On this Day - 31st December (1962)
Closure of Builth Road low level platforms

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

Great Storm	26th November 1703 (Monday)	discussion	wikipedia historytoday onlinelibrary rmg
Opening of Sapperton Canal Tunnel	20th April 1789 (Monday)
First locomotive-hauled railway journey, Trevithick, Penydarren	21st February 1804 (Tuesday)
Opening of Stockton to Darlington Railway	27th September 1825 (Tuesday)	discussion	wikipedia sbdepotmuseum
Opening of Rainhill Trials	6th October 1829 (Tuesday)		wikipedia
Sailpowered Rail	22nd January 1830 (Friday)	discussion	douglas-self wikipedia
Liverpool and Manchester Railway opens	15th September 1830 (Wednesday)
Maidenhead Railway Bridge first used	1st July 1839 (Monday)		railengineer
First Bradshaw's Timetable published	19th October 1839 (Saturday)	discussion	wikipedia free-online free-online
Railway through Swindon opened	17th December 1840 (Thursday)		wikipedia
Swindon Works authorised	25th February 1841 (Thursday)	discussion	swindonweb
Box Tunnel opened	30th June 1841 (Wednesday)		networkrail
< Formation of Railway Clearing House	2nd January 1842 (Sunday)		wikipedia
First journey by a reigning monarch by train	13th June 1842 (Monday)		wikipedia
Thames Tunnel opens to public	25th March 1843 (Saturday)		wikipedia
Opening of Birkenhead (Monks Ferry) station	23rd October 1844 (Wednesday)		wikipedia disused-stations
Requirement to provide a daily train at 1d per mile max	1st November 1844 (Friday)		wikipedia
Railway Clearing House standardises GMT	22nd September 1847 (Wednesday)	discussion	wikipedia
Montreal and Lachine Railroad Opened	19th November 1847 (Friday)		thecanadianency...
Opening of railway through Melksham	2nd September 1848 (Saturday)	discussion	twhc
Opening of Great Hall at Euston	27th May 1849 (Sunday)		wikipedia
Great Exhibition opens	1st May 1851 (Thursday)		wikipedia
Death of Joseph Turner	19th December 1851 (Friday)	discussion
Penzance Station opened	11th March 1852 (Thursday)	discussion	wikipedia
Swansea to Carmarthen doubled	8th February 1853 (Tuesday)	discussion	wikipedia broadgauge
Head on Collision, Rhode Island. First accident photographed	12th August 1853 (Friday)		wikipedia
First narrow gauge steam train in UK	23rd October 1853 (Sunday)	discussion	facebook festipedia
First (broad gauge) train ran complete line from Oxford via Worcester to Wolverhampton	13th April 1854 (Thursday)	discussion	wikipedia
Paddington Station Opened	29th May 1854 (Monday)
Boiler explosion, Gloucester	7th February 1855 (Wednesday)	discussion	firstgreatweste... railwaysarchive wikipedia
Opening of Yeovil Pen Mill - Weymouth line	20th January 1857 (Tuesday)	discussion	wikipedia
Devizes Station opened	1st July 1857 (Wednesday)
Wilton South station opened	2nd May 1859 (Monday)
Royal Albert Bridge opens	2nd May 1859 (Monday)
First use of water troughs	23rd June 1860 (Saturday)		wikipedia
Metropolitain line opened from Paddington	10th January 1863 (Saturday)	discussion	gov ltmuseum
New Passage Pier open to public	8th September 1863 (Tuesday)		bristol-rail
Truro (Newham) station bypassed	16th September 1863 (Wednesday)	discussion	free-online
Opening of Pneumatic Railway at Crystal Palace	27th July 1864 (Wednesday)	discussion	wikipedia
Birth of Colonel Holman Fred Stephens	31st October 1868 (Saturday)	discussion	northsomersetti...
Westinghouse Air Brake Company founded	28th September 1869 (Tuesday)		wikipedia
authoristion of East Cornwall Mineral Railway	25th May 1871 (Thursday)		saltash
~ Cook's European timetable first published	16th March 1873 (Sunday)	discussion	wikipedia
Barnstaple to Ilfracome line opened	20th July 1874 (Monday)
Kilmersdon Colliery opens	11th February 1875 (Thursday)	discussion	wikipedia theimportanceof... irsociety
Locomotive Manufacturers Association (now Rail Industry Association) set up	4th June 1875 (Friday)		riagb
First through trains Exeter to Plymouth via Okehampton and Tavistock	17th May 1876 (Wednesday)	discussion
Longest Swing Bridge opens	18th July 1876 (Tuesday)		theguardian
Tintern Station opened	1st November 1876 (Wednesday)
Treganna Castle Hotel opens	5th August 1878 (Monday)		wikipedia
Tay Bridge disaster	28th December 1879 (Sunday)	discussion	wikipedia
Formation of ASLEF	7th February 1880 (Saturday)	discussion	nationalarchives
Westinghouse Brake and Signal Company registered	7th November 1881 (Monday)		gracesguide
Railway Mission founded	14th November 1881 (Monday)	discussion	sciencemuseumgr...
Volks Electric Railway opens	4th August 1883 (Saturday)	discussion	volkselectricra...
District line trains cease to serve Slough	30th September 1885 (Wednesday)	discussion	londonist
Southern Railway gauge switch	31st May 1886 (Monday)	discussion	youtube southern
First passenger train through Severn Tunnel	1st December 1886 (Wednesday)	discussion	wikipedia
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
Opening of the Queen Adelaide loop, Ely	1st October 1890 (Wednesday)		wikipedia
Cholsey and Moulsford opened and Moulsford (Wallingford Road) closed	29th February 1892 (Monday)	discussion
Last broad gauge train from London to Penzance	20th May 1892 (Friday)	discussion	nrmfriends orpheusweb
Pneumatic tyre attachment patented, Syracuse, NY	20th December 1892 (Tuesday)	discussion	onlinebicyclemu... patents
Opening of Clifton Rocks Railway	11th March 1893 (Saturday)	discussion	cliftonrocksrai...
Glasgow Underground opens	14th December 1896 (Monday)	discussion	wikipedia
Railway Clerks Union (now TSSA) formed	4th April 1897 (Sunday)		documentcloud tssa
Oscar Wilde is released from Reading Jail	19th May 1897 (Wednesday)
London becomes first city to host licensed taxi cabs	6th December 1897 (Monday)		whatshotlondon
Lynton and Barnstaple opened	11th May 1898 (Wednesday)	discussion
First through passenger train leaves St Johns for Port-aux-Basques	29th June 1898 (Wednesday)
Waterloo and City Line opened	8th August 1898 (Monday)
Theft of Chocolate at Melksham Station	4th December 1898 (Sunday)	discussion	wellho
~ Great Horseless Carriage Company - maker of electric taxis - closes down	13th August 1899 (Sunday)		sciencemuseumgr... taxis-in-chester
Reading Station redevelopment nears competion	25th November 1899 (Saturday)	discussion
< 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
Opening West Hill Cliff Lift, Hastings	10th August 1902 (Sunday)		visit1066country
Vale of Rheidol Railway opens for passenger traffic	22nd December 1902 (Monday)	discussion
Badminton cutoff opens to passengers	1st July 1903 (Wednesday)		wikipedia
Wick and Lybster Railway opened	1st July 1903 (Wednesday)
Steam motors enter regular service with GWR	12th October 1903 (Monday)	discussion	wikipedia
City of Truro, 102 mph	9th May 1904 (Monday)	discussion	railhistory wikipedia
First run - Cornish Riviera Express	1st July 1904 (Friday)		wikipedia
Swindon Tramway opened	22nd September 1904 (Thursday)	discussion	wikipedia
Newquay to Chacewater line opens	4th February 1905 (Saturday)	discussion
Opening of Defiance Halt	1st March 1905 (Wednesday)	discussion	saltash
Lacock Halt opened	16th October 1905 (Monday)	discussion	wellho wshc
Curry Rivel to Castle Cary opened to freight	12th February 1906 (Monday)	discussion	wikipedia
Fishguard Harbour station opened	30th August 1906 (Thursday)
Newport Transporter Bridge opened	12th September 1906 (Wednesday)		newport
Ashton Avenue Bridge opened	3rd October 1906 (Wednesday)		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
Last commercial boat - Thames and Severn summit	11th May 1911 (Thursday)	discussion	cotswoldcanals
Strikers extinuish fire on locomotive - Llanelli	18th August 1911 (Friday)		historypoints
First Escalator switched on, Earls Court	4th October 1911 (Wednesday)	discussion	funtrivia
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
Closure of Wantage Tramway	1st August 1925 (Saturday)
Appeal for funds for Gladstone	11th February 1927 (Friday)	discussion	stephensonloco
Post Office Underground opens to Paddington	5th December 1927 (Monday)	discussion	postalmuseum
Inauguaral non stop "Flying Scotsman" London to Edinburgh	1st May 1928 (Tuesday)
Train of feathers delivered to Melksham	9th May 1928 (Wednesday)	discussion	wiltshiretimes
Swindon Tramway closed	11th July 1929 (Thursday)	discussion	wikipedia swindonadvertiser
Ffriog Cutting accident - lead to avalache shelter	6th March 1933 (Monday)	discussion	historypoints ambaile
Bournemouth Trolley Bus opened	13th May 1933 (Saturday)		yellowbuses
Picadilly line open to Cockfosters	31st July 1933 (Monday)
First (press trip) run of a GWR diesel railcar	1st December 1933 (Friday)	discussion	wikipedia
"Murder on the Orient Express" published	1st January 1934 (Monday)		wikipedia
Lynton and Barnstaple closed	29th September 1935 (Sunday)	discussion
British Airways and Southern Railway launched scheduled flights from Gatwick to the IOW	25th May 1936 (Monday)
Cyclist killed by lorry	30th November 1936 (Monday)	discussion	statista
Dilton Marsh Halt opened	1st June 1937 (Tuesday)	discussion
Foundation, Beatties of London	19th April 1938 (Tuesday)	discussion	wikipedia
Calstock Wagon Hoist advertised for scrap	8th September 1938 (Thursday)		saltash
Kindertransport - first arrival in London	2nd December 1938 (Friday)	discussion	facebook org
Reading (Southern) electrified	1st January 1939 (Sunday)	discussion	wikipedia
First Jet Aircraft flight	27th August 1939 (Sunday)
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
~ First Crossrail suggestion	6th June 1941 (Friday)		wikipedia
1st transport of French Jews to Nazi Germany	27th February 1942 (Friday)	discussion	onthisday encyclopedia
Bangkok to Rangoon railway links up	17th October 1943 (Sunday)		wikipedia
Wick and Lybster Railway closed	3rd April 1944 (Monday)	discussion	wikipedia
First "Thomas the Tank Engine" book published	12th May 1945 (Saturday)	discussion	wikipedia
Launch of PS Waverley	2nd October 1946 (Wednesday)		nationalhistori...
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
Last passenger train services to Nailsworth	16th June 1947 (Monday)
Foundation of British Railways - nationalisation	1st January 1948 (Thursday)	discussion	wikipedia
LMS Coronation Class 46236 City of Bradford on GWR	19th May 1948 (Wednesday)	discussion	wikipedia
Empire Wndrush arrives at Tilbury	22nd June 1948 (Tuesday)		historytoday
Final run - Drumm Battery Train	12th July 1949 (Tuesday)	discussion	wikipedia facebook ucd irishcentral youtube
Leader - Bullied expresses confidence	8th March 1950 (Wednesday)		sremg
Canoe River Train Crash	21st November 1950 (Tuesday)	discussion	therockymountai...
Festival of Britain opens to public	4th May 1951 (Friday)		historic-uk
first Tal-y-llyn trains run under preservation	14th May 1951 (Monday)	discussion	talyllyn
Foundation of ancestor organsiation to Railfuture	16th November 1951 (Friday)	discussion	railfuture
Withdrawal of passenger services on the Faringdon Branch	31st December 1951 (Monday)	discussion	faringdon
Withdrawal of passenger services Swindon to Highworth	2nd March 1952 (Sunday)	discussion	wikipedia
Kingsway Tram Tunnel closed	5th July 1952 (Saturday)		underground-his...
Harrow and Wealdstone Rail Crash	8th October 1952 (Wednesday)	discussion	wikipedia
Closure of Abbotsbury branch	28th November 1952 (Friday)	discussion	dorsetecho
"Princess Victoria" capsized off Stanraer, 133 die	31st January 1953 (Saturday)	discussion	historic-uk belfasttelegraph wikipedia bbc
Closures on Isle of Wight	20th September 1953 (Sunday)	discussion	islandecho
Portishead (New) station opened	4th January 1954 (Monday)	discussion	portisheadrailw...
Lochluichart new station opens	3rd May 1954 (Monday)	discussion	wikipedia
Closure - Alton to Fareham	5th February 1955 (Saturday)	discussion
End of Third class - renamed to second!	3rd June 1956 (Sunday)	discussion	turniprail
Liverpool Overhead Railway closed	30th December 1956 (Sunday)	discussion	wikipedia
Closure of Upwey Wishing Well Halt	7th January 1957 (Monday)	discussion	opcdorset dorsetecho
First diesel express from Paddington	17th February 1958 (Monday)	discussion	bbc
Battery Multiple Unit enters public service	21st April 1958 (Monday)	discussion	railcar
Christow station closed to passengers	9th June 1958 (Monday)	discussion
First parking meter, Mayfair	10th June 1958 (Tuesday)		britishparking
Transport Users' Consultative Committee members revealed	18th June 1958 (Wednesday)	discussion	parliament
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
Watford Gap and Newport Pagnell, opened with temporary facilities	2nd November 1959 (Monday)		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
Patent filed for axle counter	3rd June 1960 (Friday)		wikipedia
First Bluebell Railway train	7th August 1960 (Sunday)	discussion
Final run of slip coach	9th September 1960 (Friday)		facebook
Severn Bridge Disaster	25th October 1960 (Tuesday)		severntales
Head on collision Between Pontrhydyfen and Cwmavon	24th November 1960 (Thursday)	discussion	railwaysarchive
First order placed for Brush 47 locomotives	28th February 1961 (Tuesday)	discussion	wikipedia worldwiderails
Demolition of Doric Arch, Euston	6th November 1961 (Monday)		heritagecalling
Western Pathfinder (D1001) build date	12th February 1962 (Monday)	discussion	westernlocomoti... wikipedia
Great Western Preservation Society launched	4th June 1962 (Monday)
GWR Museum opened on Farringdon Road, Swindon	22nd June 1962 (Friday)
Final run of "Pines" over Somerset and Dorset	8th September 1962 (Saturday)
Launch of Peel 50 and Moulton bicycle	8th November 1962 (Thursday)		moultonbuzz britishpathe
Closure of Builth Road low level platforms	31st December 1962 (Monday)	discussion	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
Bristol Bus Boycott announced	29th April 1963 (Monday)		blackhistorymonth
Great Train Robbery	8th August 1963 (Thursday)	discussion	wikipedia
Helicopter service from Penzance to Scilly Isles starts	1st May 1964 (Friday)
BR rationalises and largely kills wet fish traffic	8th May 1964 (Friday)	discussion	bloodandcustard
~ Railway Technical Centre, Derby, opens	16th May 1964 (Saturday)		wikipedia
Last Surbiton to Okehampton Car Carrier	12th September 1964 (Saturday)		bloodandcustard
Closure of line from Pilning to Severn Beach to passenger services	23rd November 1964 (Monday)	discussion	com
Last year that trains ran on Christmas Day	25th December 1964 (Friday)	discussion	theguardian ianvisits
Closure Ruabon to Morfa Mawddach	18th January 1965 (Monday)	discussion	wikipedia
Closure - Cononley station	22nd March 1965 (Monday)	discussion	wikipedia
Hovertravel service Portsmouth to Ryde starts	25th July 1965 (Sunday)		wikipedia
Black Dog Halt closed	20th September 1965 (Monday)		wikipedia
first revenue earning container train	15th November 1965 (Monday)	discussion	wikipedia railmagazine
Full electric passenger services start, West Coast Main Line to Manchester and Liverpool	3rd January 1966 (Monday)	discussion	wikipedia
Cheltenham (St James) station closes	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
Last car carrying train from Pilning	10th June 1966 (Friday)
Kensington Olympia to Perth Motorail goes double deck	22nd June 1966 (Wednesday)		wikipedia
Harrier Jump Jet makes first flight	31st August 1966 (Wednesday)
The last shunting horse to work on British Rail, "Charlie" at Newmarket, is retired.	21st February 1967 (Tuesday)	discussion	pinterest booksandmud
Marlow Station relocated	10th July 1967 (Monday)	discussion	nrmfriends
Bristol Queen breaks a paddle wheel	26th August 1967 (Saturday)	discussion	paddlesteamers
West Wiltshire Model Railway Circle founded	12th September 1967 (Tuesday)		westwiltsmrc
Hixon Railway accident	6th January 1968 (Saturday)	discussion	railwaysarchive forum wikipedia
Trains between Exeter and Plymouth via Okehampton withdrawn	6th May 1968 (Monday)
Last British Rail operated steam train on standard gauge	11th August 1968 (Sunday)
First passenger train - South Devon Railway	5th April 1969 (Saturday)		wikipedia
Closure of Longmoor Military Railway	31st October 1969 (Friday)		wikipedia
Merehead Rail Terminal opened	19th August 1970 (Wednesday)		wikipedia
Opening of Seaton Tranway	28th August 1970 (Friday)	discussion	wikipedia
Barnstaple to Ilfracome line closed	5th October 1970 (Monday)
Railway Children, film	21st December 1970 (Monday)	discussion	wikipedia
Foundation meeting, heritage railway to Minehead	5th February 1971 (Friday)	discussion	mineheadraillin... wikipedia
Amtrak founded	1st May 1971 (Saturday)		amtrak
~ Withdrawal from public use of last camping coach	7th September 1971 (Tuesday)	discussion	wikipedia
Last run of Double Decker train	1st October 1971 (Friday)	discussion	bloodandcustard
Teeside Airport station opens	3rd October 1971 (Sunday)	discussion
Last mail exchange at speed by a travelling post office	4th October 1971 (Monday)	discussion	postalmuseum
Final section of M4 motorway opened	22nd December 1971 (Wednesday)		hungerfordvirtu...
Civil Aviation Authority established	1st March 1972 (Wednesday)	discussion	wikipedia wickersworld
Britain's last trolley bus system (Bradford) closes	26th March 1972 (Sunday)	discussion
Brighton Belle withdrawn	30th April 1972 (Sunday)	discussion	brightonbelle
Bristol Parkway station opens	1st May 1972 (Monday)
Eltham Well Hall rail crash	11th June 1972 (Sunday)
Patent award for Janney (Buckeye) coupling	29th April 1973 (Sunday)		wikipedia wikipedia
Blue Pullman farewell tour	5th May 1973 (Saturday)		railcar
Saltash Signal Box closes	2nd July 1973 (Monday)		saltash
~ Opening of Centre for Applied Technology	11th November 1973 (Sunday)		wikipedia
First run of Clansman	6th May 1974 (Monday)		whitropesiding
Moorgate Tube disaster	28th February 1975 (Friday)	discussion	london-fire railmagazine
National Senior Railcard introduced	1st April 1975 (Tuesday)		wikipedia
Beer Heights light railway opens	14th July 1975 (Monday)		wikipedia
HST - first public service	4th October 1976 (Monday)	discussion	news
"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
Chippenham Station Building "listed"	22nd June 1978 (Thursday)		historicengland
Fire in a sleeper train at Taunton leaves 12 dead	6th July 1978 (Thursday)
Last milk train on SR - from Torrington	12th October 1978 (Thursday)	discussion	sremg
Winter of discontent - 24 hour rail strike	16th January 1979 (Tuesday)	discussion	libcom wikipedia
First meeting, Guild of Railway Artists	20th October 1979 (Saturday)	discussion	artbiogs railart
Major reorganisation of buses in the Trowbridge area	4th November 1979 (Sunday)		warminstervbrd
First passenger train (heritage) Alderney	5th March 1980 (Wednesday)	discussion	alderneyrailway
Seaton Tramway extension Colyton to Colyford	8th March 1980 (Saturday)	discussion	wikipedia
Last run of "Night Ferry"	31st October 1980 (Friday)	discussion	wikipedia
Transport Act 1962 (Amendment) Act 1981 ("Speller")	2nd July 1981 (Thursday)		railwaysarchive
Loss of the Penlee Lifeboat and Union Star	19th December 1981 (Saturday)	discussion
XPT passenger trains enter service in Australia	8th April 1982 (Thursday)		wikipedia
Collector's Corner	18th December 1982 (Saturday)	discussion	flickr info
First steam locomotive to operate on Mull	22nd May 1983 (Sunday)	discussion	archive
Westbury reduced to 3 platforms	11th May 1984 (Friday)	discussion	signallingnotices
Crashworthness test of Nuclear Flask train	16th July 1984 (Monday)		wikipedia
Foundation for Railway Heritage Trust	23rd October 1984 (Tuesday)	discussion	railwayheritage...
Bhopal gas leak	3rd December 1984 (Monday)	discussion	theatlantic netflix
Summit Tunnel fire	28th December 1984 (Friday)	discussion	wikipedia forum
Famous Train Royal Mail stamps	22nd January 1985 (Tuesday)	discussion	collectgbstamps
Melksham Station reopened	13th May 1985 (Monday)	discussion
Class 151 in service	6th February 1986 (Thursday)	discussion	traintesting traintesting
Swindon Works closed	26th March 1986 (Wednesday)	discussion	steam-museum
New station - Tiverton Parkway	12th May 1986 (Monday)	discussion
New station - Winnersh Triangle	12th May 1986 (Monday)	discussion
Launch of Network SouthEast	10th June 1986 (Tuesday)
Bus deregulation	26th October 1986 (Sunday)		wikipedia
~ Tulyar arrives at Swanley New Barn Railway	16th April 1987 (Thursday)	discussion	steamdriver weebly
Station opens, Lake (IOW)	11th May 1987 (Monday)	discussion
Newquay Signal Box closed	5th October 1987 (Monday)
Diesel train speed record - class 43 / HST, East Coast Main Line, 148 mph	1st November 1987 (Sunday)		wikipedia
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
Opening of Martins Heron station	3rd October 1988 (Monday)
Clapham Junction collision kills 35	12th December 1988 (Monday)	discussion	bbc
1S76 - Brighon and Eastbourne to Glasgow	15th May 1989 (Monday)	discussion	1s76
Holborn Viaduct station closes	29th January 1990 (Monday)	discussion	disused-stations
Cannon Street buffer stop collision	8th January 1991 (Tuesday)	discussion	wikipedia
ASR class enter service in Thailand	11th June 1991 (Tuesday)		wikipedia
Harry Potter meets Ronald Weasley and Hermione Grainger on the Hogwards Express	1st September 1991 (Sunday)	discussion	harrypotter
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
Railways Act receives royal assent	5th November 1993 (Friday)	discussion	wikipedia org
Long Island Railroad shooting	7th December 1993 (Tuesday)		wikipedia
Channel Tunnel opened	6th May 1994 (Friday)
First Eurostar service leaves Waterloo (International)	14th November 1994 (Monday)	discussion	wikipedia
Amtrak New York to Tampa ends	22nd January 1995 (Sunday)
Last run of 4EPB	31st March 1995 (Friday)		youtube youtube
last train ferry journey Dover to Dunkerque	22nd December 1995 (Friday)	discussion	wikipedia
Great Western Intercity franchise commences	4th February 1996 (Sunday)	discussion	wikipedia wikipedia
South West Trains franchise starts	4th February 1996 (Sunday)	discussion	stagecoachgroup
GNER franchise (Sea Containers) starts on ECML	28th April 1996 (Sunday)		wikipedia
~ Nightstar train testing starts	22nd August 1996 (Thursday)	discussion	wikipedia
last cross Channel ferry from Southampton	27th October 1996 (Sunday)		wikipedia
Inaugural meeting of Transport Planning Society	2nd July 1997 (Wednesday)		org
Southall Rail Crash	19th September 1997 (Friday)	discussion	wikipedia
Heathrow Junction Station opens and receives first train	19th January 1998 (Monday)	discussion	wikipedia ianvisits
Last special train to Weymouth Quay	2nd May 1999 (Sunday)		wikipedia
Ladbroke Grove collision	5th October 1999 (Tuesday)	discussion	wikipedia
Paddington Bear statue unveiled	24th February 2000 (Thursday)	discussion	wikipedia
FGW make all trains no smoking	10th March 2000 (Friday)	discussion	forum
Final edition, Great Britain Bus Timetable	4th November 2000 (Saturday)
~ Cass Scenic Railword and WVAGM	26th July 2001 (Thursday)	discussion	hawkinsrails
DfT - "a good day to bury bad news"	11th September 2001 (Tuesday)	discussion	civilservant
Opening of Cairngorm funicular	24th December 2001 (Monday)
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
Falkirk Wheel opens	24th May 2002 (Friday)
Shuttle Columbia breaks up on re-entry	1st February 2003 (Saturday)	discussion	wikipedia
Introduction of London congestion charge	17th February 2003 (Monday)	discussion	wikipedia
Oyster cards introduced	30th June 2003 (Monday)
What now for Britain's Railways?	2nd October 2003 (Thursday)		news
A report from Eritrea	18th October 2003 (Saturday)		asmera eritrea
Concorde retires	24th October 2003 (Friday)		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
Office of Rail Regulator established	5th July 2004 (Monday)
First "Well House" transport blog	7th August 2004 (Saturday)		wellho
National Rail Museum, Shildon, opened	22nd October 2004 (Friday)		wikipedia
DfT / SRA future service level discussion	6th May 2005 (Friday)		savethetrain
savethetrain.org.uk domain registered	11th August 2005 (Thursday)
Formation meeting - Save The Train	20th September 2005 (Tuesday)	discussion	wellho
Rail Accident Investigation Branch becomes operational	17th October 2005 (Monday)		wikipedia
Last day of London Routemaster buses in ordinary service	9th December 2005 (Friday)	discussion	wikipedia
Final day of passenger service, Maindee curve	10th December 2005 (Saturday)	discussion	railchronology
Announcement - First have won GW franchise	13th December 2005 (Tuesday)	discussion	wikipedia
Wessex Trains, Thames Trains and Great Western combined into single franchise	1st April 2006 (Saturday)
Final commuter trains from Swindon to Melksham	9th September 2006 (Saturday)		wellho
Devon and Cornwall railcards combined	10th September 2006 (Sunday)		wikipedia
Bristol Industrial Museum closes	29th October 2006 (Sunday)		bristolindustri...
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
Transport 2000 renames as Better Transport	1st September 2007 (Saturday)		wikipedia
Release in EU of Rail Simultor game	12th October 2007 (Friday)		wikipedia
Final Eurostar service leaves Waterloo (International)	13th November 2007 (Tuesday)	discussion
National Expreess East Coast franchise starts	9th December 2007 (Sunday)	discussion	wikipedia
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
Tom Harris announces £5000 per CRP	15th May 2008 (Thursday)		railwayeye
National Audit Office warns of higher fare and overcrowding	15th October 2008 (Wednesday)	discussion
Good use for an Adelante	21st October 2008 (Tuesday)	discussion
Caroline designated for preservation	12th December 2008 (Friday)	discussion	preservedthumpers
A quiet day in previous years	12th January 2009 (Monday)	discussion
First narrow gauge train over Croesor crossing	12th March 2009 (Thursday)	discussion	welshhighlandhe...
Bath Bus Station opened	1st January 1970 (Thursday)	discussion	wikipedia
180112 at KX on the 16:05 to Hull	14th August 2009 (Friday)		traintesting traintesting
First Imberbus	5th September 2009 (Saturday)	discussion	passengertransp... imberbus
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
Last public service Waterford to Rosslare	18th September 2010 (Saturday)	discussion	wexfordtoday
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
First tweet from GWR/FGW	6th May 2011 (Friday)		twitter
Trying to take his horse on the train	18th May 2011 (Wednesday)	discussion	theguardian metro sciencemuseumgr...
Museum of Bristol opens in M Shed	17th June 2011 (Friday)		wikipedia
TransWilts to Weymouth - summer trips revived	3rd July 2011 (Sunday)		forum
Last Commercial flight from Plymouth Airport	28th July 2011 (Thursday)
Cambridge Guided Busway begins operation	11th August 2011 (Thursday)
Last boat train to Stranraer	19th November 2011 (Saturday)	discussion
TransPennine Electrification Announced	29th November 2011 (Tuesday)	discussion	facebook
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)
Uber Launches in London	2nd July 2012 (Monday)		wikipedia d1nyezh1ys8wfo
First Bus announces North Devon pullout	23rd July 2012 (Monday)		cbwmagazine
Virgin pulls out of further franchise bids	15th August 2012 (Wednesday)
Railmotor trips to Looe	18th November 2012 (Sunday)	discussion	saltash
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
Defining the InterCity brand	5th August 2013 (Monday)		europebyrail
BRB Residuary Body abolished	30th September 2013 (Monday)	discussion	gov
FGW publishes their passenger charter	14th October 2013 (Monday)	discussion
Inaugural run - Spirit of Queensland	28th October 2013 (Monday)		wikipedia
Transport Analysis Guidance published by DfT	29th October 2013 (Tuesday)		gov
Restoration of useable service through Melksham	8th December 2013 (Sunday)	discussion	wellho
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...
First British built electric buses on London's Roads	30th July 2014 (Wednesday)		gov
Line from Swindon to Kemble redouble completed	25th August 2014 (Monday)	discussion	bbc
Final DFDS Ferry, Harwich to Esbjerg	28th September 2014 (Sunday)	discussion	harwichesbjerg
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
Dismaland opens in Weston	21st August 2015 (Friday)		wikipedia
First Great Western rebrands Great Western Railway	15th September 2015 (Tuesday)	discussion
~ Rail Real Ale Trail	10th October 2015 (Saturday)		beerhouses
Incline lift opens at Greenford	12th November 2015 (Thursday)		fourway
Closure of UK's last deep coal mine	18th December 2015 (Friday)
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
DOO strikes start on Southern	26th April 2016 (Tuesday)	discussion	wikipedia
Chris Grayling becomes Minister of State at the Department for Transport	14th July 2016 (Thursday)		wikipedia
Night Tube services commence	19th August 2016 (Friday)		wikipedia railfaneurope
TransWilts is designated, and marketing award for Weymouth Wizard	29th September 2016 (Thursday)	discussion	forum
Pilning Station Footbridge removed	5th November 2016 (Saturday)	discussion	fosbr
Platform 0 opened at Doncaster	12th December 2016 (Monday)	discussion	doncasterfreepr...
Defibrillators discussion pack published by Network Rail	10th January 2017 (Tuesday)	discussion	networkrail theargus
Know your stations quiz	19th February 2017 (Sunday)	discussion
First WECA Mayor elected	4th May 2017 (Thursday)		thebritishacademy
Day 1, All The Stations	7th May 2017 (Sunday)	discussion	youtube
Proposal to close Breich station	21st June 2017 (Wednesday)	discussion
Final day, All The Stations	13th September 2017 (Wednesday)		youtube
first class 800 into passenger service with GWR	16th October 2017 (Monday)		wikipedia facebook
~ 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
~ Just one working lower quadrant distant signal left	3rd May 2018 (Thursday)	discussion	railwayworld
GWR Community Rail conference at Swindon	15th June 2018 (Friday)	discussion	forum
Network Rail - first survey by drone	3rd August 2018 (Friday)		railtech
End date for Rail Development Group "Easier Fares" consultation	10th September 2018 (Monday)		forum
Coffee Shop Facebook page created	26th October 2018 (Friday)	discussion	facebook
Old Oak Common depot closes	8th December 2018 (Saturday)		railmagazine
Race across the world	3rd March 2019 (Sunday)	discussion	wikipedia
Ferryhill turntable back in use	14th March 2019 (Thursday)	discussion	frht
Fastest modern run - Bristol Temple Meads to Paddington, 72 minutes	24th September 2019 (Tuesday)
TfL Rail services commence to Reading	15th December 2019 (Sunday)
~ Every HST Livery?	26th December 2019 (Thursday)		transportdesigned
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
~ Traction decarbonisation strategy published	21st September 2020 (Monday)		networkrail
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
Publication of Great British Railways - The Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail	20th May 2021 (Thursday)	discussion
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	24th May 2021 (Monday)
Final passenger service of a Pacer	29th May 2021 (Saturday)	discussion	wales
Flexi Ticket Launch	28th June 2021 (Monday)		gov
Class 153 cycle carriages come to West Highland Line	19th July 2021 (Monday)		wikipedia
First electric-only train reaches Cardiff	29th July 2021 (Thursday)
Recycled Plastic Sleepers in use	31st July 2021 (Saturday)		networkrailmedi...
Open access operator Lumo starts - London to Edinburgh	25th October 2021 (Monday)		lumo
Isle of Wight line reopens with class 484 trains	1st November 2021 (Monday)		wikipedia
Hitachi and Eversholt Rail develop battery for a GWR intercity battery hybrid train trial	11th November 2021 (Thursday)		eversholtrail
Restoration of service to Okehampton	20th November 2021 (Saturday)	discussion
Final day of through SWR services London (Waterloo) to Bristol Temple Meads	10th December 2021 (Friday)	discussion
Midwinter Lull?	26th February 2022 (Saturday)	discussion
Post from Wuppertal	17th November 2022 (Thursday)	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.