UK railway

1825 The Stockton and Darlington Railway is inaugurated on 27 September when George Stephenson's Locomotion steams 21 miles from Shildon. Carrying up to 600 passengers on 38 wagons, it could travel at 15 mph.1829 In October, concerned that the current locomotives were not very efficient, the directors of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway hold a competition to determine the best performer over 70 miles. Stephenson's Rocket claims the £500 prize, in front of 15,000 spectators.1830 The Liverpool and Manchester line opens on 15 September. Within three months, over half the stage coaches running that route are taken off the road due to lack of business. Railway mania begins.1842 Over 2000 miles of rail track is in operation throughout the country.1846 By April, no fewer than 519 railway bills had been passed by government.1850 The east coast route from Kings Cross to Scotland is completed by Stephenson's bridges at Newcastle and Berwick.1876 Nigel Gresley and William Stanier are born. Both would later be knighted for their roles as chief mechanical engineers for LNER (London North Eastern Railway) and LMS (London Midland and Scotland) respectively.1888 The first great race to the north. East and west rail companies compete to deliver the fastest express service to Edinburgh.1895 The race to the north continues as companies steam ahead to Aberdeen. On 22 August the LNWR (London North Western Railway) express Hardwicke speeds from Crewe to Carlisle, completing the 141 miles in 126 minutes.1896 Derailment of the night tourist train at Preston leads to an agreement to limit the speeds of express trains to the north.1914 By the First World War, 130 rail companies or joint committees operate 21,331 miles of track. The Railway Executive Committee takes control until 1921.1921 The Railway Act of 1921 begins to re-organize the 130 companies into four groups.1923 The new grouping takes effect on 1 January. Railways are now controlled by LMS (London Midland Scottish), LNER (London North Eastern Railway), GWR (Great Western Railway) and Southern Railway.1927 LNER launch a non-stop Kings Cross to Newcastle express – the Flying Scotsman. LMS retaliates with the Royal Scot express train to Glasgow.1932 LMS and LNER revoke the previous agreement to limit speed to the north.1934 On 30 November, Flying Scotsman becomes the first train to reach 100 mph.1935 LNER's new streamlined 'A4 Pacific' train Silver Link leaves Kings Cross on 29 September on its inaugural journey. It touches 112 mph, breaking the record.1937 LMS also launches a new streamlined class of train, the 'Princess Coronation'. On 29 June, Princess Coronation train the Coronation Scot makes its inaugural run, reaching speeds of 114 mph.1938 LNER A4 Pacific Mallard is taken on high-speed brake tests on 3 July. Driver Joe Duddington takes her to 126 mph, attaining a new speed record for a steam train that would never be broken.1939 Re-modernization of the railways comes to a halt with the outbreak of the Second World War. The streamliners are stripped of their streamlining and the luxury coaches are placed in storage.1948 Britain's railways are nationalized by Atlee's Transport Act. June heralds the birth of British Rail (then known as British Railways).1965 Dr Beeching's report 'The Reshaping of British Railways' is implemented, closing 5000 miles of track and 2350 stations.1968 British Rail ran its last steam trains on 11 August. Diesel and electric power had put an end to the age of steam.1976 A new high-speed train is introduced to haul the InterCity 125. The fleet services both the east and west coast mainlines to Scotland.1996 British Rail is broken up and the west coast route is taken over by Richard Branson's Virgin. The lines are controlled and owned by Railtrack.1996 GNER (Greater North Eastern Railway) wins the franchise to control the east coast route2003 Virgin trains introduce their Pendolino fleet, tilting trains that travel up to 140 mph.2003 A Eurostar train breaks the UK rail speed record travelling at 186 mph through Kent on its way to the Eurotunnel.