First edition, first impression. 140pp, with plentiful monochrome photographic illustrations. Black cloth-covered boards with gilt titles on the spine. 8vo. Cloth just a little rubbed at spine ends, and hint of shadowing on text block edges else volume is neat, clean, bright and tight throughout. In its original shelf worn and edge-rubbed dust wrapper with a couple of short, closed tears at spine ends, rubbed to crumbling on corners.
Fiennes records his career as a railwayman. Having joined the LNER as a Traffic Apprentice as a young man, he rose to become a prominent railway manager and director of the Eastern Region of British Rail. 'I Tried to Run a Railway' is a candid examination of the management of the British Railway system, and a humorous reflection on what happens when non-railwaymen try to run railways. He was dismissed from British Rail in 1967 for publishing this book, which is outspoken about the management of British Rail and about Government transport policy.
