**The authoritative and fascinating history of the rise and fall of the
state-owned British Rail
**
'Wolmar's book is impeccably organized and makes a fast, enjoyable
read' THE TIMES Literary Supplement
________
You think you know British Rail. But you don't know the whole
story.
From its creation after the Second World War, through its fifty-year
lifetime, British Rail was an innovative powerhouse that transformed our
transport system. Uniting disparate lines into a highly competent
organisation - heralding 'The Age of the Train' - and, for a time,
providing one of the fastest regular rail services in the world.
Born into post-war austerity, traumatised, impoverished and exploited by
a hostile press, the state-owned railway was dismissed as a dinosaur
unable to evolve, and swept away by a government hellbent on selling it
off.
Now, award-winning writer Christian Wolmar provides a new perspective on
national loss in a time of privatisation.
British Rail is ripe for a new history.
_______
Praise for Christian Wolmar
'Wolmar is the high priest of railway studies' Literary Review
'The greatest expert on British trains' Guardian
'Our most eminent transport journalist' Spectator
'If the world's railways have a laureate, it is surely Christian
Wolmar' Boston Globe
'Christian Wolmar is in love with the railways. He writes constantly
and passionately about them. He is their wisest, most detailed historian
and a constant prophet of their rebirth . . . if you love the hum of the
wheels and of history, then Christian Wolmar is your man' Observer
