Opinion and Answer Edition 2023 (1st part/edition) Part #27: Conductor Wolf's Favorite Railways
Hi All, again Happy New Year 2023!
Welcome to another part of my Opinion & Answer series and the first for the 2023 calendar year. On part 27 of my O&A we'll be taking a look at my top 5 favorite railways from Great Britain & Scotland. As you'll see below, 4 railways are from the United Kingdom and 1 railway is from Scotland. So like I said before, lets dive in.
1. London, Brighton and South Coast Railway (otherwise known as LB&SCR/Brigton Line)-United Kingdom.
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| London, Brighton and South Coast Railway Crest |
Bit of Background:The London,Brighton & South Coast Railway was formed on 27th July 1846 by the amalgamation of the London & Brighton Railway and the London & Croydon Railway. At its peak the railway formed a triangle with its base along the south coast from Portsmouth to Hastings and its apex in London. The Railway ran alongside the London & South Western Railway; the South Eastern Railway; the London Chatham & Dover Railway; and the South Eastern & Chatham Railway and numerous minor ones who then got incorporated into one forming the Southern Railway through an Act of Parliament that went into effect on the 1st of January in 1923.
MY OPINION: I put this as my number 1 as my all time favorite railway because of the E2 class tank engines that were created by Lawson Billinton in 1913. Another reason is that Thomas from Thomas and Friends TV Show (owned by Mattel) was based on an E2 tank engine. Thomas was used by Reverend Wilbert Awdry in the Railway Series Books as a book character before transitioning to the TV show.
Link: https://www.lbscr.org/
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2. Lancaster & Yorkshire Railway (otherwise known as L&YR)-United Kingdom
Bit of Background:"The Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway was formed in 1847 from an amalgamation of the Manchester & Leeds Railway and a number of smaller companies. Amalgamation with the East Lancashire Railway followed in 1859. It survived and thrived as an independent company for 75 years and no other major line was so in tune with the community it served. The L&YR was a great railway and at its peak the statistics were impressive." (The Lancaster & Yorkshire Railway Society)
MY OPINION: I put this as my number 2 as my 2nd favorite railway because of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Class 28 which were the rebuilt of Aspinall's Class 27, with the addition of a Belpaire firebox and the extension of the footplate and front sandboxes. It was similar, but had larger cylinders and a superheater. The class 28 tender engines were designed by George Hughes and built at L&YR and Horwich Works. The other reason is that James from Thomas and Friends TV Show (owned by Mattel) was based on a class 28 tender engine with some modifications made for the show. James was also used by Reverend Wilbert Awdry as a book character before transitioning to the TV show.
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3. Furness Railway (otherwise known as FR)-United Kingdom
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| Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway Crest |
Bit of Background:"The Furness Railway Company was an independent railway operating between 1846 and 1923. Originally conceived as a mineral railway, it later played a major role in the development of the town of Barrow in Furness, and in the development of the Lake District Tourist industry. The Furness area was traditionally very isolated: the only road to reach the area before the coming of the railway was across the treacherous sands of Morecambe Bay. So when local landowners wanted to get their high quality slate and Haematite iron ore to their markets, they looked to build a railway down to the coast, using ships for the onward journey.Thus was created the Furness Railway, and the town of Barrow in Furness. The railway went on to develop Barrow's iron and steelworks, and shipbuilding industries.." (The Furness Railway Trust)
MY OPINION: I put this as my number 3 because it is my 3rd favorite railway. Not only because of the name, and its origin but because of its slow expansion but that was due to it originally being used as a mineral railway before the development of Barrow in Furness. But actually because of the real town, "Barrow in Furness" was the base for the North West railway's end point station as "Barrow" from Knapford station on Island of Sodor in the Thomas and Friends Universe. On the happier side, in terms of railway, I love how they had the Furness K2 tender engines which set the bases for Edward in the Thomas and Friends universe show (owned by Mattel). Also Edward was used by Reverend Wilbert Awdry as a book character before transitioning to the TV show.
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4. Caledonia Railway (otherwise known as CR)-Scotland
Caledonian Railway Company Crest
Bit of Background:"During the 19th century, the small town of Brechin began to grow and become known for its produce, namely textiles and whisky. To allow the town to continue growing, a method of moving large quantities of materials in and out of the town was required.Two methods of transport were suggested for the job; canals and railways. Due to the geography of Brechin and the River South Esk, building a canal was not feasible and so a railway line was constructed." (Caledonian Railway Site). To which a branchline was opened in 1848 under the Aberdeen Railway Company. Between the late 1880s-early 1990s, the Aberdeen Railway Company's branchline was sold to the Caledonian Railway company on the 31st July 1894.
MY OPINION: I put this as my number 4 because it is my 4th favorite railway. Not only because of the name, and its origin but because of the locomotives that run on the rails in the beautiful country of Scotland. What makes me happy about this railway, is that there was a group of railway enthusiasts set up the Caledonian Railway (Brechin) Ltd in conjunction with the Brechin Railway Preservation Society in a bid to save the branch line in 1979. Also like that the Reverend Wilbert Awdry saw the need of having the characters of Donald and Douglas coming from Scotland hence making them the Scottish engines. But also looking at the history a bit, made this take the number 4 on my top 5 favorite railways from Great Britain area.
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5. Great Western Railway (otherwise known as GWR)-United Kingdom
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| Great Western Railway Company Crest |
Bit of Background:"The Great Western Railway originated from the desire of Bristol merchants to maintain their city as the second port of the country and the chief one for American trade. The increase in the size of ships and the gradual silting of the River Avon had made Liverpool an increasingly attractive port, and with a Liverpool to London rail line under construction in the 1830s Bristol's status was threatened. The answer for Bristol was, with the co-operation of London interests, to build a line of their own; a railway built to unprecedented standards of excellence to out-perform the lines being constructed to the North West of England.The company was founded at a meeting in Bristol on 21 January 1833. Isambard Kingdom Brunel, then aged 27, was appointed engineer on 7 March 1833. The name Great Western Railway was adopted on 19 August 1833, and the company and was incorporated by Act of Parliament on 31 August 1835.
MY OPINION: I put this last on my top 5 because of the lack in history of the railway and the confusion of finding the history. But on the other hand, their steam locomotives are one of these greatest places to read alongside the L&YR,Furness Railway, Caledonian Railway & LB&SCR. Another reason is that Duck and Oliver are two of my favorite characters from the Thomas and Friends show that is own by Mattel and in the Railway Series by Rev. Wilbert Awdry.
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