Timeline Date Period

The County Donegal Railways Joint Committee in Ireland (3ft (914 mm) gauge) introduces the first diesel engined railcar to enter regular passenger service in the Republic of Ireland.

The German rail zeppelin (Schienenzeppelin), an experimental propeller driven railcar, sets up a new world railway speed record of 230 km/h on its way from Hamburg to Berlin which was not surpassed by any other train for 24 years.

Bournemouth Belle all Pullman service introduced. the train initially ran non-stop between Waterloo and Bournemouth Central station.

Sudbury Town station on London Underground Piccadilly line opens as rebuilt by Charles Holden, the first of his iconic modern designs for the network.

William Stanier appointed CME of the LMS succeeding Ernest Lemon.

“The “Cheltenham Flyer” with 5006 Treganna Castle (Driver Ruddock and Fireman Thorp) in charge, reaches record average speed of 81.6 mph over 77 miles between Swindon and Paddington.

Electric Multiple Units started to run from London Bridge station to Three Bridges in Sussex.

London Underground diagram designed by Harry Beck introduced to public.

First Stanier design LMS 4-6-2 (6200 Princess Royal) introduced.

6220 Coronation Scot reaches 114 mph between Whitmore and Crewe.

The Coronation Scot was a named express passenger train of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway inaugurated on this day for the coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth which ran until the start of the war in 1939.

Creation of SNCF (Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Français), bringing the principal railway companies of France together under government control.

“Mallard” Gresley A4…set new world record speed of 126 mph over 300 yards near Peterborough,(Driver Duddington, Fireman Bray from Doncaster) Over 5 miles maintained an average of 120 mph.