and a variety of other scenes including loco-hauled services in Scotland and photographs documenting Works and freight across the country.

With an array of superb photographs, Stephen Dance presents a fascinating overview of the railway scene in Britain in the 1980s.