On this Day - 19th April (1938)
Foundation, Beatties of London

Shown by year • Select ((here)) to sort by day of year

First locomotive-hauled railway journey, Trevithick, Penydarren	21st February 1804 (Tuesday)
Sailpowered Rail	22nd January 1830 (Friday)	discussion	douglas-self wikipedia
Swindon Works authorised	25th February 1841 (Thursday)	discussion	swindonweb
< Formation of Railway Clearing House	2nd January 1842 (Sunday)		wikipedia
Thames Tunnel opens to public	25th March 1843 (Saturday)		wikipedia
Penzance Station opened	11th March 1852 (Thursday)	discussion	wikipedia
Swansea to Carmarthen doubled	8th February 1853 (Tuesday)	discussion	wikipedia broadgauge
First (broad gauge) train ran complete line from Oxford via Worcester to Wolverhampton	13th April 1854 (Thursday)	discussion	wikipedia
Boiler explosion, Gloucester	7th February 1855 (Wednesday)	discussion	firstgreatweste... railwaysarchive wikipedia
Opening of Yeovil Pen Mill - Weymouth line	20th January 1857 (Tuesday)	discussion	wikipedia
Metropolitain line opened from Paddington	10th January 1863 (Saturday)	discussion	gov ltmuseum
~ Cook's European timetable first published	16th March 1873 (Sunday)	discussion	wikipedia
Kilmersdon Colliery opens	11th February 1875 (Thursday)	discussion	wikipedia theimportanceof... irsociety
Formation of ASLEF	7th February 1880 (Saturday)	discussion	nationalarchives
Opening of Listowel and Ballybunion Railway	1st March 1888 (Thursday)	discussion	monorails rogerfarnworth
Great Marlow renamed to Marlow	14th February 1889 (Thursday)
Great Western Railway Temperance Union	30th January 1890 (Thursday)	discussion	turniprail wikipedia
Cholsey and Moulsford opened and Moulsford (Wallingford Road) closed	29th February 1892 (Monday)	discussion
Opening of Clifton Rocks Railway	11th March 1893 (Saturday)	discussion	cliftonrocksrai...
Railway Clerks Union (now TSSA) formed	4th April 1897 (Sunday)		documentcloud tssa
< King William Street station closed	24th February 1900 (Saturday)
< London Necropolis railway station resited	8th February 1902 (Saturday)		wikipedia wikipedia
Various Railway Accidents	18th February 1902 (Tuesday)	discussion	forum
Newquay to Chacewater line opens	4th February 1905 (Saturday)	discussion
Opening of Defiance Halt	1st March 1905 (Wednesday)	discussion	saltash
Curry Rivel to Castle Cary opened to freight	12th February 1906 (Monday)	discussion	wikipedia
Weekend returns avaiable on The Midland	16th February 1907 (Saturday)	discussion
Callington Station opened	2nd March 1908 (Monday)	discussion
Timber Ferrybridge replace by steel bridge	7th February 1909 (Sunday)	discussion	portlandhistory
Torbay Tramway closed because of snow	27th January 1910 (Thursday)	discussion	wikipedia tramwayinfo
Foundation of National Union or Railwaymen	29th March 1913 (Saturday)		wikipedia
Initial journey - Jellicoe Express	15th February 1917 (Thursday)	discussion	londonremembers theorkneynews
Bideford, Westward Ho! and Appledore closed	28th March 1917 (Wednesday)	discussion	wikipedia
Grouping of railways into four major companies - GWR, SR, LNER and LMS	1st January 1923 (Monday)	discussion	wikipedia railwaysarchive
Appeal for funds for Gladstone	11th February 1927 (Friday)	discussion	stephensonloco
Ffriog Cutting accident - lead to avalache shelter	6th March 1933 (Monday)	discussion	historypoints ambaile
"Murder on the Orient Express" published	1st January 1934 (Monday)		wikipedia
Foundation, Beatties of London	19th April 1938 (Tuesday)	discussion	wikipedia
Reading (Southern) electrified	1st January 1939 (Sunday)	discussion	wikipedia
Harold Wood - Brentwood accident	10th February 1941 (Monday)	discussion	railwaysarchive wikipedia
First test firing of rail mounted gun - Elam Valley	13th February 1941 (Thursday)	discussion	disused-stations wikipedia wikipedia
1st transport of French Jews to Nazi Germany	27th February 1942 (Friday)	discussion	onthisday encyclopedia
Wick and Lybster Railway closed	3rd April 1944 (Monday)	discussion	wikipedia
Start of 6 weeks of snowfall	23rd January 1947 (Thursday)	discussion	metoffice wikipedia
Baku Children's Railway construction starts	14th March 1947 (Friday)	discussion	wikipedia
Foundation of British Railways - nationalisation	1st January 1948 (Thursday)	discussion	wikipedia
Leader - Bullied expresses confidence	8th March 1950 (Wednesday)		sremg
Withdrawal of passenger services Swindon to Highworth	2nd March 1952 (Sunday)	discussion	wikipedia
"Princess Victoria" capsized off Stanraer, 133 die	31st January 1953 (Saturday)	discussion	historic-uk belfasttelegraph wikipedia bbc
Portishead (New) station opened	4th January 1954 (Monday)	discussion	portisheadrailw...
Closure - Alton to Fareham	5th February 1955 (Saturday)	discussion
Closure of Upwey Wishing Well Halt	7th January 1957 (Monday)	discussion	opcdorset dorsetecho
First diesel express from Paddington	17th February 1958 (Monday)	discussion	bbc
Last day of service - Acton Town to South Acton	28th February 1959 (Saturday)	discussion	wikipedia
~ Introduction of first Motor Luggage Van	15th April 1959 (Wednesday)	discussion	wikipedia
Line from Bala to Blaenau Ffestiniog closed to passenger services	2nd January 1960 (Saturday)	discussion	wikipedia
Last service - Swansea and Mumbles Tramway	5th January 1960 (Tuesday)	discussion	walesonline
Naming of "Evening Star"	18th March 1960 (Friday)		wikipedia
First order placed for Brush 47 locomotives	28th February 1961 (Tuesday)	discussion	wikipedia worldwiderails
Western Pathfinder (D1001) build date	12th February 1962 (Monday)	discussion	westernlocomoti... wikipedia
Newquay to Chacewater line closes	4th February 1963 (Monday)	discussion
Blockage through snow - Aviemore to Forres	9th February 1963 (Saturday)	discussion	derbysulzers
Publication of Beeching Report	27th March 1963 (Wednesday)	discussion	wikipedia
Closure Ruabon to Morfa Mawddach	18th January 1965 (Monday)	discussion	wikipedia
Closure - Cononley station	22nd March 1965 (Monday)	discussion	wikipedia
Cheltenham (St James) station closes	3rd January 1966 (Monday)	discussion	wikipedia
Full electric passenger services start, West Coast Main Line to Manchester and Liverpool	3rd January 1966 (Monday)	discussion	wikipedia
Passenger services withdrawn from Wilton South	7th March 1966 (Monday)	discussion	wikipedia
The Western Region of British Railways closes the former Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway	7th March 1966 (Monday)	discussion	bbc wikipedia
Release of Great St Trinians Train Robbery	4th April 1966 (Monday)		wikipedia
Melksham Station closed	18th April 1966 (Monday)	discussion
The last shunting horse to work on British Rail, "Charlie" at Newmarket, is retired.	21st February 1967 (Tuesday)	discussion	pinterest booksandmud
Hixon Railway accident	6th January 1968 (Saturday)	discussion	railwaysarchive forum wikipedia
First passenger train - South Devon Railway	5th April 1969 (Saturday)		wikipedia
Foundation meeting, heritage railway to Minehead	5th February 1971 (Friday)	discussion	mineheadraillin... wikipedia
Civil Aviation Authority established	1st March 1972 (Wednesday)	discussion	wikipedia wickersworld
Britain's last trolley bus system (Bradford) closes	26th March 1972 (Sunday)	discussion
Moorgate Tube disaster	28th February 1975 (Friday)	discussion	london-fire railmagazine
National Senior Railcard introduced	1st April 1975 (Tuesday)		wikipedia
"Western Fusilier" rail tour - Paddington to Hereford	29th January 1977 (Saturday)	discussion	sixbellsjunction wikimedia
Mystery tour from Worksop (Eastbourne)	11th April 1977 (Monday)		sixbellsjunction
Formation of Cotswold Line Promotion Group	11th March 1978 (Saturday)	discussion	clpg
Winter of discontent - 24 hour rail strike	16th January 1979 (Tuesday)	discussion	libcom wikipedia
First passenger train (heritage) Alderney	5th March 1980 (Wednesday)	discussion	alderneyrailway
Seaton Tramway extension Colyton to Colyford	8th March 1980 (Saturday)	discussion	wikipedia
XPT passenger trains enter service in Australia	8th April 1982 (Thursday)		wikipedia
Famous Train Royal Mail stamps	22nd January 1985 (Tuesday)	discussion	collectgbstamps
Class 151 in service	6th February 1986 (Thursday)	discussion	traintesting traintesting
Swindon Works closed	26th March 1986 (Wednesday)	discussion	steam-museum
~ Tulyar arrives at Swanley New Barn Railway	16th April 1987 (Thursday)	discussion	steamdriver weebly
Woman found murdered on Orpington to London train	28th March 1988 (Monday)		wikipedia
Formal end to carrying coffins by BR	28th March 1988 (Monday)	discussion	wikipedia
Holborn Viaduct station closes	29th January 1990 (Monday)	discussion	disused-stations
Cannon Street buffer stop collision	8th January 1991 (Tuesday)	discussion	wikipedia
Runaway Mine Train opens at Alton Towers	21st March 1992 (Saturday)		wikipedia
MOD Kineton tour, branch line society	28th March 1992 (Saturday)		rogerfarnworth
Warrington bomb in rubbish bin leads to removal of rubbish bins from railway stations	20th March 1993 (Saturday)	discussion	wikipedia
Amtrak New York to Tampa ends	22nd January 1995 (Sunday)
Last run of 4EPB	31st March 1995 (Friday)		youtube youtube
South West Trains franchise starts	4th February 1996 (Sunday)	discussion	stagecoachgroup
Great Western Intercity franchise commences	4th February 1996 (Sunday)	discussion	wikipedia wikipedia
Heathrow Junction Station opens and receives first train	19th January 1998 (Monday)	discussion	wikipedia ianvisits
Paddington Bear statue unveiled	24th February 2000 (Thursday)	discussion	wikipedia
FGW make all trains no smoking	10th March 2000 (Friday)	discussion	forum
Strategic Rail Authority unveils 10 year plan	14th January 2002 (Monday)	discussion	theguardian
Last day of CAPRI; replaced by LENNON	31st March 2002 (Sunday)		wikipedia
Shuttle Columbia breaks up on re-entry	1st February 2003 (Saturday)	discussion	wikipedia
Introduction of London congestion charge	17th February 2003 (Monday)	discussion	wikipedia
Incorporation of Railway Development Society Ltd (now Railfuture)	9th January 2004 (Friday)	discussion	railwaydevelopm... railfuture
First Ghan passenger train reached Darwin	3rd February 2004 (Tuesday)	discussion	northernterritory wikipedia
Website of the week - Man in seat 61	13th March 2004 (Saturday)	discussion	seat61
Wessex Trains, Thames Trains and Great Western combined into single franchise	1st April 2006 (Saturday)
Hansard on First Great Western	24th January 2007 (Wednesday)	discussion	parliament
firstgreatwestern.info domain registered	26th January 2007 (Friday)	discussion	forum
First posts on the Coffee Shop forum	28th January 2007 (Sunday)	discussion	forum
First "Where is this" picture quiz	8th March 2007 (Thursday)	discussion	forum
Trend to bring back barriers is damaging the customer experience	19th January 2008 (Saturday)	discussion	wikipedia yorkpress news
More Train Less Strain call on Ruth Kelly to remove franchise from FGW	24th January 2008 (Thursday)	discussion	forum dailymail
A quiet day in previous years	12th January 2009 (Monday)	discussion
First narrow gauge train over Croesor crossing	12th March 2009 (Thursday)	discussion	welshhighlandhe...
Launch of TransWilts Community Rail Partnership	26th March 2010 (Friday)	discussion	savethetrain
"Person hit by train" forum advice thread started	30th March 2010 (Tuesday)	discussion	forum
Formation Committee Meeting, TransWilts CRP	17th April 2010 (Saturday)	discussion	wellho
Early reference to Go-Co	21st January 2011 (Friday)	discussion	forum paulgosling
GoCo proposal - class 50 Yeovil to Oxford	22nd February 2011 (Tuesday)	discussion	forum
ERTMS goes operational across Cambrian lines	26th March 2011 (Saturday)		wikipedia ertms
TVM - a fair weather facility?	11th January 2012 (Wednesday)	discussion	forum
Groupsaves on Ticket Machines	13th January 2012 (Friday)	discussion	travel forum
Children under 5 occupying seats	2nd February 2012 (Thursday)	discussion
GoCo rebrands Go-Op	23rd February 2012 (Thursday)	discussion	go-op swindonadvertiser
2nd edition of GRIP process	3rd March 2012 (Saturday)	discussion	networkrail railengineer
London Transport bans bus advert	12th April 2012 (Thursday)
Addition of "Vexacious Interacter" clause to forum agreement	4th March 2013 (Monday)	discussion
Bluebell Railway services start to East Grinstead	23rd March 2013 (Saturday)	discussion
Two Tunnels cycleway opens	6th April 2013 (Saturday)	discussion	bbc twotunnels
FGW announces link with Singapore Airlines	25th January 2014 (Saturday)	discussion	futuretravelexp...
Dawlish Washout	4th February 2014 (Tuesday)	discussion	forum
Last train to call at Bicester TOWN	14th February 2014 (Friday)
Scottish Golf by Train website registered	10th April 2014 (Thursday)	discussion	scottishgolfbyt...
RoSCo Eversholt changes hands	15th January 2015 (Thursday)	discussion	wikipedia eversholtrail
Rail industry confirms future potential demand for new trains and carriages	9th March 2015 (Monday)	discussion	eversholtrail
Initial meeting - Women in Community Rail	22nd January 2016 (Friday)	discussion	wicr
Final closure of Swindon panel	20th February 2016 (Saturday)	discussion	forum swindonpanel
Ballast Dust working group publications	5th April 2016 (Tuesday)		networkrail
Defibrillators discussion pack published by Network Rail	10th January 2017 (Tuesday)	discussion	networkrail theargus
Know your stations quiz	19th February 2017 (Sunday)	discussion
~ Byron Bay Railroad Company launched its solar train	17th January 2018 (Wednesday)	discussion	bridgestone
~ Research into use of TVMs	17th March 2018 (Saturday)		gov
SEWWEB - An April Fool that makes sense	1st April 2018 (Sunday)	discussion	sewweb sewweb
SEWWEB leaflet launched and Aztec West	18th April 2018 (Wednesday)	discussion	forum
Race across the world	3rd March 2019 (Sunday)	discussion	wikipedia
Ferryhill turntable back in use	14th March 2019 (Thursday)	discussion	frht
Greta Thunberg in Bristol	28th February 2020 (Friday)	discussion	bbc forum
TravelWatch SouthWest - final pre-covid in real life general meeting	2nd March 2020 (Monday)	discussion	travelwatchsout...
Lockdown - Covid-19	23rd March 2020 (Monday)	discussion
Rail to Refuge goes nationwide	9th April 2020 (Thursday)	discussion	raildeliverygroup
Document archive added to Coffee Shop	6th February 2021 (Saturday)	discussion	forum
Bus Back Better launched	15th March 2021 (Monday)	discussion
~ Most expensive Totem at Auction?	20th March 2021 (Saturday)	discussion	gwra
Cycle Hire available at Melksham Station	30th March 2021 (Tuesday)	discussion
Midwinter Lull?	26th February 2022 (Saturday)	discussion

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.