Scotland’s Lost Branch Lines Where Beeching Got It Wrong
Scotland’s Lost Branch Lines Where Beeching Got It Wrong by David Spaven, published by Origin on June 6, 2024, is a comprehensive examination of the impact of Dr. Beeching’s railway closures in Scotland during the 1960s. This new paperback edition spans 320 pages and delves into the historical context surrounding the elimination of numerous branch lines, which were often viewed as a necessary sacrifice in the face of increasing car ownership and economic change.
In this insightful study, Spaven utilizes previously unreferenced archive sources to challenge the conventional narrative of these closures, presenting evidence that suggests opportunities for sensible improvements were overlooked. The book details the unique histories of twelve specific routes that lost their services, including those to Ballachulish, Ballater, and St Andrews. Additionally, Spaven discusses the potential revival of branch lines in light of contemporary issues such as road congestion and climate change, offering a thought-provoking perspective on transportation policy and historical geography in Scotland.
Official synopsis Publisher
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.
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