Hello! My name is Daniel Wright. I write (with the exception of the occasional guest) The Beauty of Transport. People ask about my background from time to time, so here’s how I came to be doing it.
I graduated with a BSc in Transport Management from Aston University in 1998. I suppose inasmuch as I’m qualified to do anything, I’m actually a transport planner.
My first job was at the newly-created Institute of Logistics and Transport (now the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport) in London, where I worked during 1999 as a Policies Assistant.
I’ve always enjoyed writing, so my next job saw me working as a News Writer, and eventually Assistant Editor at Transit, a news magazine for the passenger transport industry. I wrote news stories and features, and interviewed people who worked in the industry; not to mention putting the magazine together when the editor had a holiday.
In late 2002 I joined Surrey County Council‘s Passenger Transport Group. The council was looking for a rail officer, and I got the job. I ended up working with Surrey’s train operators to develop integrated transport projects at railway stations, and write a rail strategy for the county, given that the council wanted to be a lot more involved with its rail network. Eventually, as is often the case in the public sector, the money for such aspirations ran out and the rail job vanished. I stayed on as a senior transport officer, so I got to work on some bus-related projects too (including bus shelters, a long-running concern of this blog), as well as giving advice to Development Control colleagues on public transport provision in relation to new developments.
In 2012, I gave up my job at Surrey County Council so I could do some fostering work for, er, Surrey County Council. That’s got nothing to do with transport at all, but there’s always a need for more foster carers, and I ended up fostering for nearly 10 years. At the same time as I was fostering, I also went freelance as a transport writer, and had good fun working as a contributing editor on New Transit (the descendant of the Transit I mentioned earlier) until the magazine ceased publication in 2013.
I also worked part time in several local libraries. Again, this had very little to do with transport apart from the Transport books section. But I’ve always wanted to work in a library, and freelancing can be rather lumpy, so it was helpful to have at least some regular income.
In summer 2018 I started my current job, with the Association of Community Rail Partnerships as a Community Rail Support Officer for the south of England. It was renamed Community Rail Network in 2020, and I look after Community Rail Network’s members in the area, who range from line-based Community Rail Partnerships to small groups of station “Friends” (or “Adopters”) who volunteer their time to improve their local railway station.
In my spare time I write The Beauty of Transport. A few years back, I realised that no-one was ever going to write the book I’d been waiting for: 1,000 Pieces of Transport Architecture and Design You Must See Before You Die. Neither was anyone going to write its companion volume 1,000 Ways in Which Transport Features in the Arts. Clearly, no-one was going to pay me to write them either given the somewhat niche interest the topics represent. So although I am fascinated by transport art, architecture and design, I don’t pretend to have any qualifications in them. I’m a transport planner who’s got diverted.
So that’s how we got here.
Want to drop me a line? Email address is below and you can contact me in other ways too. Please bear in mind The Beauty of Transport isn’t my actual job; I’ll reply as soon I can if I can.
The Beauty of Transport 
You enhanced my day no end with that great Ravilious art & your fine words. I was actually searching about for flourishes & patterns to accompany my Etsy shop hand inscribed tags when I came across you.
Enchanted, thanks,
Ruth.
Thank you so much for this wonderful blog! I love reading about modernist architecture, streamline moderne and art deco. I also like reading up on architects like Mees van Rohe. Your blog combines so many aspects of design, art, architecture, and of course transport! I really enjoyed reading the articles on Florence train station which I have visited in the past, and also on Brighton airport which looks magnificent (and I would love to see it soon!).
The internet is serendipity, which is how I discovered this cabinet of wonders about the (often) beautiful blend of transport, culture and art. Thank you, I’ve become an instant fan.
Thank you!
A novel discovery on my part (when I should be working). Cracking work on your part. I’m a Londoner now living in Montreal, still with a mighty itch for all things transport map, venue, vehicle and car related. I shall return to the blog but have you covered Chicago (deco meets noisy trains) and did you get to the high-line when in NYC. Other favourites working in Europe are Munich’s system and right here, the beloved STM (societe de transport de Montreal). Super work. Super jealous. Phil.
I came here following a link from London Reconnections to one article, lingered to read more articles and have now subscribed – a lovely site about lovely things!
Thank you very much! I’m glad you enjoyed.
A colleague just shared your blog with me following a conversation about which was my favourite train station, and he showed me the article on the plans for Kings Cross International. I work at Network Rail and take a personal and professional interest in trains and architecture. Also our new CEO is a big architecture buff and so if I can I’ll show him your site. Really great work, I’ll read more when I can.
P.s. I said my favourite station was a multi-way fight between St Pancras, Liverpool Lime Street, Huddersfield and somewhere else I can’t remember…
Really interesting site; thank you so much for your hard work. Particularly liked the Art Deco bus shelters in Brighton!
Just found out about the site (via London Reconnections) – and love it. I’ve read a couple of articles, and looking forward to reading many more leisurely next weekend. And I would be happy to pay for it as well, if there was a way?
Ah, the thing is I use a lot of photos which are made available for re-use on a non-commercial basis. That makes it nigh on impossible to set up an option where I get paid for doing this site. It’s its own reward really, but that’s why it gets done as and when I have the time.
I am writing a book for the Bodleian Library: Type, Typography and Typographers and I would like to quote from your blog.
I can’t find your name anywhere. Should I just write ‘anonymous?
I do have a real name – it’s Daniel Wright. I hadn’t realised I hadn’t mentioned my name anywhere in the About the Author section… I will edit the page at some point to include it!
I noted DW but that’s the only clue I could find :–)
Thanks Daniel, great blog btw.
I’m another who followed from London Reconnections to your piece on Broxbourne. Your reference within to the library at Aston University piqued my interest as I graduated from there three years before you, having spent five years meandering my way to a degree. (I started on Transport Management but switched to combined honours when I found rather more logistics and fleet management than I had bargained for!) Anyway, I’m off to explore your other posts and, if they’re half as good as the piece I’ve just read, I’ll be in for a treat. Thank you Daniel. 🙂
The Beauty of Transport is such a great addition to our world of architecture and design on a 1/local 2/regional 3/national 4/global level. Informative and educational. Thank you so much for your hard work and sharing your knowledge generously and magnanimous with all. I look forward to buying your published Book(s) in the future.
In Camulodunum, the modern townsfolk are blessed with 4 beautiful 🚊Train Stations 1/North (to London) 2/St Botolph’s (Magistrates’ and Town) 3/Hythe (University Quays) 4/Wivenhoe (Coast). Hythe not to confused with the one for Dungeness. We have no substantial 🚍👨✈️Bus Station, just several lovely🚏Bus Stands tacked onto the ground level of a very significant 6 storey NCP multi storey Car Park (10 years ago) with glass canopies and backless seating. The Bus Station is beside a 🎱Bingo Hall with blue flashing lights (which can be confused for the other type of blue flashing lights). I don’t know who specified Blue Lights. The unprotected seating is alu-steel, so very cold and uncomfortable. The 📱Information Screens are in very good condition and very helpful. After setting off 🚍🚍👨✈️👩✈️the Bus Drivers must sway and take a sharp left to enter onto a fast Dual Carriageway. There is nowhere to wait, so you must catch your 🎟️Bus as quickly as possible. I found it fascinating that various Passengers🤵🧕👨💼👩💼👩🏫👨🏫 buy their Chips at 🍟Dr Chippys, beside 👗Fashion Cafe, the 🍭American Candy Shop and The 🐛Silk Road Club, and walk all that way down to eat them on the Bus’ alu-steel benches. Balancing on backless benches with greasy chips, ingenious but messy. More recently we were blessed to have ☕Costa Baristas, a self service machine in a Convenience Store, which helps when waiting a few minutes for a Bus. I always was curious to know why the LA didn’t group the 🚍Bus Station, 🚖Taxi Rank, 🎟️Ticket Office and ✈️Visitor Centre together in ONE place with a Waiting Room.
You will 💓love the 🚍Story of the St Botolph’s Bus Station🚍, from initially having a lead role in the 🌙Arts-Led Urban Regeneration Masterplan to literally vanishing to the ground floor of a Multi Storey Car Park. A much needed Public Service, being relegated to the back end of a Bus (pardon the pun), like most UK Bus Stations. However luckily relocated beside a very lively and very busy 🎱💎Bingo Hall. Man Alive, Number Five. Heaven’s Gate, Number Eight. Boris’ Den, Number Ten. Dancing Queen, Number Seventeen. Something to look into and write about perhaps. Bus Numbers and Bingo Calls?
http://www.goodto.com/family/things-to-do/traditional-bingo-calls-576817/amp
Or compare with your other fantastic UK Bus Stations, like beautiful Blackburn or stunning Slough. The 📘Seven Lives of St Botolph’s Bus Station (beside a Bingo Hall) is a very long, albeit catchy title. One for 2022 as Camulodunum, a provincial market town goes for City Status in a few hours time – 2022.
Me dear Daniel, I love what you’ve done with the blog! I shared it with a few transport nerds at WSP. Will always be grateful for your advice, friendship and mentoring while at Surrey County Council. Hope you and yours are splendid.