What are the Big Four in railways?

The Big Four is a collective term used to describe the four main railway companies that operated the railways between 1923 and 1947, these are the LNER (London & North Eastern Railway), the LMS (London Midland and Scottish railway), SR (Southern Railway) and the GWR (Great Western Railway).

Before 1923 the railways had been made up of over 120 different railway companies. The competition was so great that many were loss-making, a situation that was only compounded by the Great War of 1914-1918. Eventually, in 1921 the government stepped in to avoid the collapse of the industry. Because the government had already taken control of the railways during the war years they could clearly see the benefits of a centrally run network. Many options were put forward and considered including nationalisation, but in the end, it was felt that the railways would achieve better results under private ownership and after much debate as to the degree of amalgamation required and consequently, numerous papers rejected, it was agreed that the railways should be grouped into just four main companies. The grouping (as it has become known) took effect on the 1st January 1923.

The railways remained under the operation of the Big Four until nationalisation in 1948 when most forms of transport in Britain were brought under government control.