Railway Magazine  |  Four Minute Mile
Six decades ago, on a windswept and overcast evening in Oxford in May 1954, a 25-year-old medical student rewrote the sporting history books and captured the imagination of the world.
Roger Bannister, with the help of his friends Chris Brasher and Chris Chataway, became the first man to run a mile in less than four minutes. It was the culmination of years of effort from athletes the world over, including such greats as New Zealander Jack Lovelock, the fantastic Finn Paavo Nurmi, and the Swedish duo Gunder Haegg and Arne Andersson. All had tried but all had failed to break a barrier some said was mental, others claimed was physical.
Bannister held the world mile record for just over a month, yet his
achievement became one of the most famous in history. The pure symmetry of the event – four laps in four minutes – was part of its aura. In this publication, sports writer Tim Hartley looks at the history of the distance as a race, some of the great characters, examines Bannister’s record effort and the training he endured to get there... and what has happened to the world mile best since.
read more
read less
Since 1897, The Railway Magazine has always provided interesting and informative updates on all the new train developments including networks, technology advancements, worldwide news, and engines in production. In every issue, you can look forward to modern and relevant news on relatable issues such as strikes, derailments, passenger service and facility upgrades that are happening across the nation.
More of a history buff? Don't worry we’ve got you covered! The Railway Magazine contains a plethora of articles on all kinds of classic, vintage, and heritage trains. All of these articles feature stunning photography of the marvellous engines, plus fan-submitted pictures and letters from different points in history.
With a team of writers and editors as passionate about the preservation and celebration of the railway, you’ll discover all there is to know about each unique steam train and its history. With a digital subscription to The Railway Magazine, you can also find the most current events happening across the country so you can view them in all their glory.
Subscribe to The Railway Magazine today and enjoy all of these features and more from your preferred device:
- The most up-to-date news on everything railway related
- A list of railway events across the UK
- Stunning photography
- Features of historical marvels and groundbreaking engineering through time
- Award-winning and comprehensive news section
- Relevant updates on strikes, crashes, facility changes and closures
- Delivered directly to your device every month
- A discount off the RRP of your magazine
You'll receive 12 issues during a 1 year Railway Magazine magazine subscription.
Note: Digital editions do not include the covermount items or supplements you would find with printed copies.
Articles in this issue
Below is a selection of articles in Railway Magazine Four Minute Mile.