Richard Beeching

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Richard Beeching

Richard Beeching, Baron Beeching (21 April 1913 - 23 March 1985) (more commonly known as Dr. Beeching), was a British physicist and engineer, and former chairman of British Railways. Beeching became infamous in Britain in the early 1960s for his role in masterminding the Beeching Axe railway closures of that decade.

Beeching was born in Maidstone Kent in April 1913 as the second of four brothers. He was educated at Maidstone Grammar School and gained 1st class honours degree in Physics at Imperial College London, followed by a research Ph.D.

In 1938 he married Ella Tiley, to whom he remained married for the rest of his life. At the age of 33, Beeching became Deputy Chief Engineer of the Armament Design Department of the Ministry of Supply.

In 1948 Beeching joined the giant chemical firm ICI, and in 1957 he was appointed technical director of the board.

In 1961 he was appointed chairman of the British Railways Board. The government at that time was seeking outside talent and fresh blood to sort out the huge problems of the railway system; i.e., someone who, although an expert in an outside field, had little or no experience in railway management.

During his tenure, Beeching became a hugely controversial figure when he recommended a massive programme of railway closures to cut the cost of running the railway system. He was also responsible for modernising many aspects of the railway system.

The intentions of the Beeching Report were to remove the unprofitable branch lines while keeping the highly profitable main lines, using the money saved to update the system and speed the progress of the Modernisation Plan. Unfortunately, the Treasury decided that since the money was no longer needed for the support of branch lines, it could be spent by other departments, making the plans futile. Another mistake in the plans was the assumption that if a branch line closed, passengers would drive to the nearest railhead and still use the railway for the rest of their journey. Instead, they found it more convenient to drive the entire journey, costing British Rail (as it became) far more in the long term.

Beeching resigned in 1965 after recommendations in one of his reports were rejected by the government. He re-joined ICI where he rose to become Deputy Chairman (1966-68). In 1965 he was made a Life Peer.

The effects of the Beeching Axe on a small station was the subject of Oh, Doctor Beeching!, a sitcom by David Croft and Richard Spendlove, from 1995 to 1997. The theme song ran:

"Oh! Dr. Beeching, what have you done?

There once were lots of trains to catch but soon there will be none.

I'll have to buy a bike as I can't afford a car.

Oh! Dr. Beeching! What a naughty man you are!"

(Note: This is based on the once-well-known and railway-related ditty

"Oh! Mr porter, what can I do!

I wanted to go to Birmingham and they took me on to Crewe.

Take me back to London as quickly as you can

Oh Mr porter what a silly (girl) I am!"