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The Railways in Wartime

  • Limited Lighting: Some railway stations and carriages used dim, blue lights during blackouts, and there were lighting attendants to ensure compliance with blackout regulations.
    Dimmed or Blue Lights: Carriage lights were replaced with dull 25w blue bulbs, and blinds were used to cover windows to prevent light from escaping. While all lights had to be extinguished during air raids, some limited use of illuminated signs and "glimmer" or "star" lighting was allowed. Increased Difficulty: The blackout made it difficult for passengers to see which station they had arrived at and to alight safely, leading to some recorded fatalities. Challenges for Staff: Porters in railway goods yards struggled to read freight labels in the dark, causing delays. Dim-Out" Relaxation: Blackout regulations were partially relaxed on September 17th, 1944, with the introduction of a "dim-out," allowing for more limited lighting, though coastal regions were still affected.
 
Well Lady P, precautions on the railways could cover a large agenda.

One precaution taken by the GWR was to route valuable freight trains, ammunition, fuel and other senstine items including those of wounded personnel by an inland route where possible. This applied, in one instance, to the coastal South Devon line and that was routed inland from Exeter to a junction beyond just outside Newton Abbot. I expect other railways did this as coastal routes would be a good target and easily attacked by the Luftwaffe.
 
“Memories of the return from Dunkirk, and of the part the railways played in it, are recalled by a special exhibition of photographs, "British Railways in War-time," which is being held in the coach, pictured here, which arrived at Snow Hill station, Birmingham. to-day for a three-day stay. Admission is free, but a special booklet is on sale at sixpence, the whole proceeds of which will go to benevolent funds of the fighting forces.”
(Aug 1941, Evening Despatch)


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Thank you to everyone who replied above. I've only just got in from a talk on the Britsh Army in the 18th century (which was amazing) so I'll be re-reading your excellent posts again (and again) in the morning.

Thank you very much,

Penny
 
devonjim said:
Among my presents at Christmas was a copy of the 1971 book Britain's Railways at War 1939-1945 by O.S. Nock. Lots and lots of facts and figures.
Click to expand...
devonjim said:
Among my presents at Christmas was a copy of the 1971 book Britain's Railways at War 1939-1945 by O.S. Nock. Lots and lots of facts and figures.
Click to expand...
I find vintage railway books Ian Allen etc are the best
copies in good condition available on line
not silly money
 
I just missed it Alan but felt the affects for many years. I belong to the Chester Road Station Friends and we are hoping to mark Remembrance Day this year by showing what it was like to live through those years and how hard it was for the railway workers. I've learned a lot so far due to this thread. I also hope to include men in the area who lost their lives in both World Wars. On another thread a member is looking for details of the grandfather she never knew. He lost his life as an ARP Warden due to a UXB and was a railway worker.

Thanks again to everyone who has contributed so far.

Penny
 
I've just read, vide supra/see book mentioned above, of a railway man who won a GC for jumping into a rail wagon and freeing a burning German incendiary bomb that had landed among a load of our own high explosive 250lb bombs and tossing it from the wagon.
 
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