False Starts, Near Misses and Dangerous Goods

Running a railway is a complex business beset with drama. The operation of heavy equipment at speed, twenty-four hours a day, across the full length of the country and using extremely technical signaling, track and mechanical engineering is no mean feat and throws up a constant stream of challenges. Fortunately, the highly professional railway staff are ready to deal with these daily obstacles using their expertise, dedication and, as is so often required, a sense of humour. Here Geoff Body and his son Ian have collated a selection of entertaining and revealing anecdotes that illustrate just how unexpected working on the railways can be.

GEOFF BODY made his start with LNER in 1945, at the age of 16, and left thirty-one years later, having risen to senior officer positions within the railways, Freightliners and Pickfords Tank Haulage. He wrote widely about railways and canals throughout his retirement, including a number of articles and books, counting Railway Oddities and Signal Box Coming up, Sir! among them.