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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 6, Issue 5 (November 2, 1931)

Prosperous Times Ahead

Prosperous Times Ahead.

Distinct signs of trade revival in Britain foreshadow the return of more prosperous days for the railways. During the past month page 46 or two, there has been convincing evidence of the country's emergence from the trough of industrial depression; optimism is the order of the day throughout the Home business world; and the railways, in common with other leading industries, now feel that brighter times undoubtedly lie ahead.

With increasing traffic the Home railways will feel justified in putting in hand many improvement works that have of necessity had to be pigeon-holed during the period of bad trade. Not the least important of these improvements are those associated with main-line electrification. During the past
For Main Line Passenger Haulage. A new type of 2-6-0 express locomotive on the Southern Railway of England.

For Main Line Passenger Haulage.
A new type of 2-6-0 express locomotive on the Southern Railway of England.

few years there has been steadily proceeding in Britain the building up of a comprehensive chain of interlinked electric power stations for the manufacture of current for industrial and railway use. This plan for bulk production of electric power has now reached the stage where practically unlimited supplies are available, and there is today no necessity for any Home railway to give thought as to how cheap power may be obtained for electrical operation. Big scale electrifications may shortly be put in hand, among these works being the conversion of the steam-operated London suburban tracks of the London, Midland and Scottish and London and North Eastern lines, and the west-going main-line of the Great Western Railway between Paddington Station, London, and Reading. Another stretch of steam-worked track which may shortly be converted to electric operation is the section of L.M. and S. main-line between Crewe and Carlisle, once the property of the historic London and North Western Railway, and now part of the Anglo-Scottish trunk route between Euston Station, London, and Glasgow.