Flying Scotsman: LNER Class A3 Pacific 4472, 1923 onwards (Owners' Workshop Manual)

This book has been trapped in development hell for so long (it first appeared on Haynes' website back in 2013), I'm amazed to see it finally published. The constant delays no doubt worked in its favor; the engine was recently restored to mainline running, and this book contains an excellent assortment of color photographs chronicling 4472's extensive decade-long restoration.Train buffs will find a lot to love here, ranging from a table comparing the valve characteristics of the A1, A3, and 7MT classes, closeup views of steam injectors and mechanical lubricators, to a gradient profile of the East Coast Main Line, and photos depicting the assembly of a new copper firebox. Haynes finally seems to be wising up when it comes to the production values of their books. The pages are thicker and of better quality than previous Haynes titles, the photos are of excellent quality, without the compression issues which have marred other manuals, and I didn't find a single typo this time around. On a historical level, this book provides an excellent overview of the career of LNER Class A1/A3 No. 4472. There's an excellent assortment of photographs from the archives of the National Railway Museum, a number of useful tables, and some interesting asides on British locomotive design of the period.Having purchased Haynes' previous manuals on the A1 "Tornado" and Castle Class "Pendennis Castle," I'm somewhat (but not overwhelmingly) disappointed by the level of technical detail here. There are original specifications for components such as the axle-boxes and coupling rods, many excellent photographs from the archives of the National Railway Museum, and some nicely detailed blueprints. The descriptions of how these engines were built, along with the numerous shop-floor photographs, were particularly enlightening. However, much of the book focuses on the history of the train - its development, paint schemes, tenders, modifications, boiler changes, etc. - rather than on the nitty-gritty technical material you'd expect from a "workshop manual." There's still quite a bit of fascinating material, but I found myself wanting to known more about the inner workings of "Flying Scotsman," rather than its history, which isn't exactly obscure at this point.This book continues the trend of Haynes' Workshop Manual series being extraordinarily fascinating, but rather lacking in cohesiveness. Its 172 pages are jam-packed with details without a whole lot of breathing room. It's still an excellent reference book for train buffs and fans of "Flying Scotsman," but I wish Haynes would find a more streamlined method of combining historical and technical details in future volumes.

Too long of a wait for the book. As are the rest of their books, wonderful.

Book is great, well go down very with with my fiancé who loves steam trains.Could have been better packaged though as it only came in a bag, therefore it's been damaged as per photos.

A really useful (but of course highly amusing) book! I bought it for a birthday present for our son who loves steam.

Good book and reasonable price

brilliant idea to produce a workshop manual for anyone who owns a loco!!!! great photos and coverage of the restoration. an absolute must buy.

Got this for my Dad. He loved it.It turned up early, well wrapped and in great condition.