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Railway Magazine Beeching - 55 Years of the Axeman Special Issue

English
272 Reviews   •  English   •   Aviation & Transport (Rail)
Only €5,99
Described as the most hated civil servant in Britain, it was half a century ago that Dr Richard Beeching was appointed as chairman of British Railways with one key directive - to cut the soaring losses.

The 1950s had seen the start of a mass shift from public to private transport, as lorries, cars, buses and motorbikes replaced trains as Britain’s most popular means of travel.

So often pilloried by the press and public for closing numerous picturesque and romantic country branch lines, leaving even many large towns cut off from the railway network, Beeching might also be seen as merely streamlining a process that was already underway.

Back in the early Sixties, there were many who thought that not only were the days of steam locomotives numbered, but those of railways too, as mankind, leaping towards the first lunar landings, looked toward hovercraft and hovertrains as the transport of the future.

Against the dynamic background of the greatest decade of change of the 20th century, Heritage Railway editor Robin Jones looks back at the forces that were shaping the railway’s fortunes, the Beeching Axe, its critics, aftermath and its repercussions today.

Was Dr Beeching the villain of popular legend - or was he a hero who made Britain’s railways into a slimmer, leaner machine far more capable of tackling the challenges of the future? You decide!
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Railway Magazine

Beeching - 55 Years of the Axeman Described as the most hated civil servant in Britain, it was half a century ago that Dr Richard Beeching was appointed as chairman of British Railways with one key directive - to cut the soaring losses. The 1950s had seen the start of a mass shift from public to private transport, as lorries, cars, buses and motorbikes replaced trains as Britain’s most popular means of travel. So often pilloried by the press and public for closing numerous picturesque and romantic country branch lines, leaving even many large towns cut off from the railway network, Beeching might also be seen as merely streamlining a process that was already underway. Back in the early Sixties, there were many who thought that not only were the days of steam locomotives numbered, but those of railways too, as mankind, leaping towards the first lunar landings, looked toward hovercraft and hovertrains as the transport of the future. Against the dynamic background of the greatest decade of change of the 20th century, Heritage Railway editor Robin Jones looks back at the forces that were shaping the railway’s fortunes, the Beeching Axe, its critics, aftermath and its repercussions today. Was Dr Beeching the villain of popular legend - or was he a hero who made Britain’s railways into a slimmer, leaner machine far more capable of tackling the challenges of the future? You decide!


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Railway Magazine  |  Beeching - 55 Years of the Axeman  


Described as the most hated civil servant in Britain, it was half a century ago that Dr Richard Beeching was appointed as chairman of British Railways with one key directive - to cut the soaring losses.

The 1950s had seen the start of a mass shift from public to private transport, as lorries, cars, buses and motorbikes replaced trains as Britain’s most popular means of travel.

So often pilloried by the press and public for closing numerous picturesque and romantic country branch lines, leaving even many large towns cut off from the railway network, Beeching might also be seen as merely streamlining a process that was already underway.

Back in the early Sixties, there were many who thought that not only were the days of steam locomotives numbered, but those of railways too, as mankind, leaping towards the first lunar landings, looked toward hovercraft and hovertrains as the transport of the future.

Against the dynamic background of the greatest decade of change of the 20th century, Heritage Railway editor Robin Jones looks back at the forces that were shaping the railway’s fortunes, the Beeching Axe, its critics, aftermath and its repercussions today.

Was Dr Beeching the villain of popular legend - or was he a hero who made Britain’s railways into a slimmer, leaner machine far more capable of tackling the challenges of the future? You decide!
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.


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Railway Magazine

Good overview of railway news in the UK for this Yankee. Reviewed 04 January 2021

Railway Magazine

Its Brilliant. Great articles. Good spread of Modern Railway and my special interest Heritage Railways - Steam especially. Reviewed 04 January 2021

Railway Magazine

Very interesting and informative on all aspects of British railways of all types. Reviewed 23 December 2020

Railway Magazine

Great mix of articles - photos are often rather small Reviewed 09 November 2020

Railway Magazine

. Reviewed 31 August 2020

Articles in this issue


Below is a selection of articles in Railway Magazine Beeching - 55 Years of the Axeman.

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Railway Magazine December 2023 December 2023 Buy for €5,99 View | Add to Cart
Railway Magazine November 2023 November 2023 Buy for €5,99 View | Add to Cart
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