Having managed to cycle up the old railway this morning, and already losing the aches, I intend to follow the line a bit further tomorrow on the basis that if I am out of this place I will not be endangering the laptop! It's fascinating in a way that at one time, like 1914, thousands of miles of such lines covered the nation. Small towns and out of the way places were connected by railways, as long as there were some bigger towns along the way to make it pay of course. Engines such as the one shown would chug along at speeds between 20 to 50 miles an hour, stopping at well made stations and small halts comprising no more than a twenty foot platform, an oil lamp and an entrance way. Some became very successful and carried thousands of passengers, many struggled from the off, built by enterprising local men with grand but sadly mistaken ideas. By 1950 most were overtaken by the more convenient bus and the beginnings of the car worship that was complete by the 60's. A shame in many ways, as railways are more romantic than cars, but the cost, especially of steam, was prohibitive. Famously Dr Beeching, under instructions from transport Minister Marples, who had made his money in road building, killed of the majority of the local lines.
Tomorrow I intend to get as far as what remains of the station, although not this one, it's 15 miles away! I must get some fitness as Spring is Spinging and punctures permitting I will be away. I wonder what the ambulance service is like....?
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4 comments:
Ha, now I understand why Beeching did that. I should have guessed Marples had investments in roads. I wonder if they were just as corrupt in those days except that we didn't know.
Hope the weather stays nice for your bike rides, it's a good idea to follow stations. Just got a little book on London walks between disused stations, I somehow find them very interesting.
Harold McMillan, as PM around 1959 ish, was concerned with the cost of British Rail. Marples made his money on cars & roads, he was the one that opened the M1 you may recall from history lessons. You are too young to remember it yourself. He called in Beeching, an accountant, who made a short term inefficient study and closed everything. It is said he wished to close all bar the main lines, London to Edinburgh, Edin to Glasgow and from there to London via Manchester and Birmingham. Possibly the Exeter line may have stayed.
Disused lines are interesting, especially those you know yourself. Look up disused stations online, and disused underground ones. There may be a station near you.
My grandfather told me about Harold McMillan. Seems he resigned his office due to some sort of scandal. Not roads. Far before my time.
Max, MacMillan resigned because of ill health, although he was not as sick as he thought!
The scandal, so called, was a political problem which he solved by dumping several senior members of his cabinet. It was said he 'Laid down his friends for his life!'
he was one of the better Conservative leaders. Having been wounded in the Great War, served alongside ther men, was MP during the depression for a poor area (Stockton) and helped run soup kitchens. he was not a fan of Thatcher!
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