Railways & Recollections 1981

The year began with a strange mix of events. Ronald Reagan became President of the USA and Iran responded by releasing 52 previously held US hostages. This ‘high’ could have been short-lived, however, as Reagan was shot on March 30 by John Hinckley Jr – thankfully, not fatally! America also led the world in space, launching the first and innovative Space Shuttle, less than a month after three were killed and five injured during a Shuttle test. Also in America, the first recognised cases of AIDS are diagnosed. Elsewhere, Greece entered the EEC; Sheffield police arrested the Yorkshire Ripper; a 6.7 magnitude earthquake hit Athens; there were riots in Brixton; Francois Mitterand became France’s new Prime Minister; and on July 29, Prince Charles married Lady Diana Spencer.

Bob Dylan turned 40 this year, but newcomers (as babies) included Rapper Mike Jones, tennis stars Anna Kournikova and Serena Williams; and Britney Spears. Elsewhere in entertainment, the FA Cup proved to be memorable as the 100th such occasion and only the second to end in a draw, on the day, since 1912. The replay was finally a victory for Tottenham Hotspur, 3-2 against Manchester City. In music, the year opened with an emotional swell following the assassination of John Lennon the year before, putting the man and his timeless anthem Imagine at the top of the charts for four weeks in January. Other high flyers, later in 1981, were Smokey Robinson Being With You, Michael Jackson One Day In Your Life and Queen & David Bowie Under Pressure. Queen also had the distinction of being the first rock band to play stadiums in South America, breaking the world attendance record with their opening concert in Sao Paulo – 131000!

On our railways, another 53 lines, spurs and/or services were axed. As in some previous years, the predominant casualty was either freight services or links to industrial sites, although passenger services between Kentish Town and Upper Holloway, Newcastle Central and South Shields, Stourport to Hartlebury and New Holland to Barton on Humber and Cleethorpes also suffered. Faslane in Scotland lost its rail link; as did New Hucknall Colliery; Cholsey & Moulsford to Wallingford; and Wednesbury Central to Swan Village. This was also the year that finally saw the end of the famed ECML ‘Deltics’ in full front line service, with just three of the original 22 locomotives surviving into 1982 (and then only by a matter of days, for celebratory tours, etc.).

Your authors hope you enjoy the mix and will, like Oliver, come back for more!