Good TV programmes about railway history are rare, usually falling into whingeing nostalgia.
But on BBC4 last night, Ian Hislop hit just the right note, criticising Beeching and yet recognising that the railways in the 1960s had to be cut down.
Aside from allowing Wolmar to sport a ghastly pink jumper the producers are to be congratulated.
Perhaps Hislop would have made a better Secretary of State for Transport?