Catalogue description Records inherited and created by the Railway Executives, 1914-1918 and 1939-1947

Details of Division within AN
Reference: Division within AN
Title: Records inherited and created by the Railway Executives, 1914-1918 and 1939-1947
Description:

Records of the Railway Executives, established by the government to oversee the running of the railways in wartime, consist of records germane to the administration and running of the railway companies, and to liaison between the companies and governmental departments.

They include copies of minutes, papers and other records of the Railway Executive Committees, 1914-1918 and 1939-1945, in AN 1 and AN 3 respectively; and files of the Railway Executive committee, 1939-1945, in AN 2
Date: 1913-1957
Related material:

For correspondence and papers reflecting the Ministry of Transport's role in the affairs of the Railway Executive Committees see MT 6
Legal status: Public Record(s)
Language: English
Creator:

Railway Executive, 1914-1918

Railway Executive, 1939-1947
Physical description: 3 series
Administrative / biographical background:

At the beginning of the First World War the government became directly involved in the running of the railways through a Railway Executive Committee, under the general direction of the Board of Trade. The Railway Executive Committee consisted of the general managers of the ten leading railway companies. After the war, the committee was dissolved.

In 1939, with the outbreak of the Second World War, the government renewed control of the railways through a Railway Executive Committee, under the direction of the Ministry of Transport. The committee consisted of the general managers of the four main-line groups and the chairman of the London Passenger Transport Board and it acted as an advisory body to the Minister.

By the Railway Control Order, 1939, dated 1st September 1939, made by the Minister of Transport under Regulation 69 of the Defence Regulations 1939 (SR & O 1939 No 927) the Minister took over control of the undertakings or portions of undertakings in Great Britain wholly owned by, leased to, or operated by, any one or more of the following undertakers:-

  • the Southern Railway Company
  • the Great Western Railway Company
  • the London Midland & Scottish Railway Company
  • the London & North Eastern Railway Company
  • the London Passenger Transport Board
  • any Joint Committee of any two or more of the above
  • the East Kent Light Railway Company
  • the Kent & East Sussex Light Railway Company
  • the King's Lynn Docks and Railway Company
  • the Mersey Railway Company
  • the Shropshire and Montgomeryshire Light Railway Company

and appointed the Railway Executive Committee to be his agents for the purpose of giving directions under the Order.

Governmental control of the railways continued after the war up to the time when the four main-line railway companies were taken into public ownership on 1 January 1948, under the Transport Act of 1947.

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