On this Day - 29th May (2021)
Final passenger service of a Pacer


Travel and transport with an emphasis on the South West of the British Isles, and on rail, other public and sustainable transport

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29th May
Final passenger service of a Pacer
2021
(Saturday)
discussionwales
Paddington Station Opened
1854
(Monday)
  

27th May
Opening of Great Hall at Euston
1849
(Sunday)
 wikipedia

25th May
authoristion of East Cornwall Mineral Railway
1871
(Thursday)
 saltash
British Airways and Southern Railway launched scheduled flights from Gatwick to the IOW
1936
(Monday)
  

24th May
Members of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers vote overwhelmingly in favour of strike action, paving the way for the first national rail strike since 1994
2021
(Monday)
  
Falkirk Wheel opens
2002
(Friday)
  

22nd May
First steam locomotive to operate on Mull
1983
(Sunday)
discussionarchive

20th May
Publication of Great British Railways - The Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail
2021
(Thursday)
discussion 
Last broad gauge train from London to Penzance
1892
(Friday)
discussionnrmfriends
orpheusweb

19th May
Oscar Wilde is released from Reading Jail
1897
(Wednesday)
  
LMS Coronation Class 46236 City of Bradford on GWR
1948
(Wednesday)
discussionwikipedia

18th May
Trying to take his horse on the train
2011
(Wednesday)
discussiontheguardian
metro
sciencemuseumgr...

17th May
First through trains Exeter to Plymouth via Okehampton and Tavistock
1876
(Wednesday)
discussion 

16th May
~ Railway Technical Centre, Derby, opens
1964
(Saturday)
 wikipedia

15th May
Tom Harris announces £5000 per CRP
2008
(Thursday)
 railwayeye
1S76 - Brighon and Eastbourne to Glasgow
1989
(Monday)
discussion1s76

14th May
first Tal-y-llyn trains run under preservation
1951
(Monday)
discussiontalyllyn

13th May
Melksham Station reopened
1985
(Monday)
discussion 
Bournemouth Trolley Bus opened
1933
(Saturday)
 yellowbuses

12th May
First "Thomas the Tank Engine" book published
1945
(Saturday)
discussionwikipedia
New station - Winnersh Triangle
1986
(Monday)
discussion 
New station - Tiverton Parkway
1986
(Monday)
discussion 

11th May
Last commercial boat - Thames and Severn summit
1911
(Thursday)
discussioncotswoldcanals
Westbury reduced to 3 platforms
1984
(Friday)
discussionsignallingnotices
Station opens, Lake (IOW)
1987
(Monday)
discussion 
Lynton and Barnstaple opened
1898
(Wednesday)
discussion 

9th May
Train of feathers delivered to Melksham
1928
(Wednesday)
discussionwiltshiretimes
City of Truro, 102 mph
1904
(Monday)
discussionrailhistory
wikipedia

8th May
BR rationalises and largely kills wet fish traffic
1964
(Friday)
discussionbloodandcustard

7th May
Day 1, All The Stations
2017
(Sunday)
discussionyoutube

6th May
First run of Clansman
1974
(Monday)
 whitropesiding
First tweet from GWR/FGW
2011
(Friday)
 twitter
DfT / SRA future service level discussion
2005
(Friday)
 savethetrain
Channel Tunnel opened
1994
(Friday)
  
Trains between Exeter and Plymouth via Okehampton withdrawn
1968
(Monday)
  

5th May
Blue Pullman farewell tour
1973
(Saturday)
 railcar

4th May
First WECA Mayor elected
2017
(Thursday)
 thebritishacademy
Festival of Britain opens to public
1951
(Friday)
 historic-uk

3rd May
Lochluichart new station opens
1954
(Monday)
discussionwikipedia
~ Just one working lower quadrant distant signal left
2018
(Thursday)
discussionrailwayworld

2nd May
Last special train to Weymouth Quay
1999
(Sunday)
 wikipedia
Wilton South station opened
1859
(Monday)
  
Royal Albert Bridge opens
1859
(Monday)
  

1st May
Bristol Parkway station opens
1972
(Monday)
  
Amtrak founded
1971
(Saturday)
 amtrak
Helicopter service from Penzance to Scilly Isles starts
1964
(Friday)
  
Inauguaral non stop "Flying Scotsman" London to Edinburgh
1928
(Tuesday)
  
Great Exhibition opens
1851
(Thursday)
 wikipedia

30th April
Brighton Belle withdrawn
1972
(Sunday)
discussionbrightonbelle

29th April
Patent award for Janney (Buckeye) coupling
1973
(Sunday)
 wikipedia
wikipedia
Bristol Bus Boycott announced
1963
(Monday)
 blackhistorymonth

28th April
GNER franchise (Sea Containers) starts on ECML
1996
(Sunday)
 wikipedia

26th April
DOO strikes start on Southern
2016
(Tuesday)
discussionwikipedia

21st April
Battery Multiple Unit enters public service
1958
(Monday)
discussionrailcar

20th April
Opening of Sapperton Canal Tunnel
1789
(Monday)
  

19th April
Foundation, Beatties of London
1938
(Tuesday)
discussionwikipedia

18th April
SEWWEB leaflet launched and Aztec West
2018
(Wednesday)
discussionforum
Melksham Station closed
1966
(Monday)
discussion 

17th April
Formation Committee Meeting, TransWilts CRP
2010
(Saturday)
discussionwellho

16th April
~ Tulyar arrives at Swanley New Barn Railway
1987
(Thursday)
discussionsteamdriver
weebly

15th April
~ Introduction of first Motor Luggage Van
1959
(Wednesday)
discussionwikipedia

13th April
First (broad gauge) train ran complete line from Oxford via Worcester to Wolverhampton
1854
(Thursday)
discussionwikipedia

12th April
London Transport bans bus advert
2012
(Thursday)
  

11th April
Mystery tour from Worksop (Eastbourne)
1977
(Monday)
 sixbellsjunction

10th April
Scottish Golf by Train website registered
2014
(Thursday)
discussionscottishgolfbyt...

9th April
Rail to Refuge goes nationwide
2020
(Thursday)
 raildeliverygroup

8th April
XPT passenger trains enter service in Australia
1982
(Thursday)
 wikipedia

6th April
Two Tunnels cycleway opens
2013
(Saturday)
discussionbbc
twotunnels

5th April
Ballast Dust working group publications
2016
(Tuesday)
 networkrail
First passenger train - South Devon Railway
1969
(Saturday)
 wikipedia

4th April
Release of Great St Trinians Train Robbery
1966
(Monday)
 wikipedia
Railway Clerks Union (now TSSA) formed
1897
(Sunday)
 documentcloud
tssa

3rd April
Wick and Lybster Railway closed
1944
(Monday)
discussionwikipedia

1st April
SEWWEB - An April Fool that makes sense
2018
(Sunday)
discussionsewweb
sewweb
National Senior Railcard introduced
1975
(Tuesday)
 wikipedia
Wessex Trains, Thames Trains and Great Western combined into single franchise
2006
(Saturday)
  

31st March
Last run of 4EPB
1995
(Friday)
 youtube
youtube
Last day of CAPRI; replaced by LENNON
2002
(Sunday)
 wikipedia

30th March
Cycle Hire available at Melksham Station
2021
(Tuesday)
discussion 
"Person hit by train" forum advice thread started
2010
(Tuesday)
discussionforum

29th March
Foundation of National Union or Railwaymen
1913
(Saturday)
 wikipedia

28th March
Formal end to carrying coffins by BR
1988
(Monday)
 wikipedia
Bideford, Westward Ho! and Appledore closed
1917
(Wednesday)
 wikipedia
MOD Kineton tour, branch line society
1992
(Saturday)
 rogerfarnworth
Woman found murdered on Orpington to London train
1988
(Monday)
 wikipedia

27th March
Publication of Beeching Report
1963
(Wednesday)
discussionwikipedia

26th March
Britain's last trolley bus system (Bradford) closes
1972
(Sunday)
  
launch of TransWilts Community Rail Partnership
2010
(Friday)
 savethetrain
Swindon Works closed
1986
(Wednesday)
  
ERTMS goes operational across Cambrian lines
2011
(Saturday)
 wikipedia
ertms

25th March
Thames Tunnel opens to public
1843
(Saturday)
 wikipedia

23rd March
Lockdown - Covid-19
2020
(Monday)
  
Bluebell Railway services start to East Grinstead
2013
(Saturday)
  

22nd March
Closure - Cononley station
1965
(Monday)
discussionwikipedia

21st March
Runaway Mine Train opens at Alton Towers
1992
(Saturday)
 wikipedia

20th March
Warrington bomb in rubbish bin leads to removal of rubbish bins from railway stations
1993
(Saturday)
discussionwikipedia
~ Most expensive Totem at Auction?
2021
(Saturday)
discussiongwra

18th March
Naming of "Evening Star"
1960
(Friday)
 wikipedia

17th March
~ Research into use of TVMs
2018
(Saturday)
 gov

16th March
~ Cook's European timetable first published
1873
(Sunday)
 wikipedia

15th March
Bus Back Better launched
2021
(Monday)
discussion 

14th March
Baku Children's Railway construction starts
1947
(Friday)
discussionwikipedia
Ferryhill turntable back in use
2019
(Thursday)
discussionfrht

13th March
Website of the week - Man in seat 61
2004
(Saturday)
discussionseat61

12th March
First narrow gauge train over Croesor crossing
2009
(Thursday)
discussionwelshhighlandhe...

11th March
Formation of Cotswold Line Promotion Group
1978
(Saturday)
discussionclpg
Opening of Clifton Rocks Railway
1893
(Saturday)
discussioncliftonrocksrai...
Penzance Station opened
1852
(Thursday)
discussionwikipedia

10th March
FGW make all trains no smoking
2000
(Friday)
discussionforum

9th March
Rail industry confirms future potential demand for new trains and carriages
2015
(Monday)
discussioneversholtrail

8th March
Leader - Bullied expresses confidence
1950
(Wednesday)
 sremg
First "Where is this" picture quiz
2007
(Thursday)
discussionforum
Seaton Tramway extension Colyton to Colyford
1980
(Saturday)
discussionwikipedia

7th March
The Western Region of British Railways closes the former Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway
1966
(Monday)
discussionbbc
wikipedia
Passenger services withdrawn from Wilton South
1966
(Monday)
discussionwikipedia

6th March
Ffriog Cutting accident - lead to avalache shelter
1933
(Monday)
discussionhistorypoints
ambaile

5th March
First passenger train (heritage) Alderney
1980
(Wednesday)
discussionalderneyrailway

3rd March
Race across the world
2019
(Sunday)
discussionwikipedia
2nd edition of GRIP process
2012
(Saturday)
discussionnetworkrail
railengineer

2nd March
TravelWatch SouthWest - final pre-covid in real life general meeting
2020
(Monday)
discussiontravelwatchsout...
Withdrawal of passenger services Swindon to Highworth
1952
(Sunday)
discussionwikipedia
Callington Station opened
1908
(Monday)
discussion 

1st March
Civil Aviation Authority established
1972
(Wednesday)
discussionwikipedia
wickersworld
Opening of Defiance Halt
1905
(Wednesday)
discussionsaltash
Opening of Listowel and Ballybunion Railway
1888
(Thursday)
discussionmonorails
rogerfarnworth

29th February
Cholsey and Moulesford opened and Moulsworth (Wallingford Road) closed
1892
(Monday)
  

28th February
Greta Thunberg in Bristol
2020
(Friday)
discussionbbc
forum
Moorgate Tube disaster
1975
(Friday)
discussionlondon-fire
railmagazine
First order placed for Brush 47 locomotives
1961
(Tuesday)
discussionwikipedia
worldwiderails
Last day of service - Acton Town to South Acton
1959
(Saturday)
discussionwikipedia

27th February
1st transport of French Jews to Nazi Germany
1942
(Friday)
discussiononthisday
encyclopedia

26th February
Midwinter Lull?
2022
(Saturday)
discussion 

25th February
Swindon Works authorised
1841
(Thursday)
discussionswindonweb

24th February
< King William Street station closed
1900
(Saturday)
  
Paddington Bear statue unveiled
2000
(Thursday)
discussionwikipedia

23rd February
GoCo rebrands Go-Op
2012
(Thursday)
discussiongo-op
swindonadvertiser

22nd February
GoCo proposal - class 50 Yeovil to Oxford
2011
(Tuesday)
discussionforum

21st February
< First locomotive-hauled railway journey, Trevithick, Penydarren
1804
(Tuesday)
  
The last shunting horse to work on British Rail, "Charlie" at Newmarket, is retired.
1967
(Tuesday)
discussionpinterest
booksandmud

20th February
Final closure of Swindon panel
2016
(Saturday)
discussionforum
swindonpanel

19th February
Know your stations quiz
2017
(Sunday)
discussion 

18th February
Various Railway Accidents
1902
(Tuesday)
discussionforum

17th February
Introduction of London congestion charge
2003
(Monday)
discussionwikipedia
First diesel express from Paddington
1958
(Monday)
discussionbbc

16th February
Weekend returns avaiable on The Midland
1907
(Saturday)
discussion 

15th February
Initial journey - Jellicoe Express
1917
(Thursday)
discussionlondonremembers
theorkneynews

14th February
Last train to call at Bicester TOWN
2014
(Friday)
  
Great Marlow renamed to Marlow
1889
(Thursday)
  

13th February
First test firing of rail mounted gun - Elam Valley
1941
(Thursday)
discussiondisused-stations
wikipedia
wikipedia

12th February
Western Pathfinder (D1001) build date
1962
(Monday)
discussionwesternlocomoti...
wikipedia
Curry Rivel to Castle Cary opened to freight
1906
(Monday)
discussionwikipedia

11th February
Appeal for funds for Gladstone
1927
(Friday)
discussionstephensonloco
Kilmersdon Colliery opens
1875
(Thursday)
discussionwikipedia
theimportanceof...
irsociety

10th February
Harold Wood - Brentwood accident
1941
(Monday)
discussionrailwaysarchive
wikipedia

9th February
Blockage through snow - Aviemore to Forres
1963
(Saturday)
discussionderbysulzers

8th February
< London Necropolis railway station resited
1902
(Saturday)
 wikipedia
wikipedia
Swansea to Carmarthen doubled
1853
(Tuesday)
discussionwikipedia
broadgauge

7th February
Timber Ferrybridge replace by steel bridge
1909
(Sunday)
discussionportlandhistory
Formation of ASLEF
1880
(Saturday)
discussionnationalarchives
Boiler explosion, Gloucester
1855
(Wednesday)
discussionfirstgreatweste...
railwaysarchive
wikipedia

6th February
Class 151 in service
1986
(Thursday)
discussiontraintesting
traintesting
Document archive added to Coffee Shop
2021
(Saturday)
discussionforum

5th February
< Closure - Alton to Fareham
1955
(Saturday)
  
Foundation meeting, heritage railway to Minehead
1971
(Friday)
discussionmineheadraillin...
wikipedia

4th February
Dawlish Washout
2014
(Tuesday)
discussionforum
South West Trains franchise starts
1996
(Sunday)
discussionstagecoachgroup
Great Western Intercity franchise commences
1996
(Sunday)
discussionwikipedia
wikipedia
Newquay to Chacewater line closes
1963
(Monday)
discussion 
Newquay to Chacewater line opens
1905
(Saturday)
discussion 

3rd February
First Ghan passenger train reached Darwin
2004
(Tuesday)
discussionnorthernterritory
wikipedia

2nd February
Children under 5 occupying seats
2012
(Thursday)
discussion 

1st February
Shuttle Columbia breaks up on re-entry
2003
(Saturday)
discussionwikipedia

31st January
"Princess Victoria" capsized off Stanraer, 133 die
1953
(Saturday)
discussionhistoric-uk
belfasttelegraph
wikipedia
bbc

30th January
Great Western Railway Temperance Union
1890
(Thursday)
discussionturniprail
wikipedia

29th January
"Western Fusilier" rail tour - Paddington to Hereford
1977
(Saturday)
discussionsixbellsjunction
wikimedia
Holborn Viaduct station closes
1990
(Monday)
discussiondisused-stations

28th January
First posts on the Coffee Shop forum
2007
(Sunday)
discussionforum

27th January
Torbay Tramway closed because of snow
1910
(Thursday)
discussionwikipedia
tramwayinfo

26th January
firstgreatwestern.info domain registered
2007
(Friday)
discussionforum

25th January
FGW announces link with Singapore Airlines
2014
(Saturday)
discussionfuturetravelexp...

24th January
More Train Less Strain call on Ruth Kelly to remove franchise from FGW
2008
(Thursday)
discussionforum
dailymail
Hansard on First Great Western
2007
(Wednesday)
discussionparliament

23rd January
Start of 6 weeks of snowfall
1947
(Thursday)
discussionmetoffice
wikipedia

22nd January
Sailpowered Rail
1830
(Friday)
discussiondouglas-self
wikipedia
Amtrak New York to Tampa ends
1995
(Sunday)
  
Famous Train Royal Mail stamps
1985
(Tuesday)
discussioncollectgbstamps
Initial meeting - Women in Community Rail
2016
(Friday)
discussionwicr

21st January
Early reference to Go-Co
2011
(Friday)
discussionforum
paulgosling

20th January
Opening of Yeovil Pen Mill - Weymouth line
1857
(Tuesday)
discussionwikipedia

19th January
Heathrow Junction Station opens and receives first train
1998
(Monday)
discussionwikipedia
ianvisits
Trend to bring back barriers is damaging the customer experience
2008
(Saturday)
discussionwikipedia
yorkpress
news

18th January
Closure Ruabon to Morfa Mawddach
1965
(Monday)
discussionwikipedia

17th January
~ Byron Bay Railroad Company launched its solar train
2018
(Wednesday)
discussionbridgestone

16th January
Winter of discontent - 24 hour rail strike
1979
(Tuesday)
discussionlibcom
wikipedia

15th January
RoSCo Eversholt changes hands
2015
(Thursday)
discussionwikipedia
eversholtrail

14th January
Strategic Rail Authority unveils 10 year plan
2002
(Monday)
discussiontheguardian

13th January
Groupsaves on Ticket Machines
2012
(Friday)
discussiontravel
forum

12th January
A quiet day in previous years
2009
(Monday)
discussion 

11th January
TVM - a fair weather facility?
2012
(Wednesday)
discussionforum

10th January
Defibrillators discussion pack published by Network Rail
2017
(Tuesday)
discussionnetworkrail
theargus
Metropolitain line opened from Paddington
1863
(Saturday)
 gov

9th January
Incorporation of Railway Development Society Ltd (now Railfuture)
2004
(Friday)
discussionrailwaydevelopm...
railfuture

8th January
Cannon Street buffer stop collision
1991
(Tuesday)
discussionwikipedia

7th January
Closure of Upwey Wishing Well Halt
1957
(Monday)
discussionopcdorset
dorsetecho

6th January
Hixon Railway accident
1968
(Saturday)
discussionrailwaysarchive
forum
wikipedia

5th January
Last service - Swansea and Mumbles Tramway
1960
(Tuesday)
discussionwalesonline

4th January
Portishead (New) station opened
1954
(Monday)
discussionportisheadrailw...

3rd January
Cheltenham (St James) station closes
1966
(Monday)
discussionwikipedia
Full electric passenger services start, West Coast Main Line to Manchester and Liverpool
1966
(Monday)
discussionwikipedia

2nd January
< Formation of Railway Clearing House
1842
(Sunday)
 wikipedia
Line from Bala to Blaenau Ffestiniog closed to passenger services
1960
(Saturday)
discussionwikipedia

1st January
Grouping of railways into four major companies - GWR, SR, LNER and LMS
1923
(Monday)
discussionwikipedia
railwaysarchive
Foundation of British Railways - nationalisation
1948
(Thursday)
 wikipedia
Reading (Southern) electrified
1939
(Sunday)
discussionwikipedia
"Murder on the Orient Express" published
1934
(Monday)
 wikipedia

About "on this day"

"On this day" looks back at this day in history for rail and other public and sustainable public transport users in the Thames Valley, South West of England and South Wales, with one eye open to topics of wider interest. On most mornings, you'll find a new headline and article link above, perhaps a picture too.

Some exact dates are lost in history, and you'll occasionally find an item marked "~" for "about". Please let us know if you have an accurate date for these, or if you have an event which you feel we should add, or a correction. The best place for this is our discussion forum, but by all means use other contact methods if you like.

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