Overview

Ernest Marples revolutionized three UK government departments. At Transport (1959-1964) he appointed Dr Beeching chairman of British Railways and commissioned him to produce his infamous report, inaugurated motorways and introduced significant regulations for motorists. At Housing (1951-1954) he delivered 300,000 new houses annually and as Postmaster General (1957-1959), he reformed Post Office accounting systems and launched postcodes and Subscriber Trunk Dialling. This first biography of Marples uses newly-available archives to examine public and private transport policy, the growing power of the pro-road lobby and the identification of personal freedom with driving. Railway sentimentalism was no match for these.Marples was lucky not to be implicated in the Profumo Affair which rocked the Conservative Party but his political career was over soon afterwards. Questionable business practices caused his 1975 flight to Monaco hotly pursued by the Inland Revenue. Beeching, unhappy under a Labour government, returned to private industry although he later chaired a Royal Commission. Labour, despite promises, proved little friendlier to the railways but a more positive approach to loss-making passenger services eventually emerged under Barbara Castle.This book should appeal to those interested in Britain's railways and in mid-Twentieth Century British politics.

ISBN-13

9781526760180

ISBN-10

1526760185

Weight

1.35 Pounds

Dimensions

6.06 x 1.18 x 9.29 In

List Price

$49.95

Format

Hardcover

Language

English

Pages

274 pages

Publisher

Pen and Sword Transport

Published On

2022-01-12



View All Offers

Sort by:

Condition
Seller
Seller Comments
Price
Used, Like New
Seller details
GreatBookPrices-
★★★★☆

Columbia, MD, USA

100% Money Back Guarantee. Brand New, Perfect Condition. We offer expedited shipping to all US locat...
$37.03

 Free delivery by: 31 Mar 2026

Brand New
Seller details
Paperbackshop
★★★★★

Bensenville, IL, USA

New Book. Shipped from UK in 4 to 14 days. Established seller since 2000. Please note we cannot of...
$37.37

 Free delivery by: 31 Mar 2026


Bookstores.com relies on cookies to improve your experience.