On this Day - 28th March (1988)
Formal end to carrying coffins by BR


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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28th March
Formal end to carrying coffins by BR
1988
(Monday)
discussionwikipedia
Bideford, Westward Ho! and Appledore closed
1917
(Wednesday)
discussionwikipedia
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)
discussion 
Launch of TransWilts Community Rail Partnership
2010
(Friday)
discussionsavethetrain
Swindon Works closed
1986
(Wednesday)
discussionsteam-museum
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)
discussion 
Bluebell Railway services start to East Grinstead
2013
(Saturday)
discussion 

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)
discussionwikipedia

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

4th March
Addition of "Vexacious Interacter" clause to forum agreement
2013
(Monday)
discussion 

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 Moulsford opened and Moulsford (Wallingford Road) closed
1892
(Monday)
discussion 

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)
discussion 
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)
discussiongov
ltmuseum

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)
discussionwikipedia
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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