Bert Hooker: Legendary Railwayman

A.E. "Bert" Hooker joined the Southern Railway's Locomotive Department in 1934. Starting as an engine cleaner, he worked his way up through the ranks to become a steam locomotive driver - every boy's ambition at the time. Ultimately in the Top Link - the highest grade - of Nine Elms Depot, London, on the Southern Region, he was a perfectionist on the footplate and worked on steam until its demise in 1967. Many interesting footplate trips are described, including high speed runs, as well as some more mundane, but nevertheless interesting journeys on locomotives in run down condition requiring great footplate skill to keep to time. One of Britain's best known and most popular steam locomotive drivers tells his own story. Illustrated with photographs of the trains referred to in the text, including rare and special workings with the author on the footplate. Details the work of the driver and the art of firing a steam locomotive by first-hand descriptions of runs on the footplate of Bulleid Pacifics, a Brighton Atlantic, Southern Moguls, old LSWR types, and Gresley A4 Pacifics including the record holding Mallard.