This timeline will look at the development of Wales’ railways in the context of serving a distinct Welsh nation.
Key ‘Points of Divergence’ for this alternative history are:
Victorian Railway Mania - A few railway routes proposed in the 1850s/60s are successful, notably the Manchester and Milford Railway (connecting Milford Haven and the North and East of England) and the Vale of Crickhowell Railway (connecting Abergavenny and Brecon). These will become significant later...
Post-WW1 Home Rule - after winning WW1, Lloyd George - a long time supporter of the Cymru Fydd movement - commissioned the 1919 speakers conference on devolution [against backdrop of Irish home rule, calls for Scottish home rule, welsh miners strikes, fragile European peace process, and revolution in Russia]. Instead of being kicked into the long grass, the Home Rule Act of 1921 creates a Federal UK (the acronym, however, does not catch on...).
Railways Grouping of 1923 - Consequently, the 1921 Railways Act is hastily revised to take into account devolution of transport powers to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. This results in the grouping not only producing the English ‘Big Four’ companies, but the set up of ‘Joint Railway’ boards to oversee growth of the railways in the strategic interests of each nation, complementary to the wider UK.
Our ATL timeline will take us on a journey across the Welsh Railways network from past to present, as it becomes progressively more interesting and divergent from the British Railways OTL familiar today to enthusiasts and rail revellers alike. We'll explore:
- Prologue - the shaping of Wales' rail network
- 1912: Cambrian Railways at the eve of the war
- The great little trains of Wales - narrow gauge evolution
- 1919-22: Post war devolution and federal home rule
- 1923 grouping: 'Welsh Joint Railways' are born
- 1927: the 'Valentine vision' unveiled - a bold rail policy for Wales
- 1935: WJR route map
- WJR Locomotives and rolling stock
- WJR Prestige trains
- 1934: The Channel Tunnel - international relations triumph (to disaster)
- 1939-45: WJR at war again
- 1948: the nationalised 'Welsh Railways' of Megan Lloyd George
- 1963: Beeching Axe blunted at the Border - the Gwynfor plan
- 1965-8: Wales' great Steam resurgence
- 1973 oil crisis: Wales' strategic steam reserve remobilised
- 1985-99: Welsh Railways' Green Revolution - from coal to renewables
- 1994-99: the 'Waitrose Railway' - UK privatisation vs Welsh Cooperative
- 2000: Wales Rails - a new green era
- 2016: a journey round Wales today - route map
- 2016: a day out at the National Railway Museum, Brecon
This is my first foray into alternative timeline writing, but as both a history and train geek, I'm looking forward to seeing how the journey unfolds.
Enjoy the ride...!