Multiple units are the unsung heroes of the modern railway system.
Although they make up the main form of rolling stock for the majority of
rail passenger services operated worldwide, particularly in high-density
inner-city and urban traffic, they see much less media coverage than the
more popular locomotive types. The many advantages of these units, as
opposed to locomotive-hauled trains, include higher capacity, less track
damage and lower operating costs, making them an ever more popular
choice for modern, cost-conscious railway operators in Great Britain and
around the world. Illustrated with more than 180 photographs, this book
details the history of the major unit types that have operated on the
UK's rail network, beginning with the earliest Victorian-era steam
railcars and the first late-Victorian experiments with electric-powered
traction, and going right up to the modern hybrid-powered multiple units
currently under development. The story is told through a selection of
photographs, class details and tables listing the major unit types
classified by propulsion method and generation.
