Remembering the Big Four: The LMS, LNER, SR and GWR in Photographs

The 1921 Railways Act, also known as the Grouping Act, was passed in 1923 to regulate the country's railways, resulting in the formation of four large companies known as the "Big Four": the LMS, LNER, SR, and GWR. This act is remembered in Remembering the Big Four, a book that explores the history of these companies and their locomotives.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 168 pages
Publication date: 17 November 2022
Publisher: The History Press Ltd

The railways of Britain were severely damaged and bruised after the First World War. Over 20,000 miles of track were owned and operated by 120 companies, and the government decided that the country could no longer support so many inefficient, diverse, and, in some cases, overlapping operations. To stem the mounting losses and regulate the system, the 1921 Railways Act, also known as the Grouping Act, became law on 1 January 1923. Just four large companies remained, nicknamed the 'Big Four': the LMS (London, Midland and Scottish Railway); the LNER (London and North Eastern Railway); the SR (Southern Railway); and the GWR (Great Western Railway). Remembering the Big Four looks back at the Big Four railway companies, 100 years after they were drawn together. Complete with contemporary images of the locomotives inherited and built by each company, it is essential reading for any railway enthusiast.

Weight: 662g
Dimension: 224 x 246 x 14 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780750997386