Rails to Metro-Land - Softcover

Foxell, Clive

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0952918455 ISBN 13: 9780952918455

Publisher: Clive Foxell, 2005

Synopsis

A century ago, the Metropolitan Railway had been extended from a profitable base in central London through the sparsely populated countryside to the north-west of Buckinghamshire, by Sir Edward Watkin, a contentious Victorian entrepreneur. This push through the Chilterns was part of his ambitious scheme to link Manchester by rail to Paris. Although Watkin's plans failed with his death, a number of the untoward consequences of his actions fortuitously put his successors at the 'Met' in a unique position to exploit the surplus land adjacent to their lines, under the banner of 'Metro-land'. This aspirational promotional campaign created the image of an idealistic post-war lifestyle being based upon the concept of affordable housing of an individualistic character, set in pleasant countryside and yet within easy reach of London by the 'Met'. The propagation of the 'Metro-land' brand led to its wide adoption by the media and incorporation in our culture as epitomising a way of life. Indeed, it was so successful that the Met had to embark on a continuing programme of improving capacity to match the resulting growth in commuting.

Part of the attraction of Metro-land has always been the charming character of its trains. Again, this is largely due to Watkin in building the 'last main line', in the shape of the Great Central Railway (GCR), from the north to join the Met in Bucks and thence to a new terminus at Marylebone. However, with the end of his dream, a joint company had to be formed to manage this part, under rules of fiendish complexity. Even today, the rails to Metro-land remain as a 'Joint' operation between London Transport (LT) and Chiltern Railways. This book explains the origins, construction and evolution of Metro-land. How it was created and promoted to meet the pent-up desires of a post-First War society for affordable homes away from the already crowded and polluted London. Set in a convenient countryside, these commuters were catered for by a varied and fascinating railway and the estates it created as part of Metro-land, were immortalised by John Betjeman - becoming part of our heritage.

About this edition

• Publisher: Clive Foxell
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 0952918455
• ISBN 13: 9780952918455
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 168