QUOTE Forgive my ignorance but what is better about GWR than any other company?
It could be that GWR had a style, class and grandure about it considered to be lacking among the other railway operators. And of course it also had/has the longest history of any of them remaining virtually unchanged when the big 4 grouping was formed in 1923. And even when BR was formed the Western Region was considered to be GWR in all but name and continued along is idiosyncratic ways.
And after all GWR did have to live up to the "Great" within its name not promised by any other operator!
Stations and rolling stock were always kept tidy and smart. Travellers entering the GWR network absolutely knew that they were on the GWR network as the service aspects were moved up a knotch or two.
I am more of a Southern Railways fan however I can understand why GWR fans feel the way they do so lets respect their judgement.
As an aside nobody is yet close to what the actual anniversary is (now there is a surprise!
) and there may be a few kicking themselves when they learn the answer!
Happy modelling
Gary
PS speaking to a fireman the other day who had experiance of firing up both GWR designed and LMS designed locomotives around the Midlands he did say that GWR locos were not well regarded from a firemens point of view as they required more sweat than LMS locos. I suspect coal from Midlands collieries relative to coal from South Wales may not have helped and the firemen did acknowledge that Welsh coal eased the burden slightly when firing up GWR locos however this was not often available in the Midlands.