THE TRACKS OF OUR YEARS

摘要

OUR railways have seen a roller-coaster of fortunes over the past 50 years. Nationalisation in 1948 and the Modernisation Plan of 1955 brought optimism but were marred by strikes. The Beeching cuts of the 1960s decimated the network, while the growth of road traffic, especially freight, resulted in lines, yards, sidings and branches being ripped up. The end of steam in 1968 and subsequent progression of multiple units in place of loco-hauled trains accelerated the reduction in motive power requirements and saw the closure of many depots and works.