BTPHG member Malcolm Clegg has written another railway crime related book to be published within a few months and it takes another place on the virtualBookShelf.
The book, published in hardback by Pen & Sword, contains 192 pages and will be released on 30th April 2026. It will be available from Amazon, other online retailers, most book shops or direct from the publishers, and is available to pre-order now.
From the publisher’s description:
The vast majority of Britain’s railways were built between 1825 and 1900. By the turn of the nineteenth/twentieth century, over one-hundred different railway companies were operating in Britain on more than 22,000 miles of railway track.
Although these new railways brought prosperity to the nation, and enabled goods and passengers to be speedily transported the length and breadth of the country for the first time, this remarkable feat of engineering brought with it some unwelcome side-effects, one of which was crime.
A vast number of passengers travel on Britain’s railway network each day, and unfortunately, a considerable amount of crime does occur on our railways. The types of crime committed on Britain’s railways varies considerably from petty or minor crime, to more serious crimes.
Most people would consider that the crimes of “murder” and “attempted murder” are amongst the most serious crimes committed in our country, irrespective of where these appalling acts take place.
A substantial number of murders and attempted murders have taken place on the railway network of Britain, during its two-hundred years of operation, and details surrounding the vast majority of these cases are revealed in this book, some for the first time.
The author has spent many months of research, mainly through old newspaper archives, in order to obtain establish and publish historical information about murders committed on Britain’s railways, many of which have been long forgotten, or lost in the annals of time.
Congratulations to PCSO Thomas Gilmour and Station Support Officer Marion Dudgeon, who were each awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) in the New Year Honours List 2026.
Additionally, Commander Paul Brogden of the Metropolitan Police was awarded the King’s Police Medal (KPM). Paul served with BTP between 2007 and 2018, most recently as Chief Superintendent (Divisional Commander – B Division).
Two members of British Transport Police (BTP) staff have been recognised with honours in The King’s annual New Year’s Honours list.
PCSO Thomas Gilmour, based in Preston, and Station Support Officer Marion Dudgeon, based in Newcastle, were each awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM).
Thomas, a School Liaison Officer, was nominated for his outstanding efforts to promote railway safety as well as his substantial charity work.
Last year he took on the monumental task of educating nearly 30,000 young people across Greater Manchester about railway safety – a significant increase in the average 25,000 per year he has spoken to in his eight years in the role.
His engaging school sessions have been widely praised by teachers and students for helping children understand railway safety.
In addition, he has launched an abandoned bicycle re-distribution scheme in partnership with a cycle charity, as well as spearheading a scheme to send stationary to children in Malawi.
In 2025 Thomas was awarded the Greater Manchester Community Hero Award, and he furthers his efforts to keep young people safe with fire, water and road safety advice as a volunteer with Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service.
Marion Dudgeon started her policing career in 1980 and has been recognised for 45 years of dedicated service while continuing to inspire colleagues today.
Her early achievements included helping plan the first Great North Run in 1981 and contributing to Sunderland’s Safer Cities programme, which launched innovative crime prevention projects for young people.
In 1994, Marion joined BTP as manager of the Area Justice Unit, earning respect for her meticulous approach to criminal justice. She personally reviewed 1,000 witness statements after the Selby train crash in 2001 as part of the welfare process for her team.
Returning to BTP in 2017, she continues to mentor colleagues and support major operational changes, cementing her reputation as a trusted and influential figure.
A colleague said of Marion: “She is truly the beating heart of our station. Her knowledge, care, and commitment inspire us all.”
Chief Constable Lucy D’Orsi said: “Thomas’s passion makes him a fantastic example of what it means to be a PCSO, and he is a true credit to BTP. It is humbling to see someone dedicate so much of their time to supporting charity work.
“Marion’s contributions have shaped policing in the north east, strengthened the criminal justice system, and supported countless colleagues and communities.
“The respect and admiration their colleagues have for them can’t be underestimated and make them a credit to our force.”
Thomas said: “I feel honoured and privileged to receive this level of recognition for services to railway safety. Being able to make a positive contribution both locally and internationally that will have a lasting impact on communities.
“You can never put statistics on how many lives you save by doing these talks, but I’m sure it does save lives, and that’s job satisfaction at its highest.
“I just try to be a decent human being every day. Any individual can make the world a better place, and every small act of kindness and selflessness makes the world just that little bit better to live in.”
On receiving her honour, Marion said: “I was shocked, delighted and honoured to receive this nomination and I had to re-read the letter several times before I believed the content.
“As I am nearing the end of my policing career, this really is the icing on the cake of a fantastic career in policing during which time I have worked and continue to work with some amazing people, some no longer with us, and I have been given some fantastic opportunities to expand my experience and knowledge. Thank you to everyone for supporting and believing in me over the last 45 years.”
As we approach Remembrance Day it is time again to reflect on those RDC officers who were killed during the conflicts, either overseas or on duty.
A reminder that we have the Roll of Honour pages detailing those officers.
The 2025 Poppy Appeal for the Royal British Legion is now underway. There are volunteer collectors out on the streets and stations. You can also donate online.
A new railway crime related fiction book is now available.
Cabinet of Curious Cases by E. H. Lockwood
Cabinet of Curious Cases (cover)
Step back into the shadowed world of Britain’s railways with Cabinet of Curious Cases — a collection of historical mysteries blending fact, fiction, and the forgotten origins of railway policing.
From the first recorded railway murder investigation on the Stockton & Darlington line in 1827, to echoes of the Crimean War, to spectral mysteries on the Isle of Man and beyond, these stories weave together gripping narrative with real history.
Inside the Cabinet, you’ll discover:
Murder on the Darlington Line (1827): Constable John Metcalfe investigates the brutal death of mine owner Percival Drake aboard Locomotion No.1, inspired by the earliest days of railway policing.
Echoes of Balaclava: The story of William Nicholson, a Crimean War veteran who went on to serve as a Railway Police Inspector.
Phantom of the Rails: A chilling Victorian mystery set against the backdrop of the Isle of Man’s steam railway.
Death in the Dugout & The Final Watch: Later tales linking wartime sacrifice, railway policing, and the enduring duty of constables across generations.
Why this book matters
Lockwood’s stories celebrate the little-known history of the world’s first railway constables while offering compelling tales for lovers of mystery, history, and crime fiction alike.
Cabinet of Curious Cases is available in A4 print for £9.99
Not directly involving policing, but the BTPHG have been supporting Railway 200 this year, marking the 200th anniversary of the modern railway. This has been celebrated with a commemorative poem from Poet Laureate Simon Armitage CBE.
Titled ‘The Longest Train In The World’, the poem is published as part of Railway 200, a national celebration of the past, present and future of the railway, exploring how this British invention has shaped our lives and livelihoods.
Rail’s bicentenary is inspired by the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway on 27 September 1825, a journey that changed the world forever.
Reading by Simon Armitage, filmed in Marsden, West Yorkshire.
The Longest Train In The World
We stood in a northern field and witnessed it
rocketing past, barrelled and chimneyed,
towing an open-top truck, kicking up dust
and chucking out sparks as it cantered
the metal road. We gasped and it gasped back.
It kept coming: we sat with our legs dangling
over a stone bridge as it steamed along,
cheeks and chest puffed out, lungs heaving,
hauling the golden age and ragging a blue sky
with silver clouds. We saluted – it hooted back.
It kept on coming: from steep embankments
and country platforms we whistled and flagged,
tried to peek inside the upholstered Pullmans
and catch the eye of important someones
riding on plush cushions; we waved,
hoping a gloved hand might wave back.
It kept on coming: we clapped like mad
when its diesel engines went like the clappers,
gawped from city streets and apartments,
smiled at hundreds of faces, as if the carriages
whooshed entire towns of passengers station
to station. It kept on coming, tunnelling
under mountain ranges then vaulting ravines
and canyons. When sleepwalking coaches
shushed through curtained suburbs at night
we wished them sweet dreams; when freight containers
trundled and rumbled down branching branch lines
we nodded a knowing wink to the rolling stock
and it winked back. It just kept on coming:
we fist-bumped and high-fived the sleek machines
of the future, some bulleting here to there,
some gliding on air. And we waited to clock
the last guard’s van swinging its red lantern,
but that didn’t happen: rounding the globe
coupled nose to tail to nose to tail that train
was two centuries long and still counting.
Last year I posted a piece about the Court of Appeal verdict on two innocent men who had their convictions quashed. Sadly, neither Saliah Mehmet or Basil Peterkin lived to learn of their exoneration. They were two more victims of the disgraced BTP officer Derek Ridgewell.
This week (17th July 2025) another two men were cleared. So far, 13 cases have been overturned.
Errol Campbell, who died in 2004, had been jailed for 18 months for theft and conspiracy to steal while Ronald De Souza, who was part of the group known as the Stockwell Six, was detained for six months for attempted robbery.
Assistant Chief Constable Charlie Doyle said BTP was “sincerely sorry” to those affected by the criminal actions of Ridgewell.
“[His] appalling actions in the 1970s and 1980s led to the criminalisation of innocent people,” he said.
“I am disgusted by the actions of Derek Ridgewell, and while we know we can’t change the past, his actions do not represent the BTP of today.
“We’re continuing to review records relating to his corrupt practices, which includes those relating to officers who were associated with DS Ridgewell or may have assisted him in his criminal activity. We continue to actively pursue a criminal investigation into the actions of those involved and will present a file to the CPS for consideration once we have completed our enquiries.”
Time for our occasional reminder that in the ‘Pages’ column to the right of the screen we have a link called ‘Website Updates’.
Unsurprisingly this links to the Website Updates page. If you are a regular visitor to the site it’s a handy page to look at to see what new articles and items of interest have been added to the website recently.
Of course smaller items, such as photographs in the Photo Gallery, are being added all the time – so it’s still worth having a look around the site to see what you might find!
A dedicated British Transport Police (BTP) employee credited with having a ‘profound impact on the force’ has been awarded an honour in The King’s Birthday 2025 Honours List.
Retiree Jane Horton, who served as Finance Planning and Analysis Manager up until her retirement last year, has received a BEM (British Empire Medal) for services to policing.
In her thirty years at BTP she is credited with advising senior leaders and helping strengthen stakeholder relations, and it was in no small part thanks to Jane’s financial expertise that additional policing could be secured for the launch of the Elizabeth line in 2022.
Through Jane’s efforts, the force was able to recruit and deploy extra officers for the opening. Such was her success that her plan has now been adopted for all future large-scale events.
Additionally, while working for BTP Jane was an active and dedicated volunteer, supporting the Force’s policing of the London Olympics in 2012.
Despite being retired she continues to commit her time to BTP, assisting in the training of police dogs and playing an integral role as an actor for major incident scenario planning.
On receiving this honour, Jane said: “When the post arrived, I stared at the envelope for a good 10 minutes – On His Majesty’s Service – trying to work out what it was that I had been handed. I was totally stunned when I opened the envelope, and still am to this day.
“During my years in BTP, there have certainly been some challenging times and I have tried to support operational policing through finance decisions. I am humbled to think that my contribution has been valued sufficiently to be nominated and I am honoured to accept this award on behalf of all the wonderful people who have worked with me over the years.”
Chief Constable Lucy D’Orsi said: “Jane’s contribution to BTP cannot be overstated – in her long career not only has she laid the financial groundwork for future large-scale operations but she continues to serve the Force with her tireless volunteering.
“I am extremely proud to see her efforts recognised with a British Empire Medal in His Majesty’s Birthday Honours and would like to congratulate her on this remarkable achievement.”
