GWR West Country electrification

THE last few words of Keith Fender’s article on climate change (January issue) on the affordability of electrification reminds me, as an ageing Cornishman, of the proposal in 1926 by the Great Western Railway to electrify every bit of their track mileage west of Taunton – even down to the china clay lines (north of St Austell) and a few odd bits of Southern territory. GWR fireboxes were designed for Welsh steam coal and had already been hauled some 125 miles from a mine near Maesteg before even reaching Taunton. It is approximately 30 miles on to Exeter (including the ascent to Whiteball); 20 miles to Newton Abbot, another 30 miles to Laira (including the ascents to Dainton and Rattery), whilst that for Penzance still had a further 80 miles to go. Somehow I do not think that this cessation of haulage of loco coal (and the paths thus freed) was taken into account when the GWR decided not to proceed with this project. Only board minutes will reveal all. Leonard Lean Milton Keynes