Ron Bateman joined the Swindon Works Training School in 1977, when it was still building locomotives, so witnessed the final decade of 147 years of engineering there. In this personal account he also draws on the memories of colleagues to recall the battle to save this iconic institution, which was central to life and business in Swindon, and the wider railway network, before its final closure in 1986.
In 1977, the iconic Swindon Works was building locomotives. By 1986, it was shut down. In The End of the Line, Ron Bateman recounts the fight to save Swindon Works, its 3,500 jobs and the livelihood of the entire community it represented. Initially joining through the Works Training School in 1977, Ron witnessed this tragic struggle and the crushing blow dealt to the industry that had defined Swindon for generations. Combining personal recollections with information and interviews from many other insiders and railmen, this book provides the only comprehensive chronicle on the final decade of 147 years of railway engineering and a fateful milestone in the history of Swindon.
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https://www.psbooks.co.uk/the-end-of-the-line-2539424The End of the Linehttps://www.psbooks.co.uk/media/catalog/product/5/3/539424_media-0.jpg8.998.99GBPInStock/History/History/Categories/Industrial History/Non-Fiction/Categories/Transport/Non-Fiction/Categories/Transport/Rail/Campaigns/Our Favourite Books of 2025/Almost Gone/Almost Gone History/Almost Gone/Almost Gone Non-FictionRon Bateman joined the Swindon Works Training School in 1977, when it was still building locomotives, so witnessed the final decade of 147 years of engineering there. In this personal account he also draws on the memories of colleagues to recall the battle to save this iconic institution, which was central to life and business in Swindon, and the wider railway network, before its final closure in 1986.Paperback00https://www.psbooks.co.uk/media/catalog/product/5/3/539424_media-1.jpghttps://www.psbooks.co.uk/media/catalog/product/5/3/539424_media-2.jpgadd-to-cartrrp_info:£16.99productId:169185bic_code:HBTB, HBTK, JHBL, KJZ, KNGT, TRF, TRFT, WQHHBTB, HBTK, JHBL, KJZ, KNGT, TRF, TRFT, WQH£16.99Ron BatemanGeneral232x155mmHistory PressYesPaperbackSocial & Cultural