British Rail in the 1970s was a paradox on wheels — bold innovation running alongside baffling neglect. This was the decade of the High Speed Train blazing through a network still dotted with tired 1950s stock, peeling paint, and stations that looked half‑abandoned. Yet elsewhere, commuter lines thrived, platforms gleamed, and modernisation marched on — sometimes sensitively, sometimes with the demolition of beloved Victorian buildings in favour of prefab “progress”. And of course, the catering: a legend of its own, wrapped in foil and folklore.
In this talk, railway historian Dr Richard Marks takes you on a lively tour through a decade of extremes, eccentricities, and enduring legacies — the highs, lows, and lunchboxes of a remarkable era in Britain’s railway history.
Please note this talk is taking place at Reading’s Abbey Baptist Church, Abbey Square, Reading RG1 3BE. The venue has disabled access and a disabled toilet.
2.30 - 3.45pm
Tea/coffee and biscuits will be available (included in the price). Pre-booking is preferred, but you can pay on the door, if there are spaces available.
Image: Barry Lewis, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped)
About Berkshire Family History Society
This talk is organised by Berkshire Family History Society CIO, a registered charity number 1204390.
