{"product_id":"a-quite-impossible-proposal","title":"A Quite Impossible Proposal","description":"\u003c!-- Hook --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA Quite Impossible Proposal—How Not to Build a Railway\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- Tagline --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe chaotic story of one of Scotland's most troubled railways\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003chr\u003e\n\n\u003c!-- Access Your Content --\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"border: 2px solid #ddd; padding: 16px; border-radius: 6px; background: #f9f9f9; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n  \u003cp style=\"font-weight: bold; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 10px;\"\u003eAccess Your Content in Seconds\u003c\/p\u003e\n  \u003col style=\"margin-left: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003eComplete your purchase on our store.\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003eDownload \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/thegreyhill.com\/pages\/the-grey-hill-app\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Grey Hill App\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e (free).\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003eLog in using the same email from checkout.\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003eYour ebook will appear instantly in your library.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003c\/ol\u003e\n  \u003cp style=\"font-size: 14px; color: #555;\"\u003eAll content is securely delivered through our app and not offered as a Shopify download.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003chr\u003e\n\n\u003c!-- About the Ebook --\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAbout the Ebook\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn the 1890s, the people of north-west Scotland grew tired of Government Commissions sent to consider a railway to Ullapool.  Despite rock-solid arguments in favour of such a railway, neither government nor the big railway companies lifted a finger to build one.  Against the recommendations of its own advisers, the Scottish Office dismissed the project as 'a quite impossible proposal'.  In 1918, history repeated itself with another Commission and another failure to build the railway. 'Drivel' is how one local man described the official government inquiry reports.  Few disagreed.   \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis book tells the whole sorry tale of the attempt to improve transportation in the north-west Highlands and the resulting government inquiries, set against the region's economic and social problems and civil unrest in the crofting communities.  Stories, facts and figures have been unearthed from the archives of government departments and railway companies, from local people's letters and petitions, from contemporary newspapers and from the plans prepared for the hoped-for railways.  Other unbuilt railways to the north-west coast are also described.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBut this story is not just about planned railways that were never built.  It is about the frustrations of the people of the Highlands in the face of government incompetence, railway-company obstructionism, local rivalries and the struggle against the historical injustice of land-ownership. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003chr\u003e\n\n\u003c!-- Why You'll Love This Ebook --\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy You'll Love This Ebook\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eDiscover the chaotic engineering battles behind a troubled railway\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eExplore political and practical obstacles to Highland transport\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eEngage with a colourful chapter of railway history\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eRead another celebrated title from Origin - an imprint of Birlinn Ltd\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003chr\u003e\n\n\u003c!-- Reviews --\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eReviews\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e'A classic tale of what might have been, of squandered opportunities, and an abundance of red tape transcending white-heat technology'\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cstrong\u003ePress and Journal\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e'Adds an entirely new dimension to an area of Scotland I thought I knew well — a detailed examination of an overlooked chapter in Scotland's transport history'\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eThe Scotsman\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003chr\u003e\n\n\u003c!-- About the Author --\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\nAndrew Drummond was born in Edinburgh and educated at the University of Aberdeen and King's College, London.  His first novel, An Abridged Historyof the Construction of the Railway Line between Garve, Ullapool and Lochinver, was published by Polygon and shortlisted for the Saltire First Book of the Year Award in 2004. His later novels, also published by Polygon, are A Handbook of Volapük, Elephantina and Novgorod the Great, and he is also author of The Intriguing Life and Ignominious Death of Maurice Benyovszky (Routledge).\n\n\u003chr\u003e\n\n\u003c!-- Publication Details --\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePublication Details\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/strong\u003e Origin (an imprint of Birlinn Ltd)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e 24 September 2020\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePrint Length:\u003c\/strong\u003e 272 pages (Ebook edition)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eISBN (Ebook):\u003c\/strong\u003e 9781788852715\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFormat:\u003c\/strong\u003e Ebook\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003chr\u003e\n\n\u003c!-- FAQ --\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHow do I access my ebook?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDownload \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/thegreyhill.com\/pages\/the-grey-hill-app\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Grey Hill App\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e and log in using the same email you used at checkout. Your ebook will appear instantly in your library.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCan I read it online?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes — you can also access your purchases via our online reader at \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/reader.thegreyhill.com\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ereader.thegreyhill.com\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eI can't see my ebook — what should I do?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTap the refresh button in the app or online reader. If it still doesn't appear, ensure you're logged in with the same email used at checkout. If issues continue, contact us and we'll help right away.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCan I gift this ebook?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes — you can purchase a Grey Hill Gift Card here: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/thegreyhill.com\/products\/the-grey-hill-gift-card\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eBuy a Gift Card\u003c\/a\u003e. The recipient can redeem it on our store, and the ebook will appear in The Grey Hill App.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Origin","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57304048238965,"sku":"9781788852715","price":18.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0921\/5662\/5269\/files\/9781788852715.jpg?v=1781799401","url":"https:\/\/thegreyhill.com\/products\/a-quite-impossible-proposal","provider":"The Grey Hill","version":"1.0","type":"link"}