Böcker av Stephen Owens

This book is a portrait of the period that became known as the era of BR Blue - the 1970s and 1980s. The railway appeared to be caught up in a world of its own. It was still recognisably the one from the steam era, and happy to be living in the past rather than making strides toward the future. As with most of the nationalised industries, labour relations were somewhat fraught. The railway invested in electrification and everything else was standardised to minimise costs. Unsurprisingly, stagnation haunted the network. Some would suggest the railway was doing a particularly fine job given the circumstances. It was fortunate to be blessed with a dedicated workforce and supported by thousands of people who travelled by train. For those of us who remember those days fondly, this is how we would prefer to remember that time.

Have you ever wondered how the first century church developed its leaders?In The Next Leader, Stephen D. Owens helps church leaders look at leadership development by taking a trip back in history to examine the life of John Mark and the path God used to develop him into an amazing leader. While many Christians will attest to John Mark being the writer of the Gospel of Mark, many do not realize the process God used to prepare him for such an awesome responsibility. Not only was John Mark a gospel writer he was also a very capable leader within the early church who developed other leaders. Discover how God developed him and how God can use you and your church to develop leaders as well.

From 1978 onwards, during the period often referred to as BR Blue, Stephen Owens was able to photograph for posterity some of what he saw on the railway. Some might suggest the period didn't have the interest of the steam era - how could it? It was an era when the railway appeared neglected and threadbare; it was being run on a shoestring, and it looked and felt like it. Be that as it may, it had its devotees and supporters. Some rail enthusiasts instinctively recognised that the situation couldn't and wouldn't last. In a way it was similar to the end of steam: the clock was ticking, but this time no-one knew when it would stop, nor what would follow. With a wonderful selection of images, this nostalgic look back at the era of Rail Blue in northern England will delight rail enthusiasts both young and old.

The author celebrates the era of BR blue, with a wealth of previously unpublished images. Illustrating perfectly why so many view the BR Blue period with such fondness.