Timeline 1935-1950
Before Railways Early Lines Trunk Lines Later constructions  The grouping National Closures more Reduced Privatisation
1700s 1800 1810 1820 1830 1840 1850 1860 1870 1880 1890 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000
1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949

Nationalisation and Rationalisation 1935-1950

Services were further cut-back during the Second World War from the non essential services, a number of these never re-opened. With the grouping a number of competing lines became redundant and were closed to all but the occasional freight service. A number of lines in sparcely populated areas closed completely. Some enterprising railway companies initiated bus services during this period as railway feeders from more remote areas. In 1948 the Railways were Nationalised to once again improve the financial footing of the railways (Government subsidy was more conveniently available) and allow a unified strategy to be introduced.

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1935, 7 January Lesmahagow Guarantee Company (Caledonian Railway) Action Stonehouse to Dalserf closed to passengers
1935, 1 February Larbert (Larbert Jn)-Kilsyth closed to passengers
1935, 1 February Bonnywater Jn-Dennyloanhead closed to all traffic
1935, 23 February Stonehouse East Junction to Canderside Sidings closed to freight
1935, 18 November Mavor & Coulson's sdg - Hunthill Jn closed to freight 
1936 Dingwall and Skye Railway Fodderty Junction box closes (for 4 years)
1936 Death of George V
1936, January Coronation of Edward VIII
1936, December Abdication of Edward VIII
1936 Coronation of George VI
1937, September Dingwall and Skye Railway Strome Ferry pier demolished
1937, 27 September Methven-Methven Junction closed to passengers
1938, 4 July Edzell-Brechin re-opened to passengers 
1938, 26 September Edzell-Brechin re-closed to passengers
1939 Start of Second World War
1939 Leadburn, Linton and Dolphinton Railway Leadburn to Macbie Hill re-opened to freight
1939 Airdrie, Cleland and Morningside  Line (Caledonian Railway) Chapelhall to Calderbank closed to freight 
1939, 2 January Leadhills and Wanlockhead Branch (Caledonian Railway) Wanlockhead to Elvanfoot closed to all traffic
1939, June Dingwall and Skye Railway Raven's Rock Quarry closes
1939, 1 June Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Railway Irvine Bank Street to Kilwinning closed to freight
1939, 4 September West Highland Railway Banavie Pier to Fort William (Banavie Junction) closed to passengers
1939, 11 September Balerno - Ravelrig Jn closed to passengers
1939, 11 September Darvel-Strathaven Central closed to all traffic
1939, 11 September Douglas West(Poneil Jn) - Brocketsbrae closed to passengers (except a Saturdays only train using Alton Heights to Brocketsbrae until 2nd May 1942)
1939, 11 September Loch Tay-Killin closed to all traffic (except loco shed access) 
1940 Avonbridge-Slamannan closed to freight
1940, 10 May Dunkirk Many Allied troops are returned to Britain by the "Little Ships". 
Among these was the Clyde Paddle Steamer Waverley (III), which had been fitted with a deck-gun; on one journey the vessel was sunk.
1940, 23 June Dingwall and Skye Railway Fodderty Junction box re-opens
1941, 31 July Airdrie, Cleland and Morningside  Line (Caledonian Railway)  Calderbank to Airdrie closed to freight
1941, November Willys Overland is joined by the Ford Motor Company in mass production of the Willys MB / Ford GPW for the war effort.
1941, 7 December Pearl Harbor Japan attacks the United States of America without a formal declaration of war. The Unitied States declares war on the Japanese Empire.
1942, 5 January Dalkeith-Millerhill(Glenesk Jn) closed to passengers
1942, 2 March Turnberry-Girvan closed to passengers
1942, 2 May Alton Heights to Brocketsbrae closed to passengers
1943, 4 January Annbank-Mauchline closed to passengers
1943, 5 April Fort George-Gollanfield Junction closed to passengers
1943, 30 April Montrose-Broomfield Jn closed to passengers
1943, 3 May Airdrie (Caledonian)-Whifflet Upper closed to Passengers
1943, 3 May Catrine-Mauchline (Brackenhill jn) closed to passengers
1943, 3 May Moniave-Dumfries (Cairn Valley Jn) closed to passengers
1943, 1 November Balerno - Edinburgh (Balerno Jn) closed to passengers (official 13 June '49)
1944, 3 April Lybster-Wick closed to all traffic (temporary, but final closure)
1944, 6 June D-Day  British, American, Canadian and other troops land on the Normandy beaches. 
The Clyde Paddle Steamer Jeannie Deans (II) was the command vessel for the construction of the Mulberry Harbours.
1944, 20 August Dingwall and Skye Railway Fodderty Junction box closes
1945, 7 May VE Day Germany surrenders to the Allies unconditionally
1945, 4 June Dolphinton-Carstairs(Dolphinton Jn) closed to passengers
1945, 6 August Atomic bomb dropped over Hiroshima
1945, 9 August Atomic bomb dropped over Nagasaki
1945, 14 August VJ Day 
End of Second World War		 Japan agrees to the terms of the Potsdam conference and surrenders
1945, 1 October High Blantyre(Auchenraith Jn)-Blantyre Jn closed to passengers
1945, 1 October Strathaven Central-Hamilton (Strathaven Jn) closed to passengers
1945, 10 December Cathcart District Railway Murder at Pollockshields East
1946 Start of Chinese Civil War
1946, 23 February Strathpeffer Branch (Highland Railway) Strathpeffer Branch closes to passengers (Alternative date : 2 March 1946)
1946, 2 March Strathpeffer Branch (Highland Railway) Strathpeffer Branch closes to passengers (Alternative date : 23 February 1946)
1946, December French Troops arrive in Vietnam
1947 Heads of Ayr (Butlin's Camp)-Alloway Junction re-opened for passengers
1947, 1 January Fort Augustus-Spean Bridge closed to freight 
1947, 27 January Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Railway Kilwinning East to Stevenston closed. Boat trains diverted to the Glasgow and South Western Route from 16 June.
1947, 16 June Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Railway 
Ardrossan Railway		 Stevenston link opened
1947, 16 June Edinburgh, Leith and Granton Railway North Leith to Abbeyhill closed to passengers
1948, 1 January British Railways 
Forth Bridge Railway 
London, Midland and Scottish Railway 
London and North Eastern Railway		 Britain's railways are nationalised
1948, 1 January Forth and Clyde Canal 
British Transport Commission		 British Transport Commission take over the Forth and Clyde Canal
1948, August Gifford and Garvald Railway Gifford to Humbie closed to all traffic (flood damage)
1948, 13 August Jedburgh Railway Jedburgh to Roxburgh closed to passengers
1948, 13 August Berwickshire Railway St Boswells (Ravenswood Junction) to Duns closed to passengers (flood damage)
1948, 13 August Berwickshire Railway Greenlaw to Duns closed to all traffic (flood damage)
1948, 31 December Boddam Branch (Great North of Scotland Railway) Boddam to Ellon closed to freight
1949 End of Chinese Civil War, People's Republic of China established by Mao Tse-Tung
13 June 1949 Balerno Loop (Caledonian Railway) Balerno to Edinburgh (Balerno Junction) officially closed to passengers, although actually suspended in 1943.
1949, 4 July Moniave-Dumfries (Cairn Valley Jn) closed to freight
1949, 1 September Slamannan-Rawyards closed to freight
1949, 17 October Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Railway Lugton East Junction to Kilwinning East singled, signalling removed
1949, 5 December Haddington-Longniddry closed to passengers

 


 

Before Railways Early Lines Trunk Lines Later constructions  The grouping National Closures more Reduced Privatisation

 

1700s 1800 1810 1820 1830 1840 1850 1860 1870 1880 1890 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

 

1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949

 


Page last edited on 18/03/98
Page editor : Ewan Crawford