David Turner
Honorary Fellow

Profile

Biography

I have always had an interest in railways, ever since my grandfather took me to a steam railway at the age of 2. I completed my undergraduate degree in history at St. Mary’s University College, Twickenham, in 2003 and a Masters degree in War Studies at King’s College London in 2005. I then chose to undertake a PhD in Railway Studies with the University of York and National Railway Museum’s Institute of Railway Studies and Transport History. I graduated in 2014.

My thesis looked at the management of the London and South Western Railway between 1870 and 1911, and focused on strategic and operational decision-making within the company over this period. My main academic interest is the management of Britain’s railways between 1870 and 1939, with a particular emphasis on marketing and the freight movement.

I am also Book Reviews Coordinating Editor of the Journal of Transport History, and co-convene the Institute of Historical Research’s Transport and Mobility History Seminar. Recently I have also worked with HS1.Ltd to support their celebration of the 150th anniversary of St Pancras Station.

Subject Group

Work Management and Organisation

Research

Overview

In 2016 I was awarded the Business Archives Council’s bursary for Business Archives Research, to examine the relationship between the brewing industry and Britain’s Railways between 1830 and 1914.

I am currently working with Dr Kevin Tennent (School for Business and Society, University of York) on a paper describing strategic decision-making within the London County Council’s Tramways before the First World War.

My final research interest is the strategic dimensions of railway marketing between 1900 and 1939, with a focus on exploring the practice of Integrated Marketing Communications by the London & North Eastern Railway between 1923 and 1939.  

Publications

Selected publications

"Delectable North Wales and Stakeholders: The London & North Western Railway’s development of North Welsh tourism before 1914", Enterprise and Society, (forthcoming) 2018.

Teaching

Undergraduate

Previously taught on the MA Railway Studies (online) course, which has now been discontinued.