In our look at the Beeching Report itself we saw plans for a considerable number of railway closures, and looked at the reasoning behind the proposal. For London though, there were actually very few closures …
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The Beeching Report: 50 Years On
in March 1963 a small book of around 150 pages was published by the British Railways Board. Its official title was The Reshaping of British Railways. Inevitably, however, it became known by the name of the man who headed British Railways at the time. An industrial chemist who had previously headed ICI, he was “on loan” from that organisation with a remit to sort out the problem of the railways. That man was Dr Richard Beeching, and this was “The Beeching Report.”
Continue readingA Glimpse Into the Past
Recently, the Financial Times celebrated 125 years of publication and reproduced, by way of remembrance, a copy of its first front page, of 13th February, 1888. The front page makes interesting reading for LR readers, …
Continue readingLU150: Steam On the Underground Timetable and Prices
No. 30587 Steaming at Baker Street, copyright/credit Leon Daniels It has been something of an open secret that the London Transport Museum has been preparing for a limited number of Steam runs on the Metropolitan …
Continue readingARCHIVE: Angels and Errors: How the Harrow & Wealdstone Disaster Helped Shape Modern Britain
Today is the 60th Anniversary of the Harrow & Wealdstone Disaster. In remembrance of the tragedy that occured that day, below you will find the article about the disaster that first appeared on this website …
Continue readingRemembering the Harrow & Wealdstone Disaster
Next month it will be the 60th anniversary of the Harrow and Wealdstone rail accident, Britain’s worst civilian rail disaster. We wrote extensively about the accident last year, but for those unfamiliar with the consequences, …
Continue readingIn Pictures: The DLR at Twenty Five
Last week marked the 25th anniversary of the opening of the DLR. Originally intended as a low cost option to support the Docklands redevelopment programme, the DLR had a somewhat troubled gestation. Now, however, it forms a vital part of London’s transport infrastructure. To help celebrate its birthday, we’ve pulled together some images from its past.
Continue readingOff Site: London Transport Posters at Christies
It appears that the LTM are looking to auction off a number of excess posters from their archive, with the funds raised being ringfenced for future acquisitions. Whilst unfortunately the decorating budget here at LR Towers doesn’t stretch far enough to allow us to take part in the auction itself, the online catalogue is well worth a look.
Continue readingWarminster – Imber Village Routemaster Special Service
After yesterday highlighting the “Beck and Beyond” talk at the LTM, it seemed only fair to highlight something for the more omnibuphile members of the LR readership – Imberbus, the annual Warminster – Imber Village Routemaster Special Service on Monday 4th June.
Continue readingNot Stopping Here: (Gimmie) Deep Level Shelter
Through the Blitz and beyond, the part the Underground played in World War Two was a complex one. Nowhere was this more true than the role it played in sheltering the civilian populace from aerial attack. The part platforms at places like Aldwych played, and the tragedy at Bethnal Green are now relatively well known. What is perhaps less well known, however, is the role played by the Deep Level Shelters – the remains of which can still be seen at street level.
Continue readingSteam at Edgware Road and Earl’s Court
Following on from yesterday’s article, which included photos of the steam test at Baker Street on Sunday morning, below are a selection of photos of the same Special Train at Edgware Road and Earl’s Court. …
Continue readingA Late Night Steam Run on the Metropolitan
Last night, at 0100, a special train left Lillie Bridge depot. Bracketed by L24 and L26, it was a very different configuration from that normally seen by passengers (not least because it included Sarah Siddons, …
Continue readingIn Pictures: London Underground in the Seventies
With new Rolling Stock now appearing on much of the London Underground, it seems an opportune moment to take a step back and look at some trains of times past. Below are a selection of …
Continue readingIn Video: the Waterloo & City 1940 Stock
For those who have yet to encounter it, the SouthernRailwayFilms channel on Youtube has a veritable treasure-trove of videos related to the history of the old Southern Railway Company. The Waterloo & City line was, …
Continue readingLondon Buses and the Battle for Shoeburyness
On Friday the 18th December 1908, an unknown military force landed on the shores of the river Crouch in Essex. Britain had been invaded. The invading force (the Germans, if the soldiers tasked with responding …
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