Railway Flavours
One of the first things I hope that the reorganised British Railways will do is restore the names to the old companies. They might give back the Great Western its name and dignity for a start. The older of us, and even the not so old, still think of counties in terms of railways. There is a Great Eastern flavour about East Anglia, a London and North Western atmosphere in a great broad band from Euston to Holyhead. Kent is South Eastern and Chatham, Hampshire it London and South Western. And even today there is a Soutb Western feeling about North Devon and North Cornwall, when, those single lines wind boldly into Great Western territory' Rivalry between railway lines need not disappear with nationalisation. Indeed, local pride and regional loyalties aro part of what we most enjoy about living in England. Perhapt when railways become conscious of themselves again al individuals, Midland for comfort, London, Tilbury and. Southend for frequent trains, Cheshire line for good aerial views from viaducts and embankments, Great Northern fot speed, Great Central for luxury, Midland and Great Northers for beautiful and flowery stations and so on—perhaps whell these happy days return the different lines will put new VI into their forgotten branches.
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