Last Trains: Dr Beeching and the Death of Rural England - Softcover

Charles Loft

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1785908065 ISBN 13: 9781785908064

Publisher: Biteback Publishing, 2023

Synopsis

“The debate about Dr Richard Beeching will rage until the Second Coming – and probably beyond. But in Charles Loft’s careful examination of the Beeching Report, we have as fine a study as we are going to possess in the meantime.” – Peter Hennessy

“Loft’s great strength is his judiciousness. He understands the political processes and assesses them fair-mindedly. And his verdict will, I suspect, hold up better than any of Beeching’s judgements.” – Matthew Engel, Financial Times

“Prepare to be impressed, shocked and saddened … This is undoubtedly one of the best books of the year – a riveting read.” – Railways Illustrated

“Lucid, to the point, thought-provoking at every turn, Last Trains is a volume that everyone should read before making judgements about the rail closures of the Sixties.” – Heritage Railway

“Thoughtful and well-researched analysis.” – Edinburgh Evening News

***

During the course of the 1950s England lost confidence in its rulers and convinced itself it must modernise. The failing steam-powered local railways, run by Colonel Blimp, symbolised everything that was wrong with the country – surely the future lay in motorways and high-speed express trains? Along came Dr Beeching with his diagnosis, and suddenly branch-line Britain was gone for ever.

The debate about the Beeching cuts has raged ever since. In this superbly researched examination, Charles Loft exposes the political failures that bankrupted the railways and lays bare the increasing alienation of bureaucrats from the public they were trying to serve. The result is a fascinating study of a nation grappling to come to terms with modernity.

About this title

About the Author

Dr Charles Loft has been fascinated by derelict railways since his mother showed him the barren trackbed of the Hayling Island branch from a bridge at the age of three. Since then he has worked as an academic researcher and lecturer, teaching at Queen Mary University of London and Huddersfield University and spending a year as Fulbright Robertson Visiting Professor of British History at Westminster College, Fulton, Missouri. He currently works as a senior adviser at the Local Government Association.

Edition details

• Publisher: Biteback Publishing
• Publication date: 2023
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1785908065
• ISBN 13: 9781785908064
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 336