Post by wirewiper on Jan 1, 2023 19:23:02 GMT
On 1st January 1923 the Railways Act 1921 was enacted, this grouped 120 railway companies into the Big Four - Great Western Railway (GWR), London and North Western Railway (LNWR), London North Eastern Railway (LNER) and Southern Railway (SR).
Britain's railways had evolved piecemeal in the previous 100 years, and there was often duplication and wasteful competition. The railways had been under state control since 1914 due to the First World War and remained so until 1921. They had been considered for nationalisation then, but the 1921 Railways Act sought to bring about efficiencies by creating four privately-owned regional monopolies. In the event the railways endured a further period of full state control during the Second World War and this did lead to Nationalisation, which continued until the 1990s.
Some lines remained outside the Big Four. The Underground Electric Railway Company was excluded as was the Metropolitan Railway; these would become part of the London Passenger Transport Board in 1933. Also Light Railways authorised under the Light Railways Act of 1986 were excluded, although many chose to join one of the big groups.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Railways_Act_1921
Britain's railways had evolved piecemeal in the previous 100 years, and there was often duplication and wasteful competition. The railways had been under state control since 1914 due to the First World War and remained so until 1921. They had been considered for nationalisation then, but the 1921 Railways Act sought to bring about efficiencies by creating four privately-owned regional monopolies. In the event the railways endured a further period of full state control during the Second World War and this did lead to Nationalisation, which continued until the 1990s.
Some lines remained outside the Big Four. The Underground Electric Railway Company was excluded as was the Metropolitan Railway; these would become part of the London Passenger Transport Board in 1933. Also Light Railways authorised under the Light Railways Act of 1986 were excluded, although many chose to join one of the big groups.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Railways_Act_1921