Uniquely among Britain's railways, the Great Western Railway
retained its identity from the time of its incorporation in 1835
until nationalisation in 1948. This was one of the great railways,
so much so that for some enthusiasts it was the railway, even
attracting such epithets as 'God's Wonderful Railway' among the
more dedicated. Even so, the amalgamations of 1923 saw the company
absorb many smaller concerns, so that the post-grouping GWR was in
some respects a different railway from that had grown up during the
nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The grouping saw the GWR
absorb some significant concerns with strong, albeit local,
networks. Fortunately the GWR dominated these companies to the
extent that it was able to impose its will and identity on them, so
that it was spared the infighting that so marred the new London
Midland Scottish, or the regionalisation that left the London and
North Eastern adrift, and simply did not paper over the cracks with
some token changes as happened on the Southern. The GWR had
suffered from an uneven performance during the early years of its
history, and only really became the prestigious organisation that
so many people came to love during the early twentieth century,
setting speed records including the first, albeit unofficial, one
of more than 100mph with the locomotive City of Truro. At one stage
between the wars the GWR operated the world's fastest regular
service with the express Cheltenham Flyer, while attempting to
improve the efficiency and economics of the quieter branch lines
with diesel railcars. Typically, it celebrated its centenary with
special wide-bodied 'Centenary Riviera' carriages. "The Great
Western Railway Handbook 1923-1947" looks at the history and
achievements of one of the great railway companies, if not the
greatest. For many, the GWR was synonymous with holidays by the sea
in the West Country, but it was originally formed to link London
and Bristol. The area and extent of its operations was large,
extending as far north as Merseyside, providing most of the railway
services in Wales, as well as being the main line to Cardiff,
Bristol, Cornwall and, often forgotten today, Birmingham. The book
begins with a brief history of the GWR before the grouping, and a
survey of the other companies, such as the Cardiff Railway and the
Taff Vale Railway, that joined the GWR in 1923. It also looks at
the leadership of the company. The post-grouping GWR's history is
given, with reference information on its locomotives, named
expresses, rolling stock, depots and major termini, including the
role of Birmingham as the interchange point, and bottleneck, for
cross-country expresses , as well as the extensive ventures in
shipping and ports, in bus and air services. Other features are
covered in chapters on accidents, freight operations, diesel
railcars, operations during the Second World War, and then on
nationalisation. The book concludes with a chapter looking at what
might have been, based on the GWR's own Last Look Forward, post-war
plans for the widespread introduction of diesel locomotives and
reconstruction. The book includes photographs and diagrams
illustrating the GWR's equipment and some railway stations, its
network, shipping and air services, bus operations, including
Western National, some comparative timetables showing progress
between 1923 and 1938 (the last year of true peacetime operation),
as well as lists of locomotives.
General
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