Britain’s Heritage Railways
The 1960s saw the end of steam trains on British Rail. Today, preserved and narrow gauge railways make it possible to relive the past.
For the last forty years, young boys in Britain have lacked the ambition of their fathers and grandfathers. Premiership footballer, pop singer or movie star are common aspirations among ten-year-old boys today; but the strong desire of previous generations is lacking– to be a train driver!
For over a century, the railway was king. In the nineteenth century, small independent railway companies sprang up, linking major cities and serving smaller communities that lay on their route. Competition was fierce and services uncoordinated, gradually companies merged until by the end of World War II there were just four regional companies covering the whole country.
In 1948, the government nationalised the rail network and British Rail was born. The next 20 years saw unprecedented changes. Diesel and electric traction gradually replaced steam-hauled services and smaller branch lines closed on economic grounds. In the early 1960s, the Beeching Report recommended massive cuts to the network, and in 1968, British Rail’s last steam hauled service ran.
Stations were closed, tracks lifted and locomotives scrapped. Homes, offices and supermarkets were built on railway land. Motorways soon covered the countryside, car ownership increased and more goods were transported by road. Traditional industries, like coal and steel, declined depriving the railways of vital revenue. The railway was no longer king.
Enthusiasts soon had the idea of heritage railways. They formed independent companies and charitable trusts, overcoming numerous legal and financial hurdles. Eventually, an army of willing volunteers bought land, laid tracks, rebuilt stations; while lovingly restoring locomotives and rolling stock from a state of disrepair.
Slowly, routes reopened. Today, there are over two hundred lines each with a unique character. In Yorkshire alone, there are many alternatives providing vital tourist revenues to local economies. Enthusiasts operate lines under a mile long run each weekend, while professionally operated services daily serve rural communities
Narrow gauge railways also run steam hauled services. These are mainly long established independent services, which were outside the control of British Rail. Originally, the nine “Great Little Trains of Wales” carried slate from local quarries to the sea, while the fifteen inch gauge Romney Hythe and Dymchurch Railway in Kent was “the smallest railway in world” when it opened in 1927.
Special events like Victorian days or 1940s weekends recreate a bygone era, special dining trains restore some style and glamour while visits of Thomas the Tank Engine and Santa Claus attract the younger generation.
Some lines even offer the chance to be a train driver for a day – allowing middle-aged men to fulfil their boyhood dreams.
Read more: Britain’s Heritage Railways
Half-Off Tour of Costa Rica
Starting at 9 a.m. central this Wednesday, December 8, get half-off one of our most popular tours in Latin America – Costa Rica on a Shoestring. To book, just call 800.781.4040 or visit an STA Travel Store.
For just $325 per person (normally $649), you will spend eight glorious days exploring amazing Costa Rica with an experienced guide. Take in Cahuita National Park, hike the Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge and relax on the beautiful beaches on the Caribbean 
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Day 1: Arrive in San Jose
Check out the museums and the very popular National Theatre, or browse the local markets for an inexpensive souvenir.
Days 2-3: Tortuguero
Only accessible by boat or plane, this town has no roads. Try to catch a glimpse of the Jesus Lizard, which is well-known for its ability to run on water. Make sure to visit the local beaches to catch a glimpse of the nesting ground for a variety of sea turtles, including Green, Loggerhead, Hawksbill, and Leatherback.
Day 4: Cahuita
Check out the breathtaking Cahuita National Park – one of the least developed beaches in Costa Rica, but also one of the most beautiful.
Days 5-6: Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
Bike your way through Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge, which is home to one of two of Costa Rica’s coral reefs with more than 35 types of coral, 11 species of sponge and 34 species of mollusk.
Days 7-8: Return to and Depart San Jose
Travel through the mountains of Costa Rica by bus on your way back to San Jose.
To book this amazing trip, just call 800.781.4040 or visit an STA Travel Store.
Trip Details:
- Full Payment is Required at the Time of Booking
- Travel Must Be Completed by September 30, 2011
Source: Patrick Evans
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