The Great Central Railway : What Really Happened.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Palmer, John.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

London and North Eastern Railway--History.

London and North Eastern Railway.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (346 pages)

Edition:

1st ed.

Other Title:

Great Central Railway

Place of Publication:

: Pen & Sword Books Limited, 2021.

Summary:

"Sets out to address what really happened... through its LNER days and into British Railways custodianship... A well-researched and presented tome." --Key Model WorldFor generations of railway enthusiasts and more lately for social historians, the life and times of the former Great Central Railway and in particular its extension towards London in the 1890s and closure seventy years later, have generated considerable interest and controversy.Although many books have been written about the Railway, the majority in recent times have concentrated upon providing a photographic record and a nostalgic look in retrospect to what was generally perceived as happier times for the route.None of the books have presented the outcome from thorough research into the business aspects of the Railway and its successive private (LNER) and public (BR) ownerships through war and peace, and times of industrial, social and political change, that influenced and shaped the demand for a railway service.While retaining a strong railway theme throughout, the book identifies the role played by successive governments, the electricity and coal industries and the effect of social change that, together resulted in a case for closure.The content of the book replaces much supposition with fact and places on record what really happened.The final part of the book acknowledges the fine work over half a century of volunteers dedicated to saving a section of the line in Leicestershire."A valuable addition to the social and political history of railways." --The Railway Correspondence and Travel Society

Contents:

Intro

Title

Copyright

Content

Acknowledgements

Maps, illustrations, diagrams and photographs

Glossary of terms

Preface

Foreword

CHAPTER 1 Sir Edward Watkin's time with the GCR

CHAPTER 2 Sir Sam Fay's time with the GCR

CHAPTER 3 The Great Central Railway's financial structure and performance

CHAPTER 4 LNER times

CHAPTER 5 Programme of Nationalisation and planning to 1955

CHAPTER 6 Developments from 1955 to 1959 and longer term consequences

CHAPTER 7 The former GCR lines in the 1950s

CHAPTER 8 Movement of coal South by rail

CHAPTER 9 Dr Beeching and the Transport Act 1962

CHAPTER 10 The political process of change for railways in the 1950s and 1960s

CHAPTER 11 The former GCR lines in the 1960s

CHAPTER 12 Accidents of timing

CHAPTER 13 Extant/preserved/restored examples of route, architecture and traction and rolling stock of the former GCR

Conclusions

APPENDIX 1 Capital investment in years 1900-12

APPENDIX 2 Extracts from BTC Freight Charges 1957

APPENDIX 3 Examples of Working Timetables and their interpretation

APPENDIX 4 Development of competing railways in East Midlands coalfields

APPENDIX 5 Memorandum to British Railways Board dated 11 December 1963

APPENDIX 6 Meeting of representatives of British Railways Board and of three Regions held on 14 July 1964

APPENDIX 7 Meeting with Minister of Transport and representatives of that Ministry with representatives of BRB on 11 February 1965

APPENDIX 8 Meeting with Members of Parliament at BRB headquarters on 26 February 1965 and press coverage 27 February 1965

APPENDIX 9 Alternative passenger transport facilities following proposed closure 3/4 September 1966

Bibliography.

Notes:

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

ISBN:

9781526777928

1526777924

9781526777904

1526777908

OCLC:

1314610309