Railway Executive Committee facts for kids
The Railway Executive Committee (REC) was a special group set up by the British government. It was in charge of running Britain's railways during both World War I and World War II. It's important not to confuse it with the Railway Executive, which was a different group formed much later. After both wars, the way the railways were organized changed a lot.
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The REC in World War I
The Railway Executive Committee was first created in 1912. Its main job was to connect the War Office (which plans for war) with the many different British railway companies. This happened because of something called the Agadir Crisis in 1911. Britain realized it might need to help its friends, France and Russia, if war broke out against the Triple Alliance.
Railway companies already helped move thousands of soldiers during practice drills. But everyone knew that if a big European war happened, they would need much better planning. So, in 1911, the companies started preparing to move soldiers, horses, and equipment to ports like Southampton. The REC was there to make sure all this planning went smoothly. The detailed instructions for this huge plan were put into a document called the "War Book."
On August 4, 1914, the day Britain declared war and started getting ready, the REC took full control of all national railways. They used special powers from an old law called the Regulation of the Forces Act 1871. Alexander Kaye Butterworth was chosen to lead the committee. The REC managed the railways from 1914 until 1921. After that, a new law, the Railways Act 1921, led to the creation of the "Big Four British railway companies" in 1923. Herbert Ashcombe Walker also served as acting chairman in 1917.
The REC in World War II
Getting Ready for War
The REC was started up again on September 24, 1938. Its job was to run Britain's railways if another war began. The railways would then be controlled by the government through the REC, under the Ministry of Transport.
The main railway companies, known as the "Big Four," were part of this. They included the Great Western Railway (GWR), the London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS), the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER), and the Southern Railway (SR). The London Passenger Transport Board (LPTB), which ran London's public transport, was also involved. Important leaders from these companies, like Sir Ralph Wedgwood and Sir James Milne, were on the committee.
At first, the REC mostly gave advice and helped coordinate the railway companies' emergency plans. This included preparing for things like moving people away from cities (evacuation) and protecting against air raids.
The REC's offices were first in a building called Fielden House in London. Unlike the railway companies, which moved their main offices out of London, the REC stayed. They needed to be close to the government. The basement of Fielden House wasn't safe enough, so an old, unused subway station called Down Street tube station was turned into a secret, bomb-proof underground office for the REC.
This was done very secretly. New walls were built on the subway platforms at night when trains weren't running. The doors to the new headquarters had special "gas locks" to protect against gas attacks. Short, secret platforms were even added. This allowed REC members and important staff to stop a train and ride in the driver's cab to the next station. The new headquarters had offices, sleeping areas for staff, kitchens, and dining rooms.
When War Broke Out
The Minister of Transport, Euan Wallace, took control of the railways on September 1, 1939. This was just two days before Britain declared war on Germany. He used special powers from a law called the Emergency Powers (Defence) Act 1939.
Many railway companies were affected, including the Big Four, the LPTB, and several smaller lines like the Mersey Railway.
To save fuel and reduce the strain on the railways, the REC made some changes to passenger services starting September 11, 1939. They reduced the number of trains and made them go slower. Cheaper tickets were stopped, and you couldn't reserve seats or compartments anymore. Dining cars were removed, and there were fewer sleeping car services.
The REC controlled the railways from 1939 until 1948, when the railways were taken over by the government and became nationalized.
Public Information
Some of the funny drawings (cartoons) by Carl Giles were printed as posters for the World War II Railway Executive Committee. These posters helped share important messages with the public.
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