History of the Big Four - Great Western Railway

Рет қаралды 54,572

Жыл бұрын

Hello, and welcome to Part 1 of my 4 part series looking at the Four Great Railways of Britain that existed between 1923 and 1948, the LMS, the LNER, the Great Western and the Southern, companies that were formed, and dissolved, through acts of Parliament to try and rationalise the 120 individual railway firms into something more manageable, but even though these operators only lasted a mere 25 years, during that time they left an indelible mark on the face of not only British railway history, but the art-deco culture of the period that continues to resonate globally even to this day.
Part 1 focuses on the Great Western Railway, the main operator of services out of London Paddington to the southwest, Wales and the West Midlands, this company being a continuation of the original and iconic Great Western as formed in the 1830s, that ran along the classic mainline from London to Bristol that had been plotted by the legendary Isambard Kingdom Brunel, but even in the era of the Big Four, the Great Western, while presenting a slew of practical and purposeful looking machines that didn't adopt the same art-deco styling as its rivals, still stood out from the rest by way of its chocolate and cream coaches and Brunswick Green engines, that defined a generation of train travel across the western United Kingdom.
All video content and images in this production have been provided with permission wherever possible. While I endeavour to ensure that all accreditations properly name the original creator, some of my sources do not list them as they are usually provided by other, unrelated KZfaqrs. Therefore, if I have mistakenly put the accreditation of 'Unknown', and you are aware of the original creator, please send me a personal message at my Gmail (this is more effective than comments as I am often unable to read all of them): rorymacveigh@gmail.com
The views and opinions expressed in this video are my personal appraisal and are not the views and opinions of any of these individuals or bodies who have kindly supplied me with footage and images.
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Thanks again, everyone, and enjoy! :D
References:
- Railway Wonders of the World (and their respective sources)
- The Great Western Archive (and their respective sources)
- Wikipedia (and its respective references)

Пікірлер: 133

@mst4309 Жыл бұрын

Eton college being worried that the pupils will use the railway to visit brothels of London is just the most hilariously Eton thing.

@JP_TaVeryMuch Жыл бұрын

I should think that the college authorities should have been pleased: the alternative being Matron or the other boys.

@Suprahampton Жыл бұрын

I remember that fact being mentioned on QI

@joerivanlier1180 Жыл бұрын

Instead of the more expensive escorts being provided by the school no doubt..

@1951GL Жыл бұрын

Was Boris there then?

@JP_TaVeryMuch Жыл бұрын

@@1951GL BJ is but an ink blot in the history pages of the shenanigans that go on in the rarefied passages of Great Britain's great public schools, dear boy.

@TB76Returns Жыл бұрын

As Duck would say "There are two ways of doing things, The Great Western Way, or The Wrong Way!"

@ThatScottishAtlantic57 Жыл бұрын

While I'm mostly a Scottish Railway & LNER fan. I can say with 100% certainty. That the GWR rightfully earned it's nicknames of the "Great Way Round" & "God's Wonderful Railway."

@HyperCat72 Жыл бұрын

Why hello there

@maverick9530 10 ай бұрын

ah i know you your the same scottish atlantic

@mrrolandlawrence Жыл бұрын

another well researched history of railways in the uk

@robinforrest7680 Жыл бұрын

That last shot at Dawlish really sent shivers down my spine. Wonderful. Thankyou. There are of course two ways of doing anything: The Great Western way… …and the wrong way 😂

@stevegolding5523 4 ай бұрын

GWR = Gresley Was Right 😂

@obelic71 Жыл бұрын

Fun fact: The GWR consulted the construction of the first Railway in the Netherlands.(1830's) The HIJSM Hollandse IJzeren Spoorweg Maatschappij - (Dutch iron railway companny ) Amsterdam - Haarlem opened in 1835 as s broadgage line with GWR locomotives. This line called the old line is still in use and has become a 4 track mainline.

@daffyduk77 Жыл бұрын

Almost a case of "see one, do one, teach one" as they say

@sewing9434 Жыл бұрын

It is amazing how you can pack so much history into such a short amount of time...and narrate it all so clearly and concisely!

@TheHylianBatman Жыл бұрын

The Great Western Railway is probably my favorite rail company anywhere in the world. I say this as an American. I frequently wonder what the world would be like if the rail innovators were just given free reign. I wonder if Brunel was right with his 7' gauge. I wonder what travel would be like if railways hadn't closed. It's great to see you tackling longer-form content; I've thought for ages that multi-part stuff from you would be excellent, and you're not disappointing me at all!

@johnlane5874 Жыл бұрын

Very good video yet again, one of the most informative channels I've found on KZfaq. As an aside, my late grandfather was batman to Admiral Lord Jellicoe in the Royal Navy.

@uingaeoc3905 Жыл бұрын

Lloyd George knew my father!

@johnlane5874 Жыл бұрын

@@uingaeoc3905 wasn't he in Culture Club 🤔

@mirzaahmed6589 Жыл бұрын

Batman?

@uingaeoc3905 Жыл бұрын

@@mirzaahmed6589 Personal Servant of a British Officer; was also in charge of the officer's "bat-horse" that carried the officer's kit during a campaign. 'Pack Saddle - Old French 'Bat'.

@johnlane5874 Жыл бұрын

@@mirzaahmed6589 a military valet to officers.

@lewisvickers6738 Жыл бұрын

Great video as always, looking forward to the other three parts!

@robg5958 Жыл бұрын

Excellent and informative presentation, as always!

@neiloflongbeck5705 Жыл бұрын

From 1956 until 1966 the regions of BR were given a freer rein on how they presented themselves, which is why BR(SR) painted their coaches green and BR(WR) painted some of their coaches, the ones intended for the more prestigious trains, in a form of GWR livery. At the same time they were also allowed to set their own locomotive policy, although they didn't always get their own way. BR(WR) wanted to build wider coaches as they had the room courtesy of Brunel's broad gauge. This was vetoed as these coaches could only have been used on that region and not transferred elsewhere as traffic levels changed, were replaced by newer coaches or used on inter-regional trains.

@RogersRamblings Жыл бұрын

An excellent review with a cracking closing shot. Good work.

@doncoffey5820 Жыл бұрын

Excellent as always Rory. If you would like some in cab footage for your LNER edition, let me know.

@kevinellis8869 Жыл бұрын

Excellent video, I come from a GW family, my grandfather served for 45 years at Croes Newydd (Wrexham) shed finishing as a top link passenger driver covering the line to Barmouth, the shed mainly dealing with the coal and steel traffic.

@stephengreenwald5271 Жыл бұрын

Great balance between detail and overview. Wonderful choice of footage.

@robertbate5790 Жыл бұрын

Great brief history, thanks. Some great archive footage to. 👍👍👍

@adrianbates7621 Жыл бұрын

Excellent as always, love your channel 👍

@studio6584 Жыл бұрын

Excellent and informative video - thank you

@colinfeilen988 Жыл бұрын

Superb content possibly the most concise and interesting GWR history ! 🚂

@Courtneyobrien19 Жыл бұрын

Wow Awesome video, I can't wait to see you talk a bout the other companies.

@quizinovag4556 Жыл бұрын

Honestly keep up the fantastic transport documentary’s. Looking forward to the Lner 🤘

@careyroberts3924 Жыл бұрын

Beautiful video and very informative too! Thank you 🙂

@anthonystevens8683 Жыл бұрын

A Well researched, produced and narrated video that is also very educational. Many thanks for sharing.

@alasdairjames1215 Жыл бұрын

Really helpful the way that the narrative gives a thorough historical context.

@sjaakmcd1804 Жыл бұрын

Awesome as usual,thank you.

@mister_fjk1972 Жыл бұрын

These histories are really great - my O. S. Nock books have come alive!

@davidpeters6536 11 ай бұрын

This is a superb series. Thanks "Roderick" (or however it is pronounced) I enjoy all the videos you produce.

@johnblack9499 Жыл бұрын

Awesome video 🙂 big GWR fan, grew up in Somerset in the era of the Westerns.

@john07973 Жыл бұрын

Excellent job many thanks 👍

@spiros471 Жыл бұрын

Excellent channel magnificent content especially for us railfans that we come from other countries. Keep up the good and detailed job. Well done.

@DaveSCameron Жыл бұрын

Quite brilliant yes. 👍

@DaveSCameron Жыл бұрын

No Brunswick Green here, purely British Racing Green. 🇬🇧🍻🍏👍😊

@mastermindgaming4741 Жыл бұрын

Great video! Thank you. And the ending is the best! What a sight, the best representation of what the GWR is or was back then

@davidcrook5511 Жыл бұрын

Agreed. 🙂

@SirKenchalot Жыл бұрын

You can't keep a Great Western Railway down!

@DaveSCameron Жыл бұрын

Hahaha! Only Beeching managed to succeed. 👍

@mattbalboa1349 Жыл бұрын

I really enjoy your videos. They are extremely informative and you see no need to dramatize them. I could use your guidance. I am an old man, living in Texas, now, but way back in September of 1974 I was a young 19 year old U.S. Marine. LST-1181 of the amphibious force I was assigned to, docked in Cardiff, ( a lovely city with two beautiful girls...) and I was briefly able to visit the railway station. I rode a diesel rail car set to Bristol. Other than that, I had no real idea what sort of locomotives I was seeing, especially at Cardiff. Maybe you can shed some light on what I might have seen? Thank you and keep the great information coming. Matt

@LearnwithJanice Жыл бұрын

Hello from Kansas🇺🇸

@andykopgod Жыл бұрын

Really interesting 👏👏👏

@devon896 Жыл бұрын

Great documentary yet again! It does make you wonder what the railways could have been like if the government had gone back to the big 4 after 1945.

@michellebell5092 Жыл бұрын

That was a Great (Western Railway) history, wow, I look for to the next three .

@johnpinckney4979 Жыл бұрын

You usually do great work. However... this is your best yet! You've set a new standard for yourself...

@NHZS Жыл бұрын

It helps when you read parts of the video directly from articles on the internet

@lukegreen5341 Жыл бұрын

0:29 Happy 100th Birthday GWR The Great Western Railway. 1923 - 2023. 100 Years. X

@meat19820 Жыл бұрын

A lovely, well narrated documentary, Worthy of Prime time TV. As a fan of the GWR I found this most educational. Will you be doing anymore videos on the GWR in the future????. Well done👍👍👍 and thanks.

@michaelburggraf2822 Жыл бұрын

Great work! Kind Regards from Germany

@gazzafloss Жыл бұрын

The story well told...

@Riogrande1964 2 ай бұрын

Excellent introduction to the famed Great Western Railway's history, from its formation through the challenges of war, Depression, and the arrival of Darth Beeching. (Excuse me, Dr. Beeching.)

@MichaelBrodie68 Жыл бұрын

Again, a superb video. One locomotive I've really come to appreciate is Southern's Q1 Bullied - an ugly duckling, but nevertheless great engineering given the need for severe austerity.

@dj_efk Жыл бұрын

Show me any rail fan of any persuasion who isn’t moved by the sight and sound (and smell, you can imagine it) of that Castle pounding along Dawlish Warren at the end! Even my 7 and 5 year old boys can tell a great western loco from any others just from the sound of the whistle. The Great Western was truly great.

@davidcrook5511 Жыл бұрын

Excellent and enjoyable; thank you! Like MasterMind Gaming, I thought the ending was the best part of all...from my favourite video from this channel! (What was its title by the way? 😲 DAVID CROOK HAS FORGOTTEN!!)

@macjim Жыл бұрын

Ah, yes! Broad gauge… the what if. What if broad gauge had become the standard for railways today? Well I suspect it would have given us a more stable ride at very high speeds and it would have definitely given much more room inside the coaches than today’s vehicles but it wasn’t too be… sadly.

@JP_TaVeryMuch Жыл бұрын

Certainly did give a more comfortable ride and speedier too. In fact ⅕ of the world's railway tracks are larger than the standard gauge. Parts of Australia, Africa, South America and even San Francisco use them today.

@bertrandpoulengy4121 Жыл бұрын

@@JP_TaVeryMuch Éire, as well, is a broader gauge. However, the 7ft gauge would have greatly increased the construction costs of the railway system.

@gerogyzurkov2259 Жыл бұрын

@@bertrandpoulengy4121yes but would of made less costly for nowadays rolling stock would of less need for modifications as an extreme changes vs what's being used in Europe in terms of size.

@AndrewG1989 Жыл бұрын

Reading Green Park station recently opened on the Reading-Basingstoke Line and it serves the Green Park area to the south of Reading town centre and is also near to Reading FC “Select Car Leasing” stadium who have been relegated to EFL League One.

@DKS225 Жыл бұрын

From one Brilliant four part series to the start of another Rory. Though apart from the locomotives that The GWR used there are some other legacies. Apart from The Notorious Devon Banks and The Summer Saturday specials to Paignton and Newquay was The Royal Albert Bridge crossing The River Tamar from Devon into Cornwall at least that's what i think anyway.

@RickyNowis Жыл бұрын

Outstanding history of the Great Western Mainline. Here is a question: At Southall, where it's home for West Coast Railway Company. In it's hay day, would the depot at Southall been also the base for the GWR fleet?

@johnkeepin7527 Жыл бұрын

It might be worth noting that until about the late 1980s, the Regions (Western, Southern, Eastern, London Midland, and Scottish) had a fair bit of autonomy, not least in the engineering departments, to which you alluded to re traction techniques. As someone who started work on the Western Region in 1981, it soon became apparent that they differed quite a bit when it comes down to the detail - not only the choice of external contractors, but in-house design and manufacture etc.

@thedukeofbork3147 Жыл бұрын

There's an interesting parallel in Ruairidh's recent series on the British motor industry, with the Austin and Morris divisions continuing as almost rivals, despite being part of the same organisation.

@daffyduk77 Жыл бұрын

Nice assortment of clips & relevant dialogue, the latter slightly garbled at times for speed like its subject matter, perhaps 🙂

@duncancurtis5108 Жыл бұрын

The GW had a small station 🚉 at Salisbury, with trains from Reading hence the switch from Swindon in 1985.

@FeatherWings78 Ай бұрын

Id like to see the history of the British Railway Network please? Still this is awesome.

@thebrummierailenthusiasts5329 Жыл бұрын

Yes this year is the centenary celebration since the big 4 was formed

@nigelduckworth4419 Жыл бұрын

Top Drawer.

@daystatesniper01 Жыл бұрын

Superb video but no mention of the broad gauge ?

@studebaker4217 Жыл бұрын

Super video. It would be easier to enjoy and follow if fewer significant digits were spoken of the many numbers given (e.g. "Over 2,400" instead of "two thousand, four hundred and seventy two"...

@ChaosXOtaku Жыл бұрын

8:30 what class engine is that. as it looks like a 2-6-0 but with the side rode outside like the duke dogs

@NSB463 Жыл бұрын

Great video with very good research put into it, but when you mentioned the accident on November 4th, 1940 you said 6208 instead of 6028. Other then that, good work!

@mikebrown3772 Жыл бұрын

Also it didn't jump the track due to speed but ran into the end of a dead end spur at the end of the duplicate slow line.

@mikebrown3772 Жыл бұрын

@@mofomat Norton Fitzwarren

@JP_TaVeryMuch Жыл бұрын

15:00 Not to get into the mine's bigger nonsense but it looked appealing but did little, the airsmoothing. GWR had Ton up Truro, the City class and first ever 100mph + in 1904. Coupled... with the only average speed of 80mph+ (over 75miles + distance) Castle class in 1932. Record still unsurpassed to this day.

@mjt8199 Жыл бұрын

Great video but one minor correction, the GWR went to Aylesbury not Aylesford.

@wilberator9608 Жыл бұрын

6:34 Wages doing what to meet the increased cost of living? Wow the olden days were crazy

@thepacerman 6 ай бұрын

was that scene at the start filmed at cockwood harbour?

@michaelimbesi2314 Жыл бұрын

I can’t for the life of me understand why anybody ever thought that forcing a bunch of train companies to amalgamate into what were essentially four regional monopolies was ever a good idea.

@nigelfirth5601 Жыл бұрын

Really enjoyable and informative - Thanks for posting. My only very slight criticism would be that your speed of narration could benefit from slowing down a tad.

@lloydcollins6337 Жыл бұрын

God's Wonderful Railway, great!

@buddmetroliner200gaming3 Жыл бұрын

Can you do history of the g&swr railway

@darganx Жыл бұрын

I would like to know the entire history of railways worldwide, because it seems to me that the concept exploded like wildfire after the 1830s.. in 20 years there were railway systems all over Europe and the U.S. Was there a convention that set it all off?

@thepacerman 4 ай бұрын

yooo i go to that place at the start all the time

@rottenroads1982 11 ай бұрын

Montague (Duck): “Their are Two ways of doing things, The Great Western Way or the Wrong Way.” The Big Engines: “DON’T WE KNOW IT!!!!!!”

@ktipuss Жыл бұрын

16.17 The Norton Fitzwarren accident didn't happen because the train traversed points too fast, it was caused by the driver not realising he was on the relief track and not the main track. He only realised his error when a lightweight fast newspaper train pulled by another King Class engine overtook him just before Norton Fitzwarren, where the relief and main tracks would merge again. Driver of King George VI applied the emergency brakes but he only had 250 yards until his engine hit the mud beyond the catch points. It was most fortunate that the newspaper train missed by mere inches being struck by the derailed engine of the passenger train. The driver of King George VI was exonerated by the court due to the severe stresses of wartime operation and also the unsatisfactory positioning of the signals which contributed to the driver's error. By a strange coincidence, the GWR's only previous fatal accident happened at the same spot almost exactly 50 years earlier in 1890, but in totally unrelated circumstances. GWR's excellent safety record is also worth mentioning.

@sameyers2670 Жыл бұрын

There is speculation that the signal man at Taunton was possibly partly to blame as well. While it must be said we will never be able to prove it its possible he had originally set the road for the night sleeper to go onto the main line then changed his mind.

@sameyers2670 Жыл бұрын

It should also be noted the driver of the night sleeper had been bombed out of his house the night before the crash

@justme-hh4vp Жыл бұрын

GWR aka God's Wonderful Railway!

@TheLostGamerMan 7 ай бұрын

Didn't hear mention of the London Transport which was something the GWR had

@bigdunc228 9 ай бұрын

I want to nominate this fella for a Knighthood

@happysmileyface Жыл бұрын

hi :)

@richardclayton3392 11 ай бұрын

Visually, a great film which brings back happy memories for a rail enthusiast from South Devon. Much enjoyed, but unfortunately not the commentary, which is too rapid and extremely monotonous.

@user-qp9cd5ng3w 3 ай бұрын

Thank you for tuning in! Throughout history, trains have played a vital role, fueling industrialization and fostering connections between societies. From the advent of steam locomotives to the modern marvels of high-speed bullet trains, their evolution continues to redefine transportation. This video provides a concise yet enlightening glimpse into their lasting importance. If you're intrigued by British Railway History, be sure to explore our curated playlist for further exploration: kzfaq.info/sun/PLbkIohgbg3ZNXQ2yFZ92zn-sXxO350Aa2

@PositionLight Жыл бұрын

Hey, this isn't about the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railway!

@heidirabenau511 Жыл бұрын

🤦‍♂️

@charlesburgoyne-probyn6044 Жыл бұрын

GWR some of the best in the 1900s some of the worst by 1948 despite belated reforms standardisation made them dynamic and efficient but over time impaired progress as they were bound by their format

@rolandharmer6402 Жыл бұрын

A great overview. Not sure that the Modernisation Plan of 1955 was fruitless. Yes many mistakes were made, though I wouldn’t include the diesel hydraulics amongst them, however much good work was done: replacement of much of the semaphore signals with colour light signals on much of the main line network, replacement of jointed track with continuous welder rail, the widening of the East Coast Main Line north of Kings Cross and the building of such stations as Barking and Coventry - now both listed. When planning the electrification on the West Coast Main line the decision not to proceed with 1500 volt DC but to change to 25Kv was a bold one and one which has been proven right.

@tomwalsh2244 Жыл бұрын

Wonder were the students of Elton tempted by the brothels of London? I can think of one former prime minister that may have born. Lol

@macjim Жыл бұрын

GWR… I spit on thee! They destroyed the Somerset and Dorset railway and made sure it couldn’t be reopened again.

@JP_TaVeryMuch Жыл бұрын

A Shilling(stone) for your thoughts. Bason what (Bridge) may I ask? Perhaps you could Stur(minster Newton) me towards an article about it please.

@macjim Жыл бұрын

@@JP_TaVeryMuch In 1958 management of the line north of Templecombe was transferred from the Southern Region of British Railways to the Western Region of British Railways. In the five years after this, through trains from the north and the Midlands were diverted to other routes, notably the daily Pines Express, which was re-routed after the end of the summer timetable in 1962… the western region effectively still the GWR but under BR ownership closed the line and made sure it wouldn’t reopen by destroying it. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somerset_and_Dorset_Joint_Railway

@JP_TaVeryMuch Жыл бұрын

@@macjim thank you

@uingaeoc3905 Жыл бұрын

NO - Stockton-Darlington was NOT the first railway system, it was a steam hauled railway track. The first railway system, ie publicly available, regular, passenger, freight, timetabled was Liverpool to Manchester of 1830. The story of the Big Four should therefore start with the LMS and not the GWR.

@marvwatkins7029 Ай бұрын

Indeed, all boys' public schools need bordellos to motivate the pupils toward excellence in all endevours. 😊

@thatsme9875 Жыл бұрын

hey, I'm first to comment, hooray !!

@JP_TaVeryMuch Жыл бұрын

2:12 Bah humbug, if ever there were a word who's pronunciation legally required the krek waiter's peek, it must be the elegant and historic city of Baaarrrth. S.v.p. monsieur Ruairidh! P.S. 13:19 You can't beat those GWR Autocars. What a shock to the system they will have been to passengers at the time; all the way up from schoolboys to the Miss Marples of the world.

@CymruJedi Жыл бұрын

Calm down mate. It don’t matter how we pronounce it

@neiloflongbeck5705 Жыл бұрын

Oh dear, everything was fine until you mangled what loading gauge is. The loading gauge of a railway defines the boundary of the load that can be carried on a train without causing problems with line side structures including bridges and tunnels amongst other structures or trains on parallel lines. It has nothing to do with weights and axle loads.