Rails to Nowhere

About Rails to Nowhere

Join railway and history nerds Simon & Ela as they delve into the social, political and technical history of the railways of Britain

Publisher

Simon & Ela

Category

history · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

15 Aug 2021

Latest episode

17 Mar 2025

Latest episodes

22 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   17 Mar 2025

   Episode 17: Jersey Part 2

   It's time for part 2 of our trip to Jersey, as Ela and Simon conclude their chat about the history of just one of the railways that have existed on the island. Follow our Twitter: www.twitter.com/railstonowhere Support the Podcast through our Patreon and get bonus episodes, behind the scenes content and more: www.patreon.com/railstonowhere Thanks to our wonderful Patreons who help make Rails to Nowhere happen and especial thanks to our £10 patreon ValkyrieLeamons. Our roundtable with History Indoors can be found here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=te7NtsEiadM Ela talks Jersey Railways with Gareth Dennis https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7OnwVwiXnQ&t=3890s Music: Cassette by Infraction https://inaudio.org/track/cassette-synthwave/used under Creative Commons Attribution Unported 3.0 (CC BY 3.0 Bibliography H.M. Government, Census 1931 - Jersey, Gurnsey and Adjacent Islands (London: H.M. Stationery Office, 1933) <https://www.gov.je/SiteCollectionDocuments/Government%20and%20administration/R%201931%20Census%2020220928%20SJ.pdf> [accessed 3 August 2023]. ‘Jersey Railways and Tramways. Timetable and Guide’, 1896, The National Archives, Kew, RAIL 928/318. ‘Road Vehicle; B-Type LGOC Open Top Motor Bus Fleet No B340 Registration Number LA9928, ‘The Model T and American Life’, The New Atlantis, Issue 22. Fall 2008 (2008). ‘The New Rail Cars’, Jersey Evening Post (St Helier, Jersey, 21 February 1924). 1911’, London Transport Museum <https://www.ltmuseum.co.uk/collections/collections-online/ vehicles/item/1981-514> [accessed 11 August 2023]. Alfred Plummer, ‘The London Passenger Transport Act of 1933: A New Socialization’, The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 48.1 (1933), Accessible at: https://doi.org/10.2307/1884802. Christopher Swinson, 22747-33013-2072011.Pdf (St Helier, Jersey: Comptroller and Auditor General, July 2011) <https://statesassembly.gov.je/assemblyreports/2011/22747-33013-2072011.pdf> [accessed 3 September 2023] Daniel Goodricke, ‘Adolphus Curry – Reappraisal of His Works in Jersey’, (Northumbria University, 2014), p.153. Desmond F. Croome and Alan A. Jackson, Rails through the Clay: A History of London’s Tube Railways, 2. ed (Harrow Weald: Capital Transport, 1993) Dyos, H.J., and D.H. Aldcroft, British Transport - An Economic Survey from the Seventeenth Century to the Twentieth(Leicester: Leicester University Press, 1969) H.M. Government, Census 1931 J.R.T. & J.M.T. Co. Annual Dinner’, Jersey Evening Post (St Helier, Jersey, 3 February 1932). JEP, 29 June 1923. Jersey Archives, D/L/01/A/2041/A Jersey Archives, L/A/32/A1/2 Jersey Archives, L/A/32/A1/4 Jersey Archives, L/A/32/B1/28 Jersey Archives, L/A/32/A1/6 Jersey Archives, L/A/32/B1/1. Jersey Archives, L/A/32/B1/33 Jersey Archives, L/A/32/B1/41 Jersey Archives, L/A/32/C1/1 Jersey Archives, L/A/32/F2/2. Jersey Archives, L/C/ 152/114. Jersey’s Extensive Transport System’, The Commercial Motor (London, 17 August 1934), pp. 42–43. John R. Ottensmann, ‘Interurban Railways and Urban America’, 1 August 2018. Available at SSRN: https://www.ssrn.com/abstract=3225875. Joyce, J, Operation Tramway - The End of London’s Trams, 1950-1952 (Shepperton: Ian Allan Ltd, 1987) JR&T AGM Report for year ending 31/12/1898, Jersey Archives, L/A/32/B1/3. JR&T AGM Report for Year Ending 31/12/1903, Jersey Archives, L/A/32/B1/8. T. C. Rolt, Red for Danger: The Classic History of British Railway Disasters (Stroud: History, 2009), pp. 51-5 Leslie Philip Sinel, The German Occupation of Jersey. A Complete Diary of Events from June 1940 to June 1945. (Jersey: Jersey Evening Post, 1946) Massimo Guarnieri, ‘Electric Tramways of the 19th Century [Historical]’, IEEE Industrial Electronics Magazine, 14.1 (2020), 71–77 <https://doi.org/10.1109/MIE.2020.2966810>. Simon Sardsen-Coe, ‘To What Extent Did the Emergence of the Motorcar Impact the Policy of the London Passenger Transport Board between 1933 and 1939?’ (unpublished Dissertation, University of York

2. 

   3 Mar 2025

   Episode 16: Jersey Part 1

   We're back for our first episode of 2025 with Part 1 of two looking at Ela's MA research work on the History of the Jersey Railway. Follow our Twitter: www.twitter.com/railstonowhere Support the Podcast through our Patreon and get bonus episodes, behind the scenes content and more: www.patreon.com/railstonowhere Thanks to our wonderful Patreons who help make Rails to Nowhere happen and especial thanks to our £10 patreon ValkyrieLeamons. Our roundtable with History Indoors can be found here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=te7NtsEiadM Ela talks Jersey Railways with Gareth Dennis https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7OnwVwiXnQ&t=3890s Music: Cassette by Infraction https://inaudio.org/track/cassette-synthwave/used under Creative Commons Attribution Unported 3.0 (CC BY 3.0 Bibliography H.M. Government, Census 1931 - Jersey, Gurnsey and Adjacent Islands (London: H.M. Stationery Office, 1933) <https://www.gov.je/SiteCollectionDocuments/Government%20and%20administration/R%201931%20Census%2020220928%20SJ.pdf> [accessed 3 August 2023]. ‘Jersey Railways and Tramways. Timetable and Guide’, 1896, The National Archives, Kew, RAIL 928/318. ‘Road Vehicle; B-Type LGOC Open Top Motor Bus Fleet No B340 Registration Number LA9928, ‘The Model T and American Life’, The New Atlantis, Issue 22. Fall 2008 (2008). ‘The New Rail Cars’, Jersey Evening Post (St Helier, Jersey, 21 February 1924). 1911’, London Transport Museum <https://www.ltmuseum.co.uk/collections/collections-online/ vehicles/item/1981-514> [accessed 11 August 2023]. Alfred Plummer, ‘The London Passenger Transport Act of 1933: A New Socialization’, The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 48.1 (1933), Accessible at: https://doi.org/10.2307/1884802. Christopher Swinson, 22747-33013-2072011.Pdf (St Helier, Jersey: Comptroller and Auditor General, July 2011) <https://statesassembly.gov.je/assemblyreports/2011/22747-33013-2072011.pdf> [accessed 3 September 2023] Daniel Goodricke, ‘Adolphus Curry – Reappraisal of His Works in Jersey’, (Northumbria University, 2014), p.153. Desmond F. Croome and Alan A. Jackson, Rails through the Clay: A History of London’s Tube Railways, 2. ed (Harrow Weald: Capital Transport, 1993) Dyos, H.J., and D.H. Aldcroft, British Transport - An Economic Survey from the Seventeenth Century to the Twentieth(Leicester: Leicester University Press, 1969) H.M. Government, Census 1931 J.R.T. & J.M.T. Co. Annual Dinner’, Jersey Evening Post (St Helier, Jersey, 3 February 1932). JEP, 29 June 1923. Jersey Archives, D/L/01/A/2041/A Jersey Archives, L/A/32/A1/2 Jersey Archives, L/A/32/A1/4 Jersey Archives, L/A/32/B1/28 Jersey Archives, L/A/32/A1/6 Jersey Archives, L/A/32/B1/1. Jersey Archives, L/A/32/B1/33 Jersey Archives, L/A/32/B1/41 Jersey Archives, L/A/32/C1/1 Jersey Archives, L/A/32/F2/2. Jersey Archives, L/C/ 152/114. Jersey’s Extensive Transport System’, The Commercial Motor (London, 17 August 1934), pp. 42–43. John R. Ottensmann, ‘Interurban Railways and Urban America’, 1 August 2018. Available at SSRN: https://www.ssrn.com/abstract=3225875. Joyce, J, Operation Tramway - The End of London’s Trams, 1950-1952 (Shepperton: Ian Allan Ltd, 1987) JR&T AGM Report for year ending 31/12/1898, Jersey Archives, L/A/32/B1/3. JR&T AGM Report for Year Ending 31/12/1903, Jersey Archives, L/A/32/B1/8. T. C. Rolt, Red for Danger: The Classic History of British Railway Disasters (Stroud: History, 2009), pp. 51-5 Leslie Philip Sinel, The German Occupation of Jersey. A Complete Diary of Events from June 1940 to June 1945. (Jersey: Jersey Evening Post, 1946) Massimo Guarnieri, ‘Electric Tramways of the 19th Century [Historical]’, IEEE Industrial Electronics Magazine, 14.1 (2020), 71–77 <https://doi.org/10.1109/MIE.2020.2966810>. Simon Sardsen-Coe, ‘To What Extent Did the Emergence of the Motorcar Impact the Policy of the London Passenger Transport Board between 1933 and 1939?’ (unpublished Dissertation, University of York, 2022) St Aubin’s Blaze’,

3. 

   15 Jul 2024

   E15 - Beyond WWII

   In this episode we conclude our look at London’s Transport in the 1930s with a look at the legacy of this era and a glance at what occurred following the Second World War. Part of the research for this episode stems from work written by Simon in pursuit of their MA in Railway Studies from the University of York, so an acknowledgement of the support from Dr David Turner in writing that essay is also due. Follow our Twitter: www.twitter.com/railstonowhere (https://www.twitter.com/railstonowhere) Support the Podcast through our Patreon and get bonus episodes, behind the scenes content and more: www.patreon.com/railstonowhere (https://www.patreon.com/railstonowhere) Thanks to our wonderful Patreons who help make Rails to Nowhere happen and especial thanks to our £10 patreon ValkyrieLeamons. Follow Simon at: www.twitter.com/reddragontweets (https://www.twitter.com/reddragontweets) Our roundtable with History Indoors can be found here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=te7NtsEiadM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=te7NtsEiadM) Ela talks Jersey Railways with Gareth Dennis https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7OnwVwiXnQ&t=3890s (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7OnwVwiXnQ&t=3890s) Music: Cassette by Infraction https://inaudio.org/track/cassette-synthwave/used (https://inaudio.org/track/cassette-synthwave/used) under Creative Commons Attribution Unported 3.0 (CC BY 3.0 Bibliography Abercrombie, Patrick. Greater London Plan. London: His Majesty’s Stationery Office, 1945. Asher, Wayne. Rings Around London: Orbital Motorways and the Battle for Homes before Roads. Harrow Weald: Capital Transport, 2018. Blake, Jim, and Jonathan James. Northern Wastes. Palmers Green: North London Transport Society, 1989. David, Gareth. Croydon Tramlink: A Definitive History. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Transport, 2020. Day, John. The Story of the Victoria Line. London: London Transport, 1969. Forman, Jay. ‘What Happened to London’s Trams’. Jay Forman Youtube Channel, 2018. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ji3C_PjJonM. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ji3C_PjJonM.) Fowler, James. ‘How History Challenges Current Thinking on Hybridity: The Effects of Hybridity on London’s Transport 1933–1948’. In Hybridity in the Governance and Delivery of Public Services, edited by Andrea Bonomi Savignon, Luca Gnan, Alessandro Hinna, and Fabio Monteduro, 7–28. Bingley: Emerald Publishing Limited, 2018. Fowler, James. London Transport: A Hybrid in History 1905-1948. Bingley: Emerald Publishing Limited, 2019. Fowler, James. Strategy and Managed Decline: London Transport 1948-1987. Bingley: Emerald Publishing Limited, 2021. Glover, John. Rails Across London. Manchester: Crecy Publishing Ltd, 2018. Gourvish, Terence. British Railways 1948-73: A Business History. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2011. Harley, Robert. Lord Ashfield’s Trams: How London Lost a World Class Tramway System. Harrow Weald: Capital Transport, 2015. Harris, Sim. London Transport a Brief History. Dunstable: Railhub, 2011. Horne, Mike. The Jubilee Line. Harrow Weald: Capital Transport Publishing Ltd., 2000. Horne, Mike The Victoria Line. London: Douglas Rose, 1988. James, Jonathan. London Underground: The Northern Line. Stamford: Key Books, 2023. Lee, Charles. The Bakerloo Line: A Brief History. London: London Transport, 1973. Oakley, E. R., and C. L. Withey. Improving London’s Trams 1932-7. Broxborurne: LRTA Publications, 1988. O’Brien, Terence. British Experiments in Public Ownership and Control: A Study of the Central Electricity Board, British Broadcasting Corporation and London Passenger Transport Board. London: George Allen & Unwin Ltd, 1937. Wilson, G Lloyd. ‘The London Passenger Transport Board - A Public Transport Trust’. The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science 201, no. 1 (1939): 118–23.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

1,341

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Spotify

4.4 / 5

5 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 33 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

8

Social presence

0

YouTube

68

Engagement

77