1961-2021 60th Anniversary Kent Coast Electrification
Before the Second World War, London's electric railways were busy and popular - including the Underground and electric trams. Extensions were eagerly welcomed, until the outreak of World Wa II abruptly stopped any more railway improvements - leaving6 the rural parts of Kent and the Souh East out towards the coast still back in the age of steam trains.
After the war, the railways were nationalised (run by the government rather than privately-owned companies), and the new British Railways decided to pick up where the old Southern Railway had left off.
- by replacing the rest of the old-fashioned steam engines. In other parts of the country, this meant using disel engines, but in Kent it was easier to continue with electrification. - using the same third rail system as the old Soutern Railway had used,
- by replacing the rest of the old-fashioned steam engines. In other parts of the country, this meant using disel engines, but in Kent it was easier to continue with electrification. - using the same third rail system as the old Soutern Railway had used,