The Changing Railway Scene: Western Region

The Nationalisation of the Railways in 1948 brought together the big four main line companies, and some 50 smaller companies into a new Government controlled British Railways. Of the six new regions that were formed at this time it was the Western Region that probably changed the least. It was the only region after nationalisation not to have its locomotives renumbered, and probably more so, the lack of change was down to the loyalty of the staff, many of which had worked for the Great Western Railway. The introduction of the Modernisation Plan in 1955 provided the finances for the modernisation of a number of stations, and the introduction of a number of new signalling schemes. This decade also saw major changes in motive power, with the introduction during 1958 of diesel hydraulic motive power, and diesel multiple units (DMUs). During the 1960s though, the Beeching Cuts were to see widespread line closures and the end of the decade also saw the final days of steam traction on the Western Region in December 1965. The 1970s saw the introduction of a large number of diesel electric locomotives, which in turn brought to an end diesel hydraulic motive power on the Western Region. The final decade saw the introduction of High Speed Trains (HSTs) onto most of the Region's fast services, and also the increasing use of fast long distance air braked, block and company freight trains. The end of the Western Region came with abolition of the five regions on 10 June 1986, and their replacement with new business sectors, such as Network South East, Inter City, Regional Railways and Railfreight.