Eleven Minutes Late, By Matthew Engel
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The obsessive nature of railway nuts is exemplified by a footnote in the Annotated Sherlock Holmes quoted by Engel. It concerns the exact train Watson caught to Baskerville Hall in 1870: "Although there was a slower train at 11.45, only by taking the 10.30 or 10.35 could they have obtained lunch at Exeter..."
Though Engel's splendid account of Britain's railways past and present is rich in detail (there were three classes of ticket for coffins from Waterloo) and terrific jokes, it is propelled by wholly justified ire at the disastrous privatisation of British Rail. John Major admits he was "the slim controller" of the sell-off, but the job was rushed to completion by New Labour. The book is a triumph and deserves an audience far beyond those infatuated with the clickety-clack of steel wheels.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments