Ep.5 - Edward Thompson, Hero or Villain? (with Simon A. C. Martin)

Every story from history has its heroes and villains, but how much of our perception today is influenced by the storytellers?

Today I'm joined by Simon A.C. Martin. Simon is working on a book about the engineer Edward Thompson, who took over from Sir Nigel Gresley as Chief Mechanical Engineer on the London and North Eastern Railway at the height of World War Two. Thompson has often been criticised for his designs and decisions, but how much of this is justified?

Simon is looking to set the record straight using contemporary reference material.

This episode is a DELUXE version on YouTube, with video and photos.

Click HERE to listen to the episode on Audioboom

iOS users - click here to listen on Apple Podcasts

Books referenced:

Thompson and Peppercorn, Locomotive Engineers (Colonel H.C.B Rogers) - ISBN 1901945022, Book Law Publications

Locomotive Panorama (E.S.Cox) - ISBN 9780711005433, Ian Allen

Steam in the Blood (Richard Hardy) - ISBN 0711002118, Littlehampton Book Services Ltd.

Many thanks to the Railway Correspondence and Travel Society for permission to use the marked photos.

List of Wikimedia Commons attributions in the YouTube version:

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Norwich_Thorpe_station_geograph-2835036-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Harringay_West_Thompson_L1_2-6-4T_geograph-2878719-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Grantham_Locomotive_Depot_geograph-2272186-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:63760_LNER_Class_O1_2-8-0_locomotive.jpg

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:63664_LNER_O4_2-8-0_locomotive.jpg

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Grantham_Stopping_train_to_Peterborough_geograph-2847038-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:LNER_B12_8572_at_Winchcombe_(8816205019).jpg

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:V3_tank_on_%27pilot%27_duty_at_Newcastle_Central_station_-_geograph.org.uk_-_295332.jpg

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Durham_Station,_with_local_train_from_Newcastle_geograph-2361855-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Engine_10000_(Wonder_Book_of_Engineering_Wonders,_1931).jpg

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Commemorative_plaque,_loss_of_LNER_A4_%27Sir_Ralph_Wedgwood%27_during_WWII_air_raid,_NRM_York_30.06.2009_P6300138_(10161595836).jpg

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Comit%C3%A9_Dawes.jpg

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Worksop_Sidings_geograph-2464890-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Temple_Mills_Yard,_south_end,_with_a_2-8-0_geograph-2333264-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:London_Blitz_791940.jpg

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:York_Station,_with_Down_Parcels_train_leaving_-_geograph.org.uk_-_2259162.jpg

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Stoke_Hammond_Box_geograph-2711533-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:73129_Understeam_at_Railex_2013_Butterley_01.jpg

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Beautiful_Despite_Losing_A_Limb_-_61644_(16440001420).jpg

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Doncaster_Works_geograph-2377759-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:English_women_in_munition_factory._Women_and_men_working_in_storage_shed_for_large_shells._In_most_of_the_munition_cente_-_NARA_-_522871.tif

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Finished_locomotive,_Pacific_construction_at_Doncaster_works_(CJ_Allen,_Steel_Highway,_1928).jpg

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:H_N_Gresley.jpg

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Harringay_A_Gresley_K3_2-6-0_geograph-2343510-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Harringay_West_Thompson_L1_2-6-4T_geograph-2878719-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Heinkel_over_Wapping.jpg

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hull_Dairycoates_Locomotive_Depot_geograph-2358934-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:LNER_4-4-0_class_D49,_234_Yorkshire_(CJ_Allen,_Steel_Highway,_1928).jpg

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:LNER_Doncaster_Works_awaiting_the_Prince_of_Wales_(CJ_Allen,_Steel_Highway,_1928).jpg

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:LNER_train_of_container_wagons,_K3_4004_(CJ_Allen,_Steel_Highway,_1928).jpg

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Manchester_London_Road_Station_geograph-2350971-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:March_Whitemoor_Depot_geograph-2333255-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Neasden_Locomotive_Depot_geograph-2360083-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:New_England_Locomotive_Depot_geograph-2847647-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:New_England_Locomotive_Depot_Gresley_V2_geograph-2859123-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:New_England_Locomotive_Yard,_Peterborough_geograph-2848333-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:North_Eastern_1621_2_(5440854473).jpg

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:North_Eastern_Railway_Dynamometer_Car_National_Railway_Museum_York_Object_Number_1975-7050.jpg

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Penistone_Station_geograph-2383830-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Selby_station_Up_freight_entering_off_the_swing-bridge_geograph-2316605-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Stratford_Gresley_B17-4_%27Footballer%27geograph-2848722-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tay_Bridge_2_Station_geograph-2272329-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Up_Capitals_Limited_express_on_the_ECML_at_Wymondley,_south_of_Hitchin_2282866.jpg

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Walschaert_valve_gear_(Howden,_Boys%27_Book_of_Locomotives,_1907).jpg

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:York_Locomotive_Yard_with_A2-2_Pacific_geograph-2827807-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Worksop_Sidings_geograph-2464890-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:York_Station,_with_Down_Parcels_train_leaving_-_geograph.org.uk_-_2259162.jpg

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hugh_llewelyn_1540_(6325588628).jpg