50 Years from 'The Beeching Report'

So its has been 50 years since Dr Richard Beeching presented his report to the Harold Macmillan Conservative government on the future of Britain's railway network.

Now I have to say that at first, he was considered the villain of the piece, and perhaps people believe that is still so.

Not the case. Britain's rail network was out dated, over manned and completely shot after the 2nd World War days. Steam was still the principle motive power, although the British Railways Board were introducing some form of modernization and diesel and electric motive power.

What you do have to remember is that cuts to the rail network were happening before this report, but not to the same volume.

Now anybody employed to report on a state owned institution, apart from receiving a nice salary, has the simple but sole ability to present the full facts and findings to the elected government of the day. It is then up to that body of people to act or part act on that report, or perhaps not at all.

Now in that government was a Transport Minister by the name of Ernest Marple, a despised little man with low intelligence. He was a road building man, and that was the start of Britain's major road building programme with the age of the Motorway a prime example. Now let me just say that we needed roads as well, but not at the expense of the railways. The cuts ran deep and were still being sanctioned by the obnoxious Harold Wilson's Labour Government.

However, we cannot turn back the clock entirely. Some selected lines are being reopened as the volume of traffic and numbers of passengers is at an all time record. Before we even think about HS2, Network Rail has a vast programme of investments due to be implemented over the next three or four years.

I do believe however that the biggest crime committed was allowing redundant track beds to be built on.

The government should have accepted that closures were going to to be sanctioned, however there should have been some form of legal notice that any purchsse of previously owned railway land must be protected and a prevention of building order established.

You also have to ask yourself the following question. With today's technology, one person train operators, modern signaling and present day ticketing arrangement's would some of those line closed now be profitable. The old Somerset and Dorset line running from Bath Green Park to Bournemouth, via the Mendips, although a tortuous route, perhaps might now be profitable  with the advert of new stock and technology.

Hey Ho, its happened now, so lets look forward to the future and HS2!

 

HS2 part 2

Despite the lack of funds, we must remember that in order to build a railway, it requires An Act of Parliament. 

Looking at this sensibly, even if a bill is presented in this year's Queen's Speech, I strongly suspect that the London to Birmingham section will eventually receive the Royal Assent, but only after many long debates, and it may even run into the next parliament after the general election. 

By this time, money will be found to fund the construction of the London Euston to Birmingham Curzon Street.

Here I have a selection of early working photographs of Curzon Street station as it was.

The site currently is a public car park and is waiting redevelopment.

HS2 part 1

For some time now politicians have been working on the design and presentation of HS2, not only from London to Birmingham, but recently the northern extension to Leeds and Manchester. To both projects I support. I have had communications from a number of well known supporters of this scheme including a lovely letter from Lord Adonis, who as a member of the then serving Labour Government, kicked started this project.

I believe that the present administration will this Spring present a Hybrid Bill to Parliament for consideration and ultimately Royal Assent for the London to Birmingham section first. This project will go ahead, despite the bellicose and short sighted actions and statements from those against. It is a great pity that our cash strapped local authorities, namely Warwickshire, Staffordshire and the likes are wasting council tax payers money on legal objections that they will loose. I am a council tax payer and would like to know why my County Council are squandering my money!

However, enough of my diatribe and lets look at what will happen in this two part post.

Euston Station in London is to be rebuilt to accommodate the new facilities.

Now way back in the 60's, British Railways committed corporate vandalism at Euston. The Euston Arch was demolished. Now the new plans include a rebuilding and copy of that very same arch! Don't forget that the British Railways Board at one stage also wanted to demolish St. Pancras Station, now the London terminus for HS1.

We have been somewhat more fortunate in Birmingham. The selected site for the Birmingham facility is the old disused Curzon Street Station. Fortunate in that part of the station remaining is now a heritage listed building, and will be part of the new station plans. We are also fortunate that Curzon Street was a terminus, and that added to its demise, when New Street Station is a through facility to both north and south.

This is the Curzon Street station entrance that is to be incorporated in the the design for HS2 Birmingham.

The above photograph is the old Euston Arch, a fine Doric style demolished under the instructions of the incompetent British Railways Board of Directors. I only hope there is sufficient photographic and design evidence to reconstruct this as

  accurate as possible, using the same stone.

The demise of Birmingham Snow Hill Station

The growth of Britain's railway network in the 1800's demanded that a station be built in Birmingham by the Great Western Railway Co. on the main line from Paddington Station (London) to Wolverhampton Low Level. 

In 1852 Livery Street Station was first opened for passenger traffic, and was renamed in 1858 as Snow Hill Station.

During the 1900's the station was reconstructed and opened in its final appearance in 1912.

The West Coast Main Line was to be the preferred route in and out of London resulting from  the Beeching report. As a consequence Snow Hill only remained open during the West Coast Main Line upgrade and electrification, and was then closed in the 1970's. The tunnel leading to Snow Hill was closed in 1967.

However there has been a resurgence in rail travel and Chiltern Railways now run a very good alternative service from Birmingham Moor Steet and Birmingham Snow Hill to London Marylebone. British Railways rebuilt the present Snow Hill station in 1980 and traffic to London commenced in 1993. The station is shared by the Midland Metro.

The following two photographs are from the 1950's

 The old booking all, minus its roof!

 Looking towards the tunnel mouth

The Snow Hill tunnel is of cut and cover construction with many business and other commercial buildings in use on top.

LAMMA

The Nottinghamshire County Showground at Newark hosted for the last time LAMMA. This is a huge agricultural and machinery event, held every January. Some people question why in January. The farming industry is notoriously quiet at this time of the year, and is ideal for farmers, land owners and students to view all the latest products. Millions of pounds worth of deals are completed at this event, many to overseas customers. Some visitors arrive by helicopter, but many by car or coach. This year was the largest ever, but was affected by the very cold weather conditions. 

A vintage section is afforded to us, and below is a selection of photographs taken at this years event.

On the 9th January 1893, the first every underground railway was opened in London from Paddington to Farringdon Street. The Victorian 'cut and cover' construction still in use after some 150 year was the start of an ever expanding underground network, with deep 'tube' facilities moving millions of people every year. It is a vital artery within our capital and has witnessed countless events throughout its working life. As the population increases, then more demands are put on the network and expansion is always a political and expensive 'hot potato'. However, expansion does continue to this very day, and no doubt will continue for many years to come.

Here is a selection of photographs taken in 1861 during the construct of the early line.

 This photograph below is at Westminster, you can just see through the London fog and gloom.

 This photograph is in Praed Street, Paddington. The twin towers building is still there and is Praed Street Hilton Hotel. The fan like steel work in the distance is the early Paddington Station.

One thing that is totally obvious to all, is the amount of man power and navvies required. All working under harsh conditions, there was no health and safety in those days, no employment laws as such. Poor pay and conditions and the lack of safety clothing. No hard hats or Hi Viz clothing.