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Christian Wolmar

British Rail: A New History Hardcover – 9 Jun. 2022

by Christian Wolmar (Author)

42 ratings

in Railways History

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The authoritative and fascinating history of the rise and fall of the state-owned British Rail

'Wolmar's book is impeccably organized and makes a fast, enjoyable read' THE TIMES Literary Supplement
________

You think you know British Rail. But you don't know the whole story.

From its creation after the Second World War, through its fifty-year lifetime, British Rail was an innovative powerhouse that transformed our transport system. Uniting disparate lines into a highly competent organisation - heralding 'The Age of the Train' - and, for a time, providing one of the fastest regular rail services in the world.

Born into post-war austerity, traumatised, impoverished and exploited by a hostile press, the state-owned railway was dismissed as a dinosaur unable to evolve, and swept away by a government hellbent on selling it off.

Now, award-winning writer Christian Wolmar provides a new perspective on national loss in a time of privatisation.

British Rail is ripe for a new history.
_______

Praise for Christian Wolmar

'Wolmar is the high priest of railway studies' Literary Review

'The greatest expert on British trains' Guardian

'Our most eminent transport journalist' Spectator

'If the world's railways have a laureate, it is surely Christian Wolmar' Boston Globe

'Christian Wolmar is in love with the railways. He writes constantly and passionately about them. He is their wisest, most detailed historian and a constant prophet of their rebirth . . . if you love the hum of the wheels and of history, then Christian Wolmar is your man' Observer

Print length

416 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Michael Joseph
Publication date

9 Jun. 2022
Dimensions

15.88 x 4.45 x 23.5 cm
ISBN-10

0241456207
ISBN-13

978-0241456200
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Product description

Review

Wolmar's book is impeccably organized and makes a fast, enjoyable read ― The Times Literary Supplement

Wolmar is the high priest of railway studies ― Literary Review

Praise for Christian Wolmar ― -

The greatest expert on British trains ― The Guardian

Our most eminent transport journalist ― The Spectator

About the Author

Acknowledged as one of the UK's leading commentators on transport matters, Christian Wolmar is an award-winning writer and broadcaster specializing in transport, and the author of a series of books on railway history. He is a frequent speaker at conferences, regularly appears on TV and radio, and writes for a wide variety of publications including The Times, The Guardian, The Oldie, and Public Finance. His books include The Great British Railway Disaster (1997), Stagecoach (1999), Down the Tube (2002), The Subterranean Railway (2004), Broken Rails (2001, updated 2005), On the Wrong Line (2005), Fire and Steam (2009), Blood, Iron and Gold (2009), Engines of War (2010), The Great Railway Revolution (2013), and Railways and The Raj (2017). He has been described as "our most eminent transport journalist" by The Spectator and "the greatest expert on British trains" by The Guardian.

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Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Michael Joseph (9 Jun. 2022)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 416 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0241456207
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0241456200
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 15.88 x 4.45 x 23.5 cm

Best Sellers Rank: 4,718 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- 1 in Railways History
- 2 in Railroad Travel
- 8 in History of Engineering & Technology

Customer reviews:
42 ratings

About the author

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Christian Wolmar

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Christian Wolmar is a writer and broadcaster, principally on transport matters. He writes regularly for a wide variety of publications including the Independent, Evening Standard and Rail magazine, and appears frequently on TV and radio as a commentator. His previous books include the widely-acclaimed The Subterranean Railway, a history of the London underground and Fire and Steam, a history of how the railways transformed Britain.

Customer reviews

5 star		66%
4 star		31%
3 star		3%
2 star 0% (0%)		0%
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JHW

Not just one for the railway lovers out there

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 21 June 2022

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I bought this book as someone who is fascinated by post-war British history rather than as someone with a love of railways (and British Rail(ways) certainly impacted on the former) so I was concerned the book could come across as dry and technical; I need not have had any worries.

Well-written in a way any layman can understand, it is a fascinating journey through an organisation that clearly means many things to many people, both past and present. There is a strong tendency towards a belief that state-ownership is better than private ownership but that is, of course, the authors’ privilege - others, including me, may disagree on the basis there is good and bad in both. And in fairness the writer is critical of certain aspects of state administration.

If there is one criticism to be made it is that the author’s political beliefs do show themselves at times. It may surprise some out there but people who voted for Brexit did not do so because they were influenced by ‘tales of straight bananas and [the] banning of double-decker buses’ but alas such lazy thinking does appear in the introduction.

But it would be churlish to see that as reasons to mark this book as anything other than five stars out of five. An all-together interesting and informative book and one I would recommend.

5 people found this helpful

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Old Sparky

Essential reading for Railway Folk

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 17 June 2022

Verified Purchase

Not finished it yet but a well written account of BR. Essential reading to understand how we got to the current railway. Buries some of the myths of how bad BR was but pulls no punches in criticism.

Recommended

6 people found this helpful

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Douglas Smith

Brought a lot of stuff together that over the years I'd forgotten and laid it out for me to see.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 26 June 2022

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One of the few good things about being "a bit old" is to see the sweep of history in your own lifetime and the busy little present day politicians that frankly haven't a clue about railways (add to that most of the press) making the same old assumptions and ignorant comments. It was a timely read as there is a national strike ongoing at the moment. Government ministers should read this book. The British public should read this book. All will become clear how complex British Railways were and still are. We need the railways like we need the NHS. Stop running them both down and using them as political footballs. Christian for PM!

One person found this helpful

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Sinbad

Excellent

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 5 August 2022

Verified Purchase

As ever, Wolmar's sharply observed knowledge of the British railways system is seen here in another of his superb books. The historical, pig headed interefsring incompetence of the many government departments surfaces time and again. As ever, a first rate read.

One person found this helpful

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P V Dawson

Excellent and timely

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 August 2022

Verified Purchase

As yet another iteration of Railway administration is about to start in the form of GBR, this book is a timely overview of what may come to be seen as something of a Golden Age in UK railways.
The usual Wolmar trademarks are here: well researched with a unique style of commentary that enhances the facts.
Thoroughly recommended

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 19 July 2022

Verified Purchase

A very good history of British Rail. It explains in some detail the politics behind some of the decisions made.

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Spireite65

Excellent collected history

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 12 August 2022

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Excellent book overall, might have benefited from better proof reading to eliminate the odd factual inaccuracy and repetition.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 25 July 2022

Verified Purchase

I’m always on the lookout for well written histories of the railways, and this fits the bill.

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