J. B. Snell (1932–2014)
Author of Early Railways
About the Author
Works by J. B. Snell
Boken om tåg 1 copy
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Canonical name
- Snell, J. B.
- Legal name
- Snell, John Bernard
- Birthdate
- 1932-01-01
- Date of death
- 2014-01-03
- Gender
- male
- Nationality
- UK
- Birthplace
- Fiji
- Place of death
- New Romney, Kent, England, UK
- Education
- Bryanston School, Blandford
Oxford University (Balliol College) - Occupations
- General Manager, Romney Hythe & Dymchurch Railway, 1971-99
Members
Reviews
Statistics
- Works
- 14
- Members
- 126
- Popularity
- #159,216
- Rating
- 3.6
- Reviews
- 1
- ISBNs
- 18
- Languages
- 1
Snell came from an old colonial background - born in Fiji as the son of a colonial administrator, he was educated first in New Zealand and then in the UK. He was one of the founding members of the Talyllyn Railway Preservation Society with Tom Rolt in 1951, and then worked in transport and railways for undertakings large and small.
His writing style matches the man himself, with a dry, slightly sarcastic style but brimming with fine observation and wisdom. The book is liberally furnished with fine photographs, mainly by Snell but also (when appropriate) from friends and colleagues.
Snell's observations on the world beyond the railway are equally pertinent and wise, especially his travels in South Africa during the apartheid era, Australasia and South America. His inside view of the changes on railways in the UK is illuminating. But his overall view is refreshingly internationalist, and we don't see enough of this in railway literature nowadays.… (more)