great western railway british railway company linked london south west west england wales founded received enabling ran trains engineered chose broad gauge series saw operate standard gauge trains broad gauge services operated company identity railways act amalgamated remaining independent railways territory finally merged end british railways called god great way round famed holiday line taking people english resorts far south west england devon somerset cornwall company locomotives built company workshops painted green colour existence tone chocolate cream passenger coaches goods wagons painted red later changed mid grey trains included long distance express services operated suburban rural services operated steam company pioneered use larger economic goods wagons usual britain operated network road motor bus routes owned ships docks hotels history early history great western railway originated desire bristol merchants maintain city second port country chief american trade increase size ships gradual liverpool increasingly attractive port rail connection london construction 1830s threatened bristol status answer bristol operation london interests build line railway built unprecedented standards excellence perform lines constructed northwest company founded public meeting bristol incorporated aged appointed engineer far largest contract date controversial decisions firstly chose use broad gauge allow possibility large wheels outside bodies rolling stock running high speeds secondly selected route north significant towns offered potential connections oxford gloucester surveyed entire length route london bristol help including solicitor bristol law firm occasion rowed river survey bank river route played important role engineer project taking management divisions route including bridges involvement major earth moving works fed clark interest geology anonymously authored railway illustrated critique methods broad gauge miles line station london bridge station opened june ready line extended july deep reading march cutting scene railway disaster years later goods train ran passengers travelling open trucks killed accident prompted parliament pass railway regulation act requiring railway companies provide better carriages passengers section reading crossed thames twice opened traffic june mile extension took line road july work started bristol end line mile section bath opened august december line london reached temporary terminus west miles section opened station connected independent line worked bristol section bristol opened june main line remained incomplete construction miles ready trains june trains ran miles purchased competing carrier london reading bath bristol closely involved broad gauge railways completed extending broad gauge plymouth cornwall railway took royal albert bridge cornwall reached originally laid standard gauge narrow gauge known time opened connected completed port established initially direct line london wales tidal river wide cross trains instead follow lengthy route gloucester river narrow crossed bridge work begun unexpected underwater springs delayed work prevented opening foot gauge gauge war devised track gauge railways later added inch probably reduce friction wheel sets curves broad gauge gauge referred gauge broad gauge bristol opened gloucester served standard gauge lines birmingham resulted break gauge forced passengers goods change trains travelling south west north beginning gauge war led appointment parliament reported favour standard gauge foot gauge prescribed law regulating gauge railways act south west england wales connected network railways britain use standard gauge bristol gloucester bought midland railway converted standard gauge brought mixed gauge track temple station rails allow trains run broad standard gauge extended competition midland london birmingham reached oxford north broad gauge reached year birmingham railway chester railway amalgamated lines standard gauge line north oxford built mixed gauge mixed gauge extended southwards oxford end allowed goods traffic north england south coast london line originally built broad gauge route attempt standard gauge territory opened shared line south coast route route initially started somerset west took broad gauge exeter railway standard gauge railway years remote lines connected parent system traffic handled associated companies gauge war lost mixed gauge brought allowing passenger trains london chester broad gauge amalgamated west midland railway brought oxford worcester line conceived broad gauge route built standard gauge battles political physical april broad gauge taken use oxford reading august line converted broad standard line similarly treated mixed gauge extended main line line narrowed following year saw mixed gauge laid broad gauge retained services bristol branch lines bristol amalgamated january start mixing gauge line task completed exeter march station shared rival company continued push westwards exeter line arrived plymouth later spurred great western cornwall railway remained nominally independent line held large number shares company final new broad gauge route opened june branch west cornwall small extension harbour plymouth mixed gauge point remains harbour examples broad gauge remaining control line london set converting remaining broad gauge tracks broad gauge service left station friday following monday trains operated standard gauge locomotives twentieth century burden operating trains removed company turned attention constructing new lines upgrading old ones company previously routes principal new lines opened linking line create shorter route channel islands traffic south wales link diversion eliminating wooden main line journey london reading birmingham combined offered new route birmingham south wales built jointly great central railway shorter route london north allowed trains avoid opened attempt attract liner traffic provided better facility anglo irish ferries generally conservative improvements years world war restaurant cars better conditions class passengers steam heating trains faster express services largely initiative superintendent line group talented senior managers led railway era chairman sir general manager successor chief engineer sir chief mechanical engineer period introduced road motor services alternative building new lines rural areas started steam rail motors bring cheaper operation existing branch lines big outbreak world war taken government control major railways britain staff joined armed forces difficult build maintain equipment peacetime war government considered permanent decided instead compulsory amalgamation railways large groups preserved grouping smaller companies amalgamated main companies new routes wales including miles railways lines miles independent lines english area operations added notably midland south western junction railway line previously working closely gave second station line carried traffic north southampton 1930s brought hard times company remained fair financial health despite depression development loans guarantees grants act allowed obtain money return employment improve stations including improve facilities depots lay additional tracks reduce congestion road motor services transferred local bus companies took share instead participated air services legacy broad gauge trains routes built slightly wider normal britain included built super boat train services conveyed passengers london luxury company celebrated centenary new centenary carriages built use wider loading gauge route world war outbreak world war returned direct government control end war labour government power planning railways couple years trying recover war british railways january continued exist legal entity nearly years formally wound december designs locomotives rolling stock continued built region maintained distinctive character painting stations express trains form chocolate cream years british railways old revived train operating company providing passenger services old routes subsequently great western september changed order ideals founder operating infrastructure transferred passed companies continued preserve appropriate parts stations bridges historic structures recognised network geography original linked london station temple station bristol way reading bath line extended westwards exeter plymouth reach westerly railway station england placed main locomotive workshops close village locomotives trains changed early years point route climbed gradually westwards london changed primitive locomotives available better operated types smaller wheels better able climb hills faced directions dropping cross climbing descending regain valley followed bath bristol junction line ran north westwards gloucester south westwards far reach cardiff west wales route later shortened opening direct east west route route ran northwards oxford different routes continued birmingham worcester line continued route enabled reach operating agreements companies allowed trains run manchester south london bristol main line routes southampton network cross country routes linked main lines varied branch lines short mile branch line longer mile promoted built counter competition companies reading line london away built local companies sold railway larger neighbour examples include branches variety came traffic carried royalty windsor goods traffic wharf envisaged continuing atlantic_ocean built great western carry railway passengers bristol new_york traffic north_america soon switched larger port liverpool territory passengers landed plymouth conveyed london special train ships linked great_britain ireland france key locations railway headquarters established station locomotives rolling stock built maintained workshops acquired amalgamated railways including companies road works workshops reading signal works established buildings north reading railway station later years concrete manufacturing depot established items ranging track components bridges cast engineering features years creation original main line described historian railway design working westwards line crosses valley river_thames railway bridge time construction largest span achieved brick arch bridge line continues reaching reading crosses thames twice bridges bath longest railway tunnel driven time years later railway opened longer carry new line england wales beneath notable structures added smaller companies amalgamated include sea wall royal albert bridge railways operations early years managed committees bristol london soon combined single board directors met offices board led chairman supported secretary officers locomotive superintendent title changed chief mechanical engineer goods manager appointed position filled general manager post superintendent line created oversee running trains passenger services early trains offered passengers choice second class carriages choice extended passengers conveyed slow goods trains class railway regulation act legal requirement british railways serve station trains included class accommodation fare penny mile speed mph class carriages attached trains fastest expresses parliamentary order meant trains began include smoking carriages special excursion cheap day tickets issued season tickets revenue came second class passengers volume class passengers grew extent second class facilities withdrawn cheap trains act resulted provision trains special low certain times day principal express services given nicknames names later appeared officially carried locomotive windows carriages instance late morning express london exeter named winning horse derby races withdrawn end revived following request bristol train ran plymouth afternoon express instigated route june known express introduced running new service ran london non stop plymouth july ran summer permanent feature fastest train world scheduled cover miles miles london average miles hour train nicknamed featured books boys ages named trains included running london bristol ran london fast expresses included special coaches detached passed stations stopping guard riding coach main train bring stop correct position slip coach detached company sleeping cars operated plymouth october corridor train ran following year saw trains heated steam passed train pipe locomotive saw introduction class restaurant cars service extended classes sleeping cars class passengers available self propelled steam october years constructed trains special retractable steps stations lower platforms usual england proved successful routes supplemented trailer cars driving controls entered service end following year number small locomotives fitted work trailers combined sets known eventually replacing steam rail motors diesel introduced fully streamlined long distance services purely parcels services freight services passenger traffic main source revenue opened goods carried separate trains coal mining industrial districts wales reached goods traffic significant signed agreement transport coal london special rates nonetheless worth year railway locomotives increased size length goods trains wheeled wagons gradient line limited typical goods wagons carry later tons load placed wagon little ton smaller sent local centre larger loads main segment journey station truck workings running goods trains carrying small specified stations pick trucks collected small loads groups stations provided special wagons handling equipment storage facilities largest traffic flows example coal mines wales sent coal docks coast owned equipped railway cornwall exported china clay production county wagons provided traffic flows owned mining companies fitted end doors allowed loads tipped straight ships holds wagon equipment special wagons produced different gunpowder milk fruit fish heavy traffic carried agricultural fishing areas south west england fast trains instance cattle sent road months june nearly tons fish carried west cornwall london trains running nineteenth century wagons built standards passenger coaches vacuum brakes large wheels allow fast running ordinary goods trains british railways time wheels close feet apart smaller wheels hand brakes ran vacuum general goods train london bristol newly built goods wagons small wheels vacuum brakes followed services create network fast trains major centres production population scheduled run speeds averaging mph railway companies followed lead providing vacuum fitted services operations number canals canal property railway purchased remove competition proposed new lines continued operated small railway company business canals took receipts freight trains earned million million respectively railways act brought large coal docks ownership cardiff barry added small number docks south coast england company owned largest docks operator world powers granted parliament operate ships following year company took ships operated ford jackson route wales ireland welsh terminal relocated railway opened services operated routes smaller vessels opened crossing bristol south wales union railway railway operated bus services started railway station august known company road motors chocolate cream buses operated company territory railway services 1930s transferred local bus companies held share inaugurated railway air service cardiff plymouth association grew motive power rolling stock locomotives locomotives specified proved unsatisfactory years old soon appointed railway set establishing reliable fleet bought locomotives company proved successful designed series locomotives built company newly established railway workshops designed different broad gauge types growing railway later iron duke class succeeded brought standard gauge experience railway armstrong designs built broad standard gauge fitting different wheels needing given old ones withdrawn broad gauge locomotives early death meant phase motive power design responsibility developed express types single driver hauled fast trains time dean retired replaced introduced familiar locomotives tenure term locomotive superintendent changed chief mechanical engineer succeeded soon responsible larger fleet operated following railways act set replacing older numerous classes rebuilding remainder components possible produced new designs standard parts classes final took control seeing railway wartime shortages producing design locomotives gave locomotives names identify standard gauge companies numbers named broad gauge locomotives numbered standard gauge ones time armstrong arrival new locomotives broad standard given numbers including broad gauge ones previously carried names acquired railways dean introduced policy giving passenger tender locomotives numbers names batch given names distinctive theme example kings class castles class painted locomotives dark holly green changed middle green existence initially chocolate brown indian red frames changed twentieth century black number plates generally polished brass black background chimneys copper caps years carriages passenger coaches varied ranging wheeled vehicles original broad gauge line coaches feet long service vacuum brakes corridors came use nineteenth century electrically lit coaches service 1920s saw vehicles fitted automatic steel bodies early vehicles built number independent companies railway started build carriages railway works eventually provided railway rolling stock special vehicles included sleeping cars restaurant cars slip coaches passengers carried diesel passenger rated carried parcels horses milk express speeds representative examples carriages survive service today heritage railways country coaches generally painted variations chocolate brown cream plain brown red parcels similar vehicles seldom painted colour plain brown red instead caused known brown vehicles wagons early years wagons painted brown changed red end broad gauge familiar dark grey introduced early wagons wheeled open vehicles wheeled vehicles provided special loads covered followed initially carrying cattle later general vulnerable goods wagons appeared heavy loads coal wagons built following large wheel coal wagons appeared rated tons tonnes twice size typical wagons period company invested heavily coal wagons size infrastructure necessary unloading docks known pole wagons general manager promoted use container wagons appeared special motor cars opened trains united_kingdom fitted vacuum brakes instead fitted individual wagons trains conveyed brake guard control screw operated brake goods wagons fitted vacuum brakes ran passenger trains carrying goods fish ballast given vacuum brakes december general goods wagons constructed onwards wagons vacuum brakes formed majority fleet railway british railways wagons public traffic code messages usually painted wagon common referred names van van boiler truck brake van track permanent way decided use light bridge rail continuously supported thick timber known road thinner timber correct distance apart produced track assembly proved cheaper conventional broad gauge track advantage lost mixed gauge lines higher ratio timber length line conventional track forms later road seen half twentieth century signalling developed system disc signals control train movements people operating assume train reached signal stopping unexpectedly world commercial telegraph line installed miles came operation april later spread system allowed stations use messages tell people operating signals train arrived safely long list code words developed help messages quick send clear meaning conventional signals replaced discs time persisted lower quadrant form proceed aspect indicated lowering signal arm despite british railways changing upper quadrant form electric light signals pattern later introduced busy stations red green yellow green aspects signals showed night automatic train control system introduced safety system applied train brakes passed danger signal cultural impact known god wonderful railway great way round earliest routes direct railway promoted holiday line carried huge numbers people resorts wales south west england tourism cheap tickets offered excursion trains operated popular destinations special events great exhibition later road motors operated tours popular destinations served directly train ships offered cruises places plymouth redundant carriages converted camp coaches placed country seaside stations hired arrived train operated hotels major stations junctions early days opened country house hotel castle cornwall later added wales devon added golf course promoted holiday line series posters puzzles books included describing attraction different parts system regional titles south wales described scenery seen window trains books designed encourage interest published books boys ages included limited royal road great western railway effectively created modern day tourist spots southwest wales previously difficult reach resorts wales cliffs remote parts england advent art media attracted attention artists early date history description great western railway published contained series detailed railway readers glimpse line looked like days photography painted rain steam speed great western railway looking window train railway bridge painted large crowd scene platform station initially painted architect train specially provided painting variety travellers railway staff form animated focal point featured television programmes bbc children drama series god animated film great won academy award best animated short film tells story engineering accomplishments railway series engines duck oliver named great western railway duck especially proud heritage memory kept alive museums steam museum old railway works operating broad gauge train preserved lines include heritage railways museums locomotives rolling stock use display numerous stations owned continue display heritage seen large stations built extended temple places bath spa small stations little changed opened need rebuild cope heavier traffic good examples found surviving style train shed stations rebuilt fittings signs covers seats found cast great western main line considered potential rejected proposal comprised seven individual sites temple including offices train shed offices bath including route area including railway works village railway bridge station locomotives named locomotives given class broad gauge locomotive built locomotive entirely constructed company locomotive works withdrawn newly built locomotive class given withdrawn years later broad gauge taken use standard gauge class locomotive number given locomotive carry castle class number continued carry british railways days later reappeared carried class time bestowed currently operation high speed train power car number carries currently appropriately great western fleet notable people birmingham railways responsible locomotive workshops amalgamated following year given title moved chief broad gauge lines amalgamated standard gauge responsible choosing route railway designing today iconic structures including royal albert bridge temple stations chief mechanical engineer instigated locomotive components chairman responsible railway early locomotive successes iron duke class establishing railway works manager general manager position saw railway period expansion early gauge conversions chief mechanical engineer general manager responsible managing final gauge conversion manager saw world war sir general manager oversaw grouping railways following railways act promoted use ton wagons bring railway coal trade telegraph superintendent patented safely control dispatch trains metropolitan railway bristol south wales union railway later lines operated company
Great Western Railway