British Railway Passenger Network Map 1977

[Branch line]

Leamington spa to Nuneaton via Coventry on 1972 map ,then Coventry Nuneaton on 1982 map are the missing routes also.

 

[Shimbleshanks]

The BR corporate image upgrade seemed to swing into action in 1965 (including double arrow logo and name truncation to British Rail).

From 1965 the format of the passenger timetables (both the books themselves and the layout of individual timetables) seemed to change from the fairly archaic styles before then to a cleaner, more modern and definitely easier-to-read look.
I'd suspect the design of the national Passenger Network maps we're discussing came about as part of that Design Panel upgrade.

Up until the first BR All Lines Timetable published in May 1974, each region issued its own individual timetable book, and presumably each had its own tailored version of the network map.

On the LMR, between 1967 and 1973, the map had the whole country on side (similar to examples in Post #6).
On the reverse side was a map focusing on just the London Midland Region lines, plus enlargements of the London, Birmingham and Liverpool/Manchester areas.
Later years (e.g. 1973) were printed in familiar blue, red and black. Earlier years were printed with just black text and one other colour (e.g. red in 1967 & 1968, blue in 1970)

I wonder if the Southern Region ever bothered printing a map for their punters which showed the railway network "north of the river"?

Here's an extract from the 1970 Passenger Network map:
View attachment 77685

Interesting that of the half dozen closures on that map, pretty much all have survived as perservation schemes (or a summer holidaymakers' service in the case of Okehampton).

 

[daodao]

Over the Irish Sea:

1. Belfast to Antrim trains were routed via Lisburn in 1982, but have since reverted to the original NCC line, as in 1972.
2. The line from Rosslare to Waterford closed in 2012.

 

[mailbyrail]

Also note the ending of ferries from Kyle of Lochalsh except to Kyleakin.
Not sure if the ending of almost all the Clyde services is due to the inset map being added to the 1982 version, but I think they had mostly ended by then

 

[SeanG]

New Holland Pier appears on the 1972 map.
Intermediate stations on the Settle and Carlisle have reopened since

 

[randyrippley]

Clitheroe missing from both maps

 

[TheSel]

Very strangely, the 'chord' linking Hooton to Helsby (i.e. the line through Ellesmere Port) is shown much closer to Chester on the earlier map than on the later one. Was there a major earthquake during the intervening decade that split the land asunder?

 

[Hardcastle]

I notice Bridport appears to be on the 1972 map too.

 

[gg1]

Very strangely, the 'chord' linking Hooton to Helsby (i.e. the line through Ellesmere Port) is shown much closer to Chester on the earlier map than on the later one. Was there a major earthquake during the intervening decade that split the land asunder?

Possibly the same earthquake which moved Gunnislake and Heysham north a few miles.

 

[hexagon789]

Over the Irish Sea:

1. Belfast to Antrim trains were routed via Lisburn in 1982, but have since reverted to the original NCC line, as in 1972.
2. The line from Rosslare to Waterford closed in 2012.

And the routing of Dublin-Galway/Westport trains changed.

 

[Cowley]

Well everyone I’ve kept quiet tonight in case one of you guzumped me with my four pound bid , but I’ve just managed to get a 1967 version off eBay...
Sorry about the appalling quality of the photo but it’s taken from the listing, I’ll post a decent one when it arrives:

 

[S&CLER]

Well everyone I’ve kept quiet tonight in case one of you guzumped me with my four pound bid , but I’ve just managed to get a 1967 version off eBay...
Sorry about the appalling quality of the photo but it’s taken from the listing, I’ll post a decent one when it arrives:

View attachment 77710

I can't tell from the photo if Northampton-Market Harborough is shown or not, but I recall travelling over that section on an overnight train from Euston, using an LM regional rover, as a student in about 1969. This was the only passenger train to use the line by then, but as it didn't stop at either station (IIRC) no doubt it wasn't shown for that reason.

 

[hexagon789]

Well everyone I’ve kept quiet tonight in case one of you guzumped me with my four pound bid , but I’ve just managed to get a 1967 version off eBay...
Sorry about the appalling quality of the photo but it’s taken from the listing, I’ll post a decent one when it arrives:

View attachment 77710

I know the feeling, everytime I bid on eBay I fear getting gazumped but I came up with a strategy to obviate that that seems to work (so far at least).

Interesting map - I hadn't realised the Strathmore route was not only still open but seemingly still a main route given its in bold red. I presumed it went out with Buchanan Street station the previous year but not so it appears.

I notice that the Waverley Route has been downgraded now though given its in light colour. Quite the year of change 1967, you had the provision of many 100mph Inter-City expresses on the ER, LMR and WR amid a backdrop of continual decline of many secondary routes and branch lines which were otherwise still extant.

It's not really 'my' period, but still very interesting, thanks for posting that.

Maps-wise all I have from BR timetables is the Winter 1991/2 map. The only thing which I have dated earlier is a European rail atlas from the 1960s I forget which year.

 

[nlogax]

The 1972 map is fascinating. I'm surprised to see how many lines existed into the 1970s. This one was published before I was even born so it's interesting to go back and understand for how long certain other branches lasted. Didn't have a clue about the Bridport line.. guess I have a lot of route history to read up on.

 

[Llandudno]

I like the fact that on some of these old maps, key bus links are shown. I guess since bus deregulation in 1986 it is problematic to show these as any commercial routes can be withdrawn at any time.

If the map were to be published today, which key bus routes would you like to see included on the map, perhaps with through bus/rail tickets offered?

Now that would be revolutionary!

To start with most of the TrawsCymru network could be included...

 

[Revaulx]

I hadn't realised the Strathmore route was not only still open but seemingly still a main route given its in bold red. I presumed it went out with Buchanan Street station the previous year but not so it appears.

I can't see it. The thick red line is Stirling-Perth-Dundee, with thin red lines running north (Inverness) and south (Dunfirmline/Edinburgh) from Perth.

You can just about make out Newport on Tay though, and the GNofS coast line.

 

[Cowley]

I can't see it. The thick red line is Stirling-Perth-Dundee, with thin red lines running north (Inverness) and south (Dunfirmline/Edinburgh) from Perth.

You can just about make out Newport on Tay though, and the GNofS coast line.

Let’s hope they post it quickly. We need a better photo!

 

[hexagon789]

I can't see it. The thick red line is Stirling-Perth-Dundee, with thin red lines running north (Inverness) and south (Dunfirmline/Edinburgh) from Perth.

You can just about make out Newport on Tay though, and the GNofS coast line.

My mistake, I thought I saw it but it is indeed the Perth and Dundee

 

[hexagon789]

Let’s hope they post it quickly. We need a better photo!

Indeed! I think the blurriness made me think there was another line in there.

 

[Cowley]

Here you go everyone as promised.
This is the 1967 map:

 

[Cowley]

And the reverse side of it:



I’m looking for a time machine and a 1967 Southwest Rover on eBay at the moment...

 

[yorksrob]

Thanks for posting that excellent snapshot of the network in 1967.

It must have been designed just after the closure of the New Romney branch in that year.

I will stick my neck out and say that there isn't really anything on that map that should have been closed.

 

[randyrippley]

Isle of Man is interesting
It shows the Electric Railway, and the now-closed steam lines to Peel and Ramsey, but not the open line to Port Erin

 

[Cowley]

Isle of Man is interesting
It shows the Electric Railway, and the now-closed steam lines to Peel and Ramsey, but not the open line to Port Erin

I hadn’t even noticed that well spotted.

 

[yorksrob]

One thing I've not seen before - thick line Victoria- Maidstone East, thin line Maidstone East - Ashford. Strange, given that it was operated as a through route at that time (and to my knowledge has always been a secondary route).

 

[Revaulx]

Thanks for posting that excellent snapshot of the network in 1967.

Seconded.

I will stick my neck out and say that there isn't really anything on that map that should have been closed.

Also seconded. The GC remnant Nottingham-Rugby was pretty useless; if anything could be sacrificed I'd say that was the one.

Interesting that Tyldesley-Wigan is still showing as open to passengers. The Leigh loop didn't shut until 1969 (now that was a really idiotic closure); the stations between Tyldesley and Wigan closed years earlier. Were some Manchester-Scotland trains still being sent that way?

 

[yorksrob]

Seconded.

Also seconded. The GC remnant Nottingham-Rugby was pretty useless; if anything could be sacrificed I'd say that was the one.

Interesting that Tyldesley-Wigan is still showing as open to passengers. The Leigh loop didn't shut until 1969 (now that was a really idiotic closure); the stations between Tyldesley and Wigan closed years earlier. Were some Manchester-Scotland trains still being sent that way?

I agree about the Leigh loop.

I suppose the GC remnant served some intermediate towns such as Quorn etc.

 

[Revaulx]

I agree about the Leigh loop.

I suppose the GC remnant served some intermediate towns such as Quorn etc.

Quorn had shut in 1963.

Lutterworth, I suppose. The inconvenience of separate stations in Nottingham, Leicester and Rugby certainly wouldn't have helped.

 

[yorksrob]

Quorn had shut in 1963.

Lutterworth, I suppose. The inconvenience of separate stations in Nottingham, Leicester and Rugby certainly wouldn't have helped.

Indeed, although Nottingham Arkwright Street was only a stones throw from Midland, so not too bad from that respect. I've often thought it would have been better to keep it as a cross country route between Tuxford and Banbury.

 

[joncombe]

And the reverse side of it:

I’m looking for a time machine and a 1967 Southwest Rover on eBay at the moment...

Why isn't Poole to Weymouth shown on this enlargement?