Although the Paddington to Birmingham and Wolverhampton section of the Great Western Railway received publicity, both from the company itself and from those writing on locomotive matters, it was a different matter where the line north of Wolverhampton was concerned. The change-over at Wolverhampton (Low Level) from the mighty 'King' class locomotive, which brought the train for Birkenhead from Paddington, to a 'Hall' or aged 'Saint' which would take it forward to Chester, seemed to symbolise the attitude of the GWR to all that was beyond — as being of secondary importance. Yet it has one unique claim to fame; alone among all the company's main lines it had never been part of the broad gauge, being from the first laid on what Paddington insisted was the narrow gauge. Thus Wolverhampton became a natural frontier at which traffic had to be trans-shipped until the narrow gauge rails reached Paddington, and through services became possible. The practice of changing engines at Wolverhampton was therefore established; at first as an absolute necessity, and later as an operating convenience.

This volume is an attempt to trace the history and development of those lines from their earliest days up to the day when the GWR ceased to exist. Little now remains of what was once the Northern Division: at Wolverhampton both the Low Level station and the once great locomotive works and running sheds have disappeared; north of that place no branches remain - apart from three short freight lines - and the service on the remaining section of the main line is but a shadow of what it was in former days. Though the differences in locomotive practice ended at the beginning of this century, it was not until many years later that all traces of the former individuality disappeared —indeed, it might be claimed that it was only with the transfer of those lines to the London Midland Region and the demise of steam that the Northern Division died and was buried.