Broad Gauge lines
Mixed Gauge lines
Under Construction
Former Broad Gauge
The recent history of railway privatisation, with a mix of operators running the trains, is almost a reflection back to how things were before the Railway Grouping of 1923.
However, a major difference is that the track routes of the early Great Western Railway, and of many adjacent independent railway companies were originally constructed to Brunel's favoured 7' 0¼" gauge.
But just 4 years into G.W.R. operations, the proliferation of other railways laid as 'narrow gauge', and the need to regularly transfer goods where the gauge changed, led to the setting up of the 'Gauge Commission' to determine a national standard.
While new broad gauge lines were still being conceived, many miles of mixed gauge track were also laid, allowing mutual running with other 'narrow gauge' Railway Companies, as depicted on the map.
Many lines were built by locally formed Companies, keen to ensure their Town or region didn't miss out in the predicted prosperity that would result from expansion of the railways.
But, sometimes although a Railway may be constructed, the Company might be too short of money to buy in locomotives or expertise - so a line could be operated using hired in stock, or run by a different Company.
This is illustrated by the alternate 'Operator' view of the map, but also showing how gradually, smaller companies were absorbed into larger concerns; although there were still independent railways up until the grouping into the 'Big 4' railway companies in 1923.
Considering the Gauge Commission was set up in 1845, shortly after the initial GWR route was completed, which found in favour of 'narrow gauge'; it is perhaps surprising that broad gauge trains were still running down the spine of the network close to 50 years later !
As can be seen from the map, although there was a gradual shrinkage in the broad gauge network, it was the far South West, more isolated from contact with other railways, where the broad gauge continued more or less intact right up to the end of operations.
Then under full track occupation for the weekend of 21-22nd May 1892, the remaining broad gauge lines in Devon & Cornwall were converted to standard gauge in one massive operation.
Once the final timetabled trains were run, inspections were carried out to ensure the recovery of all broad gauge stock from the lines.
Conversion work commenced as soon as the last train cleared an area, manually slewing one rail on its baulk timber inwards to form the new gauge for mile after mile, with wholesale replacement of complex items like pointwork.
This epic feat was achieved on time - with narrow gauge trains running all services again on the Monday.
And long after broad gauge trains had stopped running - tucked away in locations such as Dainton bank, some sections of narrowed baulk road track laid with bridge rail, were still in use carrying main line trains until the mid 1960s.
Proving its resilience to later generations, this was surely a great tribute to Brunel's design.