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Scotland's Lost Branch Lines
£14.99
Scotland's Lost Branch Lines—Where Beeching Got It Wrong
The Highland branch lines that proved Beeching's axe wrong
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About the Ebook
The infamous 'Beeching Axe' swept away virtually every Scottish branch line in the 1960s. Conventional wisdom viewed these losses as regrettable yet inevitable in an era of growing affluence and rising car ownership.
This ground-breaking study of Dr Beeching's approach to closures has unearthed – from rarely or never previously referenced archive sources – strong evidence of a 'stitch-up', ignoring the scope for sensible economies and improvements which would have allowed a significant number of axed routes to survive and prosper. Acclaimed railway historian David Spaven traces the birth, life and eventual death of Scotland's branch lines through the unique stories of how a dozen routes lost their trains in the 1960s: the lines to Ballachulish, Ballater, Callander, Crail, Crieff /Comrie, Fraserburgh, Kelso, Kilmacolm, Leven, Peebles, Peterhead and St Andrews.
He concludes by exploring a potential renaissance of branch lines, propelled by concerns over road congestion, vehicle pollution and the climate emergency.
Why You'll Love This Ebook
- Discover the Highland branch lines that defied closure
- Explore how local campaigns proved Beeching's cuts misguided
- Engage with detailed railway and transport history
- Read another celebrated title from Origin - an imprint of Birlinn Ltd
Reviews
'A very detailed analysis which highlights not only the damage caused to local communities, but also the lost potential of these branch lines as an amazing resource for Scotland's tourist industry' RAIL Magazine
'Impeccable accuracy and insight into the railways of Scotland — an excellent book, highly recommended' Railway Magazine
'The author forensically dissects the case presented for closing ten of the routes — expertly exposing the flawed arguments that sealed their fate' The Scotsman
'Spaven's style is accessible to all — his conclusions about the potential reinstatement at a time of climate crisis are hugely topical' Scottish Field
'Absolutely fascinating — railways are so integral to Scotland's economy, our people, our future, our past' BBC Scotland Outdoors
'Spaven has made a substantial contribution to the history of Scotland's transport services — recommended for any railway enthusiast not satisfied with settling for a misty-eyed nostalgic view' Backtrack
About the Author
David Spaven has spent his working life in and around the rail industry. His first book, the award-winning Mapping the Railways, was published by Times Books/HarperCollins in 2011. Highland Survivor: The Story of the Far North Line, published by Kessock Books in 2016, was also an award-winner. He is the author of the best-selling Railway Atlas of Scotland (Birlinn, 2015).Publication Details
Publisher: Origin (an imprint of Birlinn Ltd)
Publication Date: 03 March 2022
Print Length: 320 pages (Ebook edition)
ISBN (Ebook): 9781788857222
Format: Ebook
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