Dr Beeching's axe 50 years on : illustrated memories of Britain's lost railways
Holland, Julian, 1946-2013
Books
With images of protests, last trains and the subsequent dereliction, personal anecdotes and stories and the 13 maps used by Dr Beeching to explain his plans, Julian Holland presents a vivid picture of this dramatic and drastic shake-up of Britain's railways. With images of protests, last trains and the subsequent dereliction, Julian Holland presents a vivid picture of this dramatic and drastic shake-up of Britain's railways.Julian Holland's Dr Beeching's Axe 50 Years On is a unique memorial to all that was lost following the publication of the 'Beeching Report' on 27 March 1963. Across the land railways were ripped up and communities were broken apart. Vast regions of England, Scotland and Wales were left without a railway link to the outside world. Skilled railwaymen, who for generations had loyally given their all to the 'company' were tossed aside for the sake of a politically motivated love affair with road transport. There was never any joined up thinking ('Integrated transport?' 'What's that?'), it was never properly thought through and our country has suffered ever since - witness the near gridlock on our motorways. Uniquely, the author has tried to include every railway line that was closed as a result of the 'Beeching Report', and more. They are all shown on Map 9 in Part 2 of the 'Report' and have been annotated for clarity at the beginning of each regional chapter in the book. Needless to say it is not plain sailing: there are lines that were marked for closure on the maps but were closed before publication of the 'Report'; there are lines that were not originally on Beeching's original hit list but which were closed anyway; there are lines that were originally marked down for closure but which were fortunately reprieved. There are even one or two which seem to have not existed at all! The author has included them all. Julian Holland's Dr Beeching's Axe 50 Years On is a unique memorial to all that was lost following the publication of the 'Beeching Report' on 27 March 1963. Across the land railways were ripped up and communities were broken apart. Vast regions of England, Scotland and Wales were left without a railway link to the outside world. Skilled railwaymen, who for generations had loyally given their all to the 'company' were tossed aside for the sake of a politically motivated love affair with road transport. There was never any joined up thinking ('Integrated transport?' 'What's that?'), it was never properly thought through and our country has suffered ever since witness the near gridlock on our motorways. Uniquely, the author has tried to include every railway line that was closed as a result of the 'Beeching Report', and more. They are all shown on Map 9 in Part 2 of the 'Report' and have been annotated for clarity at the beginning of each regional chapter in the book. Needless to say it is not plain sailing: there are lines that were marked for closure on the maps but were closed before publication of the 'Report'; there are lines that were not originally on Beeching's original hit list but which were closed anyway; there are lines that were originally marked down for closure but which were fortunately reprieved. There are even one or two which seem to have not existed at all! The author has included them all. Profusely illustrated with photographs of all of the Doctor's victims in their dying days, Dr Beeching's Axe 50 Years On tells the story of each of these lost lines from birth to death and afterlife and, as the days on the calendar relentlessly go by, unveils the wilful destruction of Britain's railways back in the 1960s.
Main title:
Author:
Holland, Julian, 1946-, author
Imprint:
Newton Abbot : David & Charles, 2013.
Collation:
192 pages : illustrations (black and white, and colour), maps (colour) ; 27 cm
Notes:
Includes index.
Contents:
THE CASUALTIES1. Taunton to Chard and Chard Junction - 10 September 19622. Gwinear Road to Helston - 3 November 19623. Plymouth to Launceston - 31 December 19624. Chacewater to Newquay - 4 February 19635. Churston to Brixham - 13 May 19636. Witham to Yatton via Cheddar - 9 September 19637. Tiverton Junction to Hemyock - 9 September 19638. Brent to Kingsbridge - 16 September 19639. Stoke Canon (Exeter) to Dulverton via Tiverton - 7 October 196310. Yeovil Town to Taunton - 15 June 196411. Bristol to Portishead - 7 September 196412. Tiverton Junction to Tiverton - 5 October 196413. Avonmouth to Filton Junction - 23 November 196414. Lostwithiel to Fowey - 4 January 196515. Chippenham to Calne - 20 September 196516. Barnstaple to Torrington and Halwill Junction - 4 October 196517. Axminster to Lyme Regis - 29 November 196518. Yeovil Town to Yeovil Pen Mill - 29 November 196519. Evercreech Junction to Highbridge - 7 March 196620. Bath Green Park to Bournemouth Central - 7 March 196621. Mangotsfield to Bath Green Park - 7 March 196622. Seaton Junction to Seaton - 7 March 196623. Holt Junction to Patney via Devizes - 18 April 196624. Yeovil Town to Yeovil Junction - 3 October 196625. Yatton to Clevedon - 3 October 196626. Taunton to Barnstaple - 3 October 196627. Halwill Junction to Bude - 3 October 196628. Halwill Junction to Wadebridge - 3 October 196629. Gunnislake to Callington - 7 November 196630. Bodmin Road to Bodmin, Wadebridge and Padstow - 30 January 196731. Sidmouth Junction to Sidmouth/Exmouth - 6 March 196732. Okehampton to Bere Alston - 6 May 196833. Barnstaple to Ilfracombe - 5 October 197034. Taunton to Minehead - 4 January 197135. Wareham to Swanage - 3 January 1972*36. Coleford Junction to Okehampton - 5 June 1972*37. Maiden Newton to Bridport - 5 May 1975* = not listed for closure in the 'Beeching Report'
ISBN:
9781446302675 (pbk)
Language:
English
BRN:
781743