Monkey Magic
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- 7 Jun 2013
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An interesting article and arguments.
http://www.citymetric.com/transport...meant-end-northern-economic-independence-1408
In this brief history, Dr Stephen Caunce describes how a railway company helped to make England's industrial north – and how its end presaged the region's economic decline.
The development of the internal transportation network within and between England's four main northern conurbations is, as usual, distinctive and misunderstood.
The mosaic map created by the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway Company (L&YR), and on display in various stations, shows only a part of the overall system – but it does indicate its unfocussed, decentralised character. Uniquely among major English companies, this company never built a line to London. Adapting this system to modern needs has rarely worked out well over the last century, culminating in the never-ending west coast line upgrade saga, and its strange and controversial child, High Speed 2 (HS2).
The L&YR is especially interesting as the only powerful and long-lasting organisation which emerged spontaneously to co-ordinate activity across these conurbation boundaries. Its profits reflected regional economic performance, and it responded accordingly, always paying a dividend, and often a very healthy one.
http://www.citymetric.com/transport...meant-end-northern-economic-independence-1408
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