The Great Western was the only railway company in Britain to retain its corporate identity from its Acts of Incorporation in 1835 right through to the last day of 1947 when the government of the day compulsorily nationalised this great institution and the three other major railway companies to fporm one large state-controlled system. We are fortunate that due ot the efforts of enthusiastic GWR preservationists so many fine GWR engines and branch lines have not only been preserved but are back in operation or reopened in many parts of England to give us a permanent insight to what the Great Western was really like...