Railways & Recollections 1973

On the world stage, it was a case of more ‘downs’ than ‘ups’ in 1973. The US and North Vietnam signed a peace treaty; Britain joined the European Economic Community; and the US World Trade Centre opened; but, to counter these positives, Israel defeated the Arabs in the Yom Kippur War; General Pinochet overthrew the Allende government in Chile; and the Persian Gulf States doubled the price of oil! This latter was to have massive ramifications worldwide, not least in the UK, where petrol ration coupons were introduced in November and the three-day-week was announced in December, to curb the use of power. Elsewhere, the price of gold reached an all-time closing price on 5 June – at $126 per ounce on the London market; and the UK Government introduced VAT for the first time with the March budget, initially at 10%.

Personalities born this year were illusionist David Blaine, White House intern Monica Lewinsky, and tennis stars Greg Rusedski and Monica Seles. Elsewhere in entertainment, the FA Cup proved to be a day remembered by many for years to come outside of the two teams’ supporters, when Sunderland, from the 2nd Division beat 1st Division opponents Leeds United 1-0!

In music, the year opened with Sweet’s Blockbuster, at No.1 for five weeks, followed by Slade’s Cum On Feel The Noize. This latter group then ended the year at the top with the seasonal (and ever popular) Merry Christmas Everybody. Along the way, there were six other entries that stayed at No.1 for four weeks – Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Old Oak Tree (Dawn), See My Baby Jive (Wizard), I’m The Leader Of The Gang (Gary Glitter), Young Love (Donny Osmond), Eye Level (Simon Park Orchestra) and I Love You Love Me Love (Gary Glitter). Single sales were beginning to slip, however, with albums sales and charts assuming greater importance. ‘Various Artists’ compilations featured strongly during the year, but long-term chart topping was achieved by Elton John (Don’t Shoot I’m Only The Piano Player – 6 weeks) and David Bowie (Pin Ups – 5 weeks).

One might have thought that the Beeching cuts would have so decimated our railway system that there was precious little left to dispense with, but 65 closures were still made during the year! A majority were freight and/or industrial lines and connections – such as Harpur Hill-Hindlow and Hillhead Quarry (near Buxton), Whitwood-Aire & Calder Chemical Works, Wadebridge-Wadebridge Quay, High Dyke-Sproxton and Port Meadow New Spur Jct-Rewley Road Exchange Sidings in Oxford – but passenger services also suffered between Alton and Winchester, Botley and Farnham and Daly and Kilmarnock. TOPS was introduced, which over a couple of years totally transformed the numbering of BR’s locomotives away from the 1957 blocks of D1-D9999 and E1-E9999. Where the new numbers did not follow the previous chronological orders, it initially brought much confusion to the enthusiast and rail worker alike. Depots were also reclassified, with letters instead of the old number series. E.g. Toton (once 18A, but 16A between 9/63 and 5/73) became TO, but not all easily fitted the new way and some, like Thornaby, took a slightly obscure persona (ex-51L from 6/58-5/73 becoming TE).