The Railway in War 1939–1945

As we commemorate the 80th anniversary of VE Day, in the bicentenary of the railways, it’s timely to reflect on the pivotal role the railways played in World War 2. Some of the key moments are in a timeline on the Railway 200 website (https://railway200.co.uk/timeline), including The Kindertransport in 1938–1939, an organised rescue of thousands of refugee children, mostly Jewish, escaping persecution. Women contributed immeasurably during the war, with around 93,000 being employed on the railway by the peak of 1944. They took on new roles such as guards, porters, track repairs, maintenance, workshop operations and cleaning. By the end of WW2 nearly 2,500 railway workers had lost their lives and another 2,400 were injured. Today, we pause to remember and be grateful for their ultimate sacrifice, and that of many others, in protecting freedom from tyranny. #VEDay #Railway200 Credits/sources The Railway Magazine ads - 1940 issue with thanks to The Railway Hub www.nwlh.org.uk/?=node/170 https://www.railwaymuseum.org.uk/obje... https://www.networkrail.co.uk/stories... https://www.med-dept.com/articles/the... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evacuat...