The Southern Railway, 1936-1947: World War Two and the Final Years

This volume covers the Southern Railway (SR) from 1936 to 1947. These years saw the final extensions of the electrifications made by the SR as well as the inauguration of Britain’s first international passenger train the London to Paris Night Ferry, which used the Dover to Dunkirk train ferry. The SR was very much on the front line in the Second World War being involved with the repatriation of troops from France at the time of the Dunkirk Evacuation and with the preparations for the Normandy Landings, it also suffered heavily in the Blitz. Post war there were plans for further electrifications, not all of which came to fruition following the nationalisation of the railways. The years also saw new motive power in the form of the first diesel and electric locomotives as well as Merchant Navy, West Country and Battle of Britain classes, and also the Q1 class 0-6-0s. The 4DD class emu although appearing after nationalisation were Britain’s only double deck trains and were also designed by Bulleid.