Way we were

100 years ago

Mr G H Stuart, the Labour Parliamentary candidate for York, read to the members of the York Chamber of Commerce a paper on Railway Nationalism. He said he proposed to try and show that the nationalisation of our railways was possible, practicable, and profitable, and should be carried out at the earliest possible opportunity. The subject was not new; indeed, the law specifically provided for the taking over of the railways by the State, for, in 1844, an Act was passed providing for their compulsory acquisition after twenty-one years, at the discretion of Parliament. If there was any reasonable hope of a real improvement under the railway companies their advocates would undoubtedly have a case, but it was possible, he thought, to show that the present ownership system was at the root of all the trouble, and only by amalgamation and a State amalgamation could a cure be wrought.

50 years ago

The development of diesel services in the North-East Region of British Railways was the subject of a talk to the Federation of Railway Lecture and Debating Societies at the Railway Institute. It was reported that drastic economies were being carried out. Services worked by outmoded ponderous coaching stock and heavy engines were highly expensive. In 1951 an all-line inquiry was started into the possibilities of introducing diesel rail units into this country, and it was decided to go ahead with multiple-unit operation for certain secondary services. The diesel service had the advantage of speedier and more frequent runs, and allowed running for long periods without immediate breaks for servicing. They could be operated without a second man in the cab, saved in fuel consumption when standing and had a lower cost per mile when running. In addition, diesel cars were attractive travelling units to the public, with up-to-date coaches offering clean and pleasant travel with good observation.

25 years ago

Conductors on East Yorkshire buses would be phased out in the New Year. The move was expected to save about £40,000 a year. One-man operation of buses was introduced a few years before and now the company had only about 20 conductors compared with about 400 in the Sixties. By February East Yorkshire would be among the few subsidiaries of the National Bus Company with a full one-man operation service. Mr Peter Shipp, traffic manager, said: "We are sorry to see them go. Conductors have been part of the company since it started in 1926." He added: "Finances have not been good this year and that has accelerated the move towards 100 per cent one-man operation."

Updated: 15:33 Wednesday, November 23, 2005