London and North Eastern Railway

The London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) was the second largest (after LMS) of the "Big Four" railway companies created by the Railways Act 1921 in Britain. It operated from 1 January 1923 until nationalisation on 1 January 1948. At that time, it was divided into the new British Railways' Eastern Region, North Eastern Region, and partially the Scottish Region.

This article is about the historical railway company (1923–1948). For the current train operator, see London North Eastern Railway.
Not to be confused with North Eastern Railway (United Kingdom) or Northern and Eastern Railway.

London and North Eastern Railway
LNER Class A1 No. 2547 Doncaster with The Flying Scotsman train in 1928.
Overview
LocaleEngland; Scotland
Dates of operation1 January 1923–
31 December 1947
PredecessorGreat Eastern Railway
Great Central Railway
Great Northern Railway
Great North of Scotland Railway
Hull and Barnsley Railway
North British Railway
North Eastern Railway
and others
SuccessorBritish Rail:
Technical
Track gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Length6,590 miles (10,610 km)
Timetable for Autumn 1926 detailing the resumption of services after the General Strike

History

The company was the second largest created by the Railways Act 1921. The principal constituents of the LNER were:

The total route mileage was 6,590 miles (10,610 km). The North Eastern Railway had the largest route mileage of 1,757 miles (2,828 km), whilst the Hull and Barnsley Railway was 106.5 miles (171.4 km).

It covered the area north and east of London. It included the East Coast Main Line from London to Edinburgh via York and Newcastle upon Tyne and the routes from Edinburgh to Aberdeen and Inverness. Most of the country east of the Pennines was within its purview, including East Anglia. The main workshops were in Doncaster, with others at Darlington, Inverurie and Stratford, London.[1][2]

The company also owned the most westerly track and stations in Great Britain, in the form of the West Highland Railway to Arisaig and Mallaig, previously owned by the North British Railway.

The LNER inherited four of London's termini: Fenchurch Street (ex-London and Blackwall Railway;[3] King's Cross (ex-Great Northern Railway); Liverpool Street (ex-Great Eastern Railway); and Marylebone (ex-Great Central Railway).[4] In addition, it ran suburban services to Broad Street (London, Midland and Scottish Railway) and Moorgate (Metropolitan Railway, later London Transport).[5]

The LNER owned:

  • 7,700 locomotives, 20,000 coaching vehicles, 29,700 freight vehicles, 140 items of electric rolling stock, 6 electric locomotives and 10 rail motor cars
  • 6 turbine and 36 other steamers, and river boats and lake steamers, etc.

In partnership with the London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS), the LNER was co-owner of the Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway, the UK's biggest joint railway, much of which competed with the LNER's own lines. The M&GNJR was incorporated into the LNER in 1936. In 1933, on the formation of the London Passenger Transport Board, the LNER acquired the remaining operations of the Metropolitan Railway Company.

The LNER was the majority partner in the Cheshire Lines Committee and the Forth Bridge Railway Company.

It depended on freight from heavy industry in Yorkshire, the north east of England and Scotland, and its revenue was reduced by the economic depression for much of the early part of its existence. In a bid to improve financial efficiency, staffing levels reduced from 207,500 in 1924 to 175,800 in 1937.[6] For investment to retain freight traffic, new marshalling yards were built in Whitemoor in Cambridgeshire, and Hull in Yorkshire to attempt to retain freight traffic.

Sir Ralph Wedgwood introduced a Traffic Apprenticeship Scheme to attract graduates, train young managers and provide supervision by assistant general manager Robert Bell for career planning. The company adopted a regional managerial system, with general managers based in London, York and Edinburgh, and for a short time, Aberdeen.[6]

For passenger services, Sir Nigel Gresley, the Chief Mechanical Engineer built new powerful locomotives and new coaches.[7] Later developments such as the streamlined Silver Jubilee train of 1935 were exploited by the LNER publicity department, and embedded the non-stop London to Edinburgh services such as the Flying Scotsman in the public imagination. The crowning glory of this time was the world record speed of 126 miles per hour (203 km/h) achieved on a test run by LNER Class A4 4468 Mallard.[8]

In 1929, the LNER chose the typeface Gill Sans as the standard typeface for the company. Soon it appeared on every facet of the company's identity, from metal locomotive nameplates and hand-painted station signage to printed restaurant car menus, timetables and advertising posters.[9][10][11] The LNER promoted their rebranding by offering Eric Gill a footplate ride on the Flying Scotsman express service; he also painted for it a signboard in the style of Gill Sans, which survives in the collection of the St Bride Library.[12][13][14] Gill Sans was retained by the Railway Executive in 1948, although modified for signage,[15] and Gill Sans was the official typeface until British Rail replaced it in the mid 1960s with Rail Alphabet for signs and Helvetica or Univers for printed matter.

Continental shipping services were provided from Harwich Parkeston Quay.[16]

The company took up the offer in 1933 of government loans at low interest rates and electrified the lines from Manchester to Sheffield and Wath yard, and also commuter lines in the London suburban area.[17]

Ancillary activities

The LNER inherited:

It took shares in a large number of bus companies, including for a time a majority stake in United Automobile Services Ltd. In Halifax and Sheffield, it participated in Joint Omnibus Committees with the LMS and the Corporation.[1]

In 1935, with the LMS, Wilson Line of Hull and others it formed the shipping company Associated Humber Lines Ltd.[1]

In 1938 it was reported that the LNER, with 800 mechanical horse tractors, was the world's largest owner of this vehicle type.[20]

Ships

The LNER operated a number of ships, including three rail ferries. In total, 6 turbine and 36 other steamers, and river boats and lake steamers were used by the company during its existence.

Liveries
Detail of LNER teak panelled coaches, preserved on the Severn Valley Railway

The most common liveries were lined apple green on passenger locomotives (much lighter and brighter than the green used by the Great Western Railway) and unlined black on freight locomotives, both with gold lettering. Passenger carriages were generally varnished teak (wood) finish; the few metal-panelled coaches were painted to represent teak.

Some special trains and A4 Pacific locomotives were painted differently, including silver-grey and garter blue.

Advertising

The LNER covered quite an extensive area of Britain, from London through East Anglia, the East Midlands and Yorkshire to the north east of England and Scotland. The 1923 grouping meant that former rivals within the LNER had to work together. The task of creating an instantly recognisable public image went to William M. Teasdale, the first advertising manager. Teasdale was influenced by the philosophies and policies of Frank Pick, who controlled the style and content of the London Underground's widely acclaimed poster advertising. Teasdale did not confine his artists within strict guidelines but allowed them a free hand. William Barribal designed a series of bold Art Deco posters in the 1920s and 1930s.[21] When Teasdale was promoted to Assistant General Manager, this philosophy was carried on by Cecil Dandridge who succeeded him and was the Advertising Manager until nationalisation in 1948. Dandridge was largely responsible for the adoption of the Gill Sans typeface, later adopted by British Railways.

The LNER was a very industrial company: hauling more than a third of Britain's coal, it derived two thirds of its income from freight. Despite this, the main image presented was one of glamour, of fast trains and sophisticated destinations. Advertising was highly sophisticated and advanced compared with those of its rivals. Teasdale and Dandridge commissioned top graphic designers and poster artists such as Tom Purvis to promote its services and encourage the public to visit the holiday destinations of the east coast in the summer.

Chief office holders

Chairmen of the Board

Chief General Managers

Chief mechanical engineers
The most famous of the A1/A3 Class locomotives, A3 4472 Flying Scotsman
A4 Pacific Mallard, world speed record holder for steam traction
  • Sir Nigel Gresley was the first CME and held the post for most of the LNER's existence, and thus he had the greatest effect on the company. He came to the LNER via the Great Northern Railway, where he was CME. He was noted for his "Big Engine" policy, and is best remembered for his large express passenger locomotives, many times the holder of the world speed record for steam locomotives. LNER Class A4 4-6-2 Pacific locomotive Mallard holds the record to this day. Gresley died in office in 1941.
  • Edward Thompson's short reign (1941–1946) was a controversial one. A reputed detractor of Gresley even before his elevation to the post of CME, there are those who interpret many of his actions as being motivated by dislike of his predecessor; this demonisation has been questioned by Simon A.C. Martin who argues that his actions were directed by the needs of WWII rather than dislike of Gresley or his practices. Thompson accepted that Gresley's designs had their flaws as well as their brilliance but still included them as part of his future locomotive stud. His record is best served by his solid and dependable freight and mixed-traffic locomotives built under and for wartime conditions. He retired in 1946.
  • Arthur Peppercorn's career was cut short by nationalisation and he was CME for only 18 months. In this short period and in an atmosphere of reconstruction rather than great new endeavours, his only notable designs were the A1 and A2 Pacific express passenger locomotives, most completed after nationalisation. Peppercorn was a student and admirer of Gresley and his locomotives combined the classic lines of Gresley's with the reliability and solidity they never quite achieved.

Nationalisation

The company was nationalised in 1948 along with the rest of the railway companies of Great Britain to form British Railways. It continued to exist as a legal entity for nearly two more years, being formally wound up on 23 December 1949.[24]

On the privatisation of British Rail in 1996, the franchise to run long distance express trains on the East Coast Main Line was won by Sea Containers Ltd, who named the new operating company Great North Eastern Railway (GNER), a name and initials deliberately chosen to echo the LNER.

Following the collapse of Virgin Trains East Coast in May 2018, the newly-nationalised operator of the East Coast Main Line was named London North Eastern Railway to evoke the earlier company.[25]

Cultural activities

During the 1930s, the LNER Musical Society comprised a number of amateur male-voice choirs, based at Doncaster, Leicester, Huddersfield, Peterborough, Selby and elsewhere, which annually combined for a performance in London under their musical director Leslie Woodgate.[26]

Accidents
  • On 13 February 1923, an express passenger train overran signals at Retford, Nottinghamshire and ran into the rear of a freight train. Three people were killed.[27]
  • On 23 December 1923, an express passenger train overran signals and collided with a light engine at Belford, Northumberland.[28]
  • On 28 July 1924, a passenger train overran signals and collided with another at Haymarket station, Edinburgh, Lothian. Five people were killed.[29]
  • On 12 May 1926, during the General Strike, an express passenger train was deliberately derailed south of Cramlington, Northumberland.[30][31][32]
  • On 7 August 1926, an electric multiple unit overran signals and collided with a freight train at Manors station, Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland. The accident was caused by the driver tying down the controller with a handkerchief. When he leant out of the train he struck an overbridge and was killed. The train continued moving until the collision.[33]
  • On 30 August 1926, a passenger train collided with a charabanc on a level crossing at Naworth, Cumberland due to errors by the crossing keeper and a lack of interlocking between the signals and gates. Nine people are killed.[29]
Main article: Hull Paragon rail accident
  • On 14 February 1927, two passenger trains collided head-on at Hull Paragon station, Yorkshire due to a signalman's error. Twelve people were killed and 24 were injured.
Main article: Penistone rail accidents
Main article: Darlington rail crash
  • On 27 June 1928, an excursion train collided with a parcels train that was being shunted at Darlington, County Durham. Twenty-five people were killed and 45 were injured.[36]
  • On 9 June 1929, a steam railcar overran signals and collided with an excursion train at Marshgate Junction, Doncaster, Yorkshire.[37]
  • On 4 October 1929, a freight train departed against a danger signal at Tottenham, London, and then stopped foul of a junction where the crew abandoned the locomotive. An express passenger train collided with it and derailed.[38]
  • On 17 January 1931, a newspaper train departed from Thorpe-le-Soken station, Essex against signals and collided head-on with a light engine at Great Holland. Two people were killed and two were seriously injured.[39]
  • On 27 May 1931, a passenger train overran signals and collided head-on with another at Fakenham East station, Norfolk. One person was killed and fifteen were injured.[40]
  • On 8 September 1933, a passenger train ran into wagons at Bowling, West Dunbartonshire due to a signalman's error. Five people were injured.[41]
  • In November 1934, a Class D16/2 locomotive derailed at Wormley, Hertfordshire when it collided with a lorry on a level crossing. Both engine crew were killed.[42]
Main article: Welwyn Garden City rail crashes
  • On 15 June 1935, an express passenger train ran into the rear of another at Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire due to a signalman's error. Fourteen people were killed and 29 were injured.
  • On 15 February 1937, a passenger train entered a curve at excessive speed and derailed at Sleaford North Junction, Lincolnshire. Four people were killed and sixteen were injured, one seriously.[43]
  • On 15 February 1937, a freight train derailed at Upton, Sleaford due to excessive speed on a curve. The train had been diverted due to the earlier derailment.[44]
  • On 6 March 1937, a passenger train derailed at Langrick, Lincolnshire due to the poor condition of the track.[43]
  • On 13 June 1937, an excursion train overran signals and was derailed by trap points south of Durham. Nine people were injured.[45]
  • On 26 January 1939, an empty fish train (the official enquiry shows it was a passenger train) ran into the rear of a passenger train at Hatfield, Hertfordshire.[46]
  • On 1 June 1939, a passenger train collided with a lorry on an occupation crossing at Hilgay, Norfolk and was derailed.[47]
  • On 8 June 1939, a passenger train departed against a danger signal from Manchester Central station, Lancashire and collided with another passenger train. Several people were injured.[48]
  • On 10 February 1941, an express passenger train overran signals and ran into the rear of a passenger train at Harold Wood, Essex. Seven people were killed and seventeen were seriously injured.[49]
  • On 28 April 1941, a fire broke out on an express passenger train which was brought to a stand at Westborough, Lincolnshire. The rear three carriages were burnt out. Six people were killed and seven were injured.[50][51] Among those killed were the two eldest children of Hubert Pierlot, the Prime Minister of the Belgian government in exile.[52]
Main article: Soham rail disaster
  • On 2 June 1944, WD Austerity 2-8-0 locomotive No. 7337 was hauling a freight train which caught fire as it approached Soham, Cambridgeshire. The train comprised wagons carrying bombs. The train was divided behind the burning wagon, with the front portion being taken forward with the intention of isolating the wagon in open countryside. Its cargo detonated at Soham station, killing the fireman and the Soham signalman and injuring the trains' driver and guard. Soham station was severely damaged, but the line was re-opened within eighteen hours. For their actions, Benjamin Gimbert and James Nightall were awarded George Crosses.
  • In July 1944, a passenger train was derailed at Pannal Junction by points that were half-open.[53]
  • On 5 January 1946, a freight train became divided on the East Coast Main Line in County Durham. The front section was brought to a stand but the rear section crashed into it. The wreckage fouled signal cables, giving a false clear signal to a passenger train on the opposite line which then crashed into the wreckage. Ten people were killed.[53][54]
Main article: Potters Bar rail accidents
  • On 10 February 1946, a passenger train crashed at Potters Bar, Hertfordshire due to a signalman's error. The wreckage fouled signal cables, giving a false clear to an express passenger train which then ran into the wreckage. A third passenger train then collided with the wreckage. Two people were killed.[55]
  • On 2 January 1947, a passenger train overran signals and ran into the rear of another at Gidea Park, Essex. Seven people were killed, 45 were hospitalised.[56]
  • On 9 August 1947, a passenger train ran into the rear of another at Darlington, County Durham due to a signalman's error. Twenty-one people were killed and 188 were injured.[57]
Main article: Goswick rail crash
  • On 26 October 1947, an express passenger train entered a crossover at excessive speed and derailed at Goswick, Northumberland. Twenty-eight people were killed and 65 were injured.

See also

References

Notes
  1. Bonavia 1980, p. 
  2. Hughes 1987, p. 146.
  3. Awdry 1990, p. 144.
  4. Whitehouse & Thomas 1989, pp. 57, 59.
  5. Hughes 1987, p. 50.
  6. Simmons, Jack; Biddle, Gordon (1840). The Oxford Companion to British Railway History. Oxford University Press. pp. 283–284. ISBN 978-0198662389.
  7. Hughes, Geoffrey (2001). Sir Nigel Gresley: The Engineer and his Family. The Oakwood Library of Railway History. Oakwood Press. ISBN 978-0853615798.
  8. Hale, Don (2005). Mallard: How the 'Blue Streak' Broke the World Steam Speed Record. London: Aurum Press. ISBN 978-1854109392.
  9. Robinson, Edwin (1939). "Preparing a railway timetable" (PDF). Monotype Recorder. 38 (1): 14–17, 24–26. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  10. Skelton, Stephen. "Gill Sans" (PDF). New Writing. University of East Anglia. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  11. Cole & Durack 1992, pp. 15–23.
  12. Mosley, James (10 November 2015). Lecture on Gill's work (Speech). 'Me & Mr Gill' talk. Old Truman Brewery, London.
  13. Robinson, Edwin (1939). "Preparing a Railway Timetable" (PDF). Monotype Recorder. 38 (1): 24. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
  14. Hewitt, John (1995). "East Coast Joys: Tom Purvis and the LNER". Journal of Design History. 8 (4): 291–311. doi:10.1093/jdh/8.4.291. JSTOR 1316023.
  15. Railway Executive (1948), Code of instructions for station name and direction signs (internal document)
  16. Bonavia, Michael R. (1982). A History of the LNER. 1 The early Years, 1923-1933. Allen and Unwin. ISBN 978-0043850886.
  17. Allen, Cecil J. (1966). The London & North Eastern Railway. Allen.
  18. Railway Magazine September 1936 LNER hotels advert page iv
  19. advert on Wednesday 21 May 1947 in Hull Daily Mail
  20. Whitaker 1938
  21. Cole & Durack 1992, p. 128.
  22. "New Chairman of L.N.E.R. Sir Ronald W. Matthews Appointed". Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer. England. 1 October 1938. Retrieved 18 August 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  23. "A Railway Hierarchy". Cambridge Daily News. England. 13 February 1939. Retrieved 22 November 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  24. The Railway Magazine (February 1950) "Main-Line Companies Dissolved", p. 73
  25. East Coast train line to be put into public control BBC News 16 May 2018
  26. Scowcroft, Philip. "Chorus Master and Composer: Leslie Woodgate". musicweb-international.com. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  27. Hall 1990, p. 83.
  28. Hoole 1982, p. 25.
  29. Hall 1990, p. 84.
  30. Hoole 1982, p. 44.
  31. Earnshaw 1990, p. 15.
  32. Pringle, J W (27 June 1926). "London & North East Railways" (PDF). www.railwaysarchive.co.uk. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
  33. Hoole 1982, p. 26.
  34. Trevena 1980, p. 35.
  35. Trench, A C (20 October 1928). "Report on the Accident at Shepreth on 17th August 1928". www.railwaysarchive.co.uk. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  36. Hoole 1982, p. 27.
  37. Hoole 1982, p. 28.
  38. Earnshaw 1990, p. 16.
  39. Vaughan 1989, pp. 69–73.
  40. Vaughan 1989, pp. 74–49.
  41. Hoole 1983, p. 19.
  42. Trevena 1980, pp. 36–37.
  43. Earnshaw 1991, p. 26.
  44. Earnshaw 1993, p. 18.
  45. Earnshaw 1990, p. 20.
  46. Trevena 1980, p. 41.
  47. Earnshaw 1990, p. 21.
  48. Earnshaw 1989, p. 28.
  49. Earnshaw 1991, p. 28.
  50. Earnshaw 1991, p. 32.
  51. "Accident Report" (PDF). Ministry of War Transport. 26 June 1941. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
  52. Grosbois, Thierry (2007). Pierlot, 1930–1950. Brussels: Racine. p. 16. ISBN 978-2873864859.
  53. Hoole 1982, p. 35.
  54. Earnshaw 1991, p. 29.
  55. Hoole 1982, pp. 36–37.
  56. Earnshaw 1991, p. 30.
  57. Hoole 1982, p. 37.

Sources
  • Awdry, Christopher (1990). Encyclopaedia of British Railway Companies. London: Guild Publishing. CN 8983.
  • Bonavia, Michael R (1980). The Four Great Railways. Newton Abbot: David & Charles.
  • Cole, Beverley; Durack, Richard (1992). Railway Posters 1923–1947. London: Laurence King. ISBN 978-1-85669-014-0.
  • Earnshaw, Alan (1989). Trains in Trouble: Vol. 5. Penryn: Atlantic Books. ISBN 978-0-906899-35-9.
  • Earnshaw, Alan (1990). Trains in Trouble: Vol. 6. Penryn: Atlantic Books. ISBN 978-0-906899-37-3.
  • Earnshaw, Alan (1991). Trains in Trouble: Vol. 7. Penryn: Atlantic Books. ISBN 978-0-906899-50-2.
  • Earnshaw, Alan (1993). Trains in Trouble: Vol. 8. Penryn: Atlantic Books. ISBN 978-0-906899-52-6.
  • Hall, Stanley (1990). The Railway Detectives. London: Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-1929-0.
  • Haws, Duncan (1993). Britain's Railway Steamers – Eastern and North Western Companies + Zeeland and Stena. Merchant Fleets. Vol. 25. Hereford: TCL Publications. ISBN 978-0-946378-22-7.
  • Hoole, Ken (1982). Trains in Trouble: Vol. 3. Redruth: Atlantic Books. ISBN 978-0-906899-05-2.
  • Hoole, Ken (1983). Trains in Trouble: Vol. 4. Truro: Atlantic Books. ISBN 978-0-906899-07-6.
  • Hughes, Geoffrey (1987) [1986]. LNER. London: Guild Publishing/Book Club Associates. CN 1455.
  • "Main-Line Companies Dissolved". The Railway Magazine. Vol. 96, no. 586. London: Transport (1910) Ltd. February 1950.
  • Whitaker (1938). Whitaker's Almanack. London: J. Whitaker & Sons, Ltd.
  • Whitehouse, Patrick; Thomas, David St John (1989). LNER 150: The London and North Eastern Railway – A Century and a Half of Progress. Newton Abbot: David & Charles. ISBN 978-0-7153-9332-1. 01LN01.
  • Trevena, Arthur (1980). Trains in Trouble. Vol. 1. Redruth: Atlantic Books. ISBN 978-0-906899-01-4.
  • Vaughan, Adrian (1989). Obstruction Danger. Wellingborough: Patrick Stephens Limited. ISBN 978-1-85260-055-6.
  • Martin, Simon (2021). EDWARD THOMPSON Wartime CME. Bedford: Strathwood Publishing. ISBN 978-1-913390-28-0.|
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