Great Northern Railway (Great Britain) facts for kids

The Great Northern Railway (GNR) was an important railway company in Great Britain. It was started in 1846. The GNR helped connect many parts of England, making travel and trade easier. Its main line ran from London to York, covering a long distance across the country.

Connecting Cities by Rail

The Great Northern Railway's main line was a very important route. It started at King's Cross station in London. From there, it went north through towns like Hitchin, Peterborough, and Grantham. Finally, it reached York, a major city in the north of England.

Other Important Routes

Besides its main line, the GNR also had other key routes. One was a loop line that started in Peterborough. This line went through Boston and Lincoln before rejoining the main line near Bawtry. The GNR also had branch lines that reached cities like Sheffield and Wakefield. These lines helped connect more towns and industries to the railway network.

Becoming Part of a Bigger Railway

The Great Northern Railway operated for many years. However, on 1 January 1923, it became part of a much larger railway company. This new company was called the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER). This change was part of a big reorganization of railways in Britain.

GNR's Legacy Today

Even though the Great Northern Railway no longer exists as a separate company, its main line is still very important today. It forms a major part of the modern East Coast Main Line. This means that trains still use many of the same tracks and routes that the GNR built over a hundred years ago.

Images for kids

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  The Bennerley Viaduct on the Awsworth Junction to Derby Branch in 2006

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  The former GNR works at Boston, Lincolnshire

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  Happy as a Sand-Boy, a summer specials poster to Skegness (1907)

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  GNR designed stock built under the LNER in 1924