Mapping the Current Network to the Big Four

[Mordac]

Does anyone know of any map online which shows which of the Big Four companies owned the lines in the current network?

 

[DarloRich]

Railmap online?

 

[Dr Hoo]

There are obviously a few bits of network that have been built since 1948 or transferred from other ownerships. There were also some joint lines.

 

[Mordac]

Railmap online?

That only has the original companies who built them as far as I can tell, which isn't much use unless you can remember where they all went at grouping.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Trackmaps has started an online version, currently just with Volume 1 (Scotland) - download £7.
Assuming this is an e-version of the printed book, each line has its previous ownership shown back to pre-grouping.

Book 1: Scotland & IoM ISBN 978-0-9549866-9-8 - TRACKmaps

Book 1 Scotland & IoM Edited by Martyn Brailsford

ebooks.trackmaps.co.uk

You can always buy the printed versions of the other volumes (about £15 each).
I can't remember if the single-volume Trackatlas includes the line history or not.
Otherwise, the printed Ian Allan Pre-grouping Atlas is a handy colour-coded guide to railway ownership before grouping into the Big 4 on 1 Jan 1923.

 

[DelW]

Otherwise, the printed Ian Allan Pre-grouping Atlas is a handy colour-coded guide to railway ownership before grouping into the Big 4 on 1 Jan 1923.

Still with print alternatives, Ian Allan also produced "British Railways Atlas 1947", subtitled "The Last Days of the Big Four".

My copy is a paperback, printed 2002, price £9.99, but the publishing history goes back to 1948.