The Glorious Years of the Southern Railway

The Southern Railway was the smallest of the ‘Big Four’ companies created by the Railways Act 1921. Yet, this was not a hindrance, rather a benefit which helped the SR become one of the more innovative of the group. The Glorious Years of the Southern Railway looks at the company over the period 1923-1945 using nearly 230 high quality black-and-white photographs. These are collected into several sections: locomotives; electric traction; Isle of Wight Railway; carriages; Southampton Docks; stations; war effort. The SR was the only one of the ‘Big Four’ to be solely operational in England, but the company’s territory stretched from east to west in the south. The photographs have been taken in this area at many locations, including stations, the lineside, sheds and workshops. Several companies formed the SR: London, Brighton & South Coast Railway; London & South Western Railway; South Eastern & Chatham Railway; Isle of Wight Railway. A small section of the book recognises their history, whilst the rolling stock continued to be a feature of the SR in the years after formation. The motive power of the SR developed an identity under Maunsell with the ‘Lord Nelson’ Class 4-6-0s, ‘Schools’ Class 4-4-0s, U Class 2-6-0s and Q Class 0-6-0. Though constrained by the war, Bulleid revolutionised the SR’s locomotives with the introduction of the ‘Merchant Navy’ Class Pacifics, ‘West Country’ and ’Battle of Britain’ Pacifics and Q1Class 0-6-0. The SR continued to develop the constituents’ electrification schemes and by the 1930s could boast of operating the largest suburban network in the world. The company also instigated one of the first main line electrification schemes to Brighton which opened in January 1933. This work also saw the SR modernise with colour-light signalling which became the longest stretch used in Britain. Operational for just 25 years, the SR managed to achieve much in that period thanks to the company’s officers and employees. The Glorious Years of the Southern Railway celebrates this contribution to railway history.

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