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Red for Danger: The Classic History of British Railway Disasters
 
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Red for Danger: The Classic History of British Railway Disasters (Paperback)

by L.T.C. Rolt (Author)
4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)

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Product details

  • Paperback: 248 pages
  • Publisher: The History Press Ltd; 07 edition (1 Jul 2007)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0750948078
  • ISBN-13: 978-0750948074
  • Product Dimensions: 23.1 x 15.5 x 2.5 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 433,635 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Product Description

Product Description

Railway disasters are almost always the result of human fallibility - a single mistake by an engine-driver, guard or signalman, or some lack of communication between them - and it is in the short distance between the trivial error and its terrible consequence that the drama of the railway accident lies. First published in 1955, and the result of Rolt's careful investigation and study of the verbatim reports and findings by HM Inspectorate of Railways, this book was the first work to record the history of railway disasters, and it remains the classic account. It covers every major accident on British railways between 1840 and 1957 which resulted in a change in railway working practice, and reveals the evolution of safety devices and methods which came to make the British railway carriage one of the safest modes of transport in the world. This edition uses the last text produced by Rolt himself in 1966 and includes a new introduction by his friend and fellow railway historian Professor Jack Simmons.


About the Author

LTC Rolt trained as an engineer, but his fame rests on his classic biographies of Brunel, Telford, Trevithick and the Stephensons, his superb volumes of autobiography (Landscape with Machines, Landscapes with Canals, Landscape with Figures), his volumes of transport history, and on his account of a journey along the waterways of England, Narrow Boat. He founded the Inland Waterways Association, and was instrumental in encouraging interest in Britain's industrial heritage at Tal-y-llyn and elsewhere. He died in 1974.

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Customer Reviews

4 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
4.2 out of 5 stars (4 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars A gripping tale of human fallibility leading to disaster, 5 April 1999
By A Customer
This review is from: Red for Danger: Classic History of British Railway Disasters (Paperback)
At first sight this book would appear to have limited appeal, being primarily aimed at railway buffs and those interested in the macabre. This is not however the case. This book works on several levels. Firstly it is indeed an excellent reference source on the history of railway accidents in Great Britain (also covering Ireland). Secondly, using railway accidents, it charts the developments of the safety features of modern railway travel which make travelling by train one of the safest modes of transport. And finally and possibly of most appeal to the reader is the way Rolt unfolds the tragedies before our eyes. In many cases the players in these dramas, be it signalman, driver or stationmaster are unaware of the impending calamity. But there are those chilling tales where the signalman, realising he has sent a train to its' doom can only sit in his lonely signalbox and await the ghostly shrill of a distant whistle and the crash of metal on metal. This book is a reprint of Rolt's 1966 edition (he died in 1974) and does not contain the update to 1980. This is not necessarily a bad thing because by 1966 most of the important safety features had been adopted to prevent the spectacular disasters reported by Rolt. The terminology may be a little confusing to non-railway buffs, and the use of diagrams would help the reader to follow the plot on some of the more complicated accidents involving changes of line and direction. Having said that these are minor issues, as read cover to cover, this book could match any Greek or Shakespearean tragedy. Thoroughly recommended.
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3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars Back to Rolt, 15 Aug 2007
By Simon Moppett "Simon" (Banbury, UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This is my favourite book of all time but not this edition. It was originally written as a history of all major railway accidents in the UK (a few others are mentioned). After reading it the reader is given a good understanding how railways became the safest form of transport they are today. However, there are always lessons to be learned so other authors have added chapters to cover the accidents that have shaped the industry since Rolt's death in 1974. This edition is a throwback to the 1966 edition, so if you want to know more about Taunton, Clapham, Ladbrook Grove, Southall, or Selby, then look elsewhere.
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1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A compelling and compulsory read, 16 Sep 2007
By Huon Baily "Noodles" (Sydney, Australia) - See all my reviews
I began as a Train Driver in Sydney (Australia) in 1983. A friend lent me a copy of this book at that time and I found it fascinating. Over the years I have never seen another copy but have had it constantly in my mind. I believe it should be a requirement for all Train Drivers to read this book as it explains quite clearly the development of the Safeworking Systems and how they have been continually modified to ensure the safest standards in rail operations. I am now a Driver Trainer and I intend to use examples from this book to illustrate to our newest trainees the importance of Safeworking standards. This is not just a book about railway accidents and disasters, this is the best book available about railway safety.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A classic, reprinted at last
But descriptions of individual accidents can be a bit short. If only because I would like to know even more about who, what and where in detail. Read more
Published on 19 Aug 2007 by S. Unmack Larsen

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