Peter Masson wrote:

There's plenty of evidence that he was a brilliant railway manager.

No, there isn't - he was reasonably good, but, largely because he
painted himself as something of an iconoclast, and, as already stated,
was a surpreme raconteur/bull****ter, he gained a following (most of
whom didn't or don't have prctical railway or management experience)
who belived his every word, and saw him as a hero.

[snip yet another tiresome anecdote]

Half an hour later Control phoned again (barely concealed laughter).
'He has done what you said. He has pulled it broadside across both Main
Lines.'

And you believe all that?