Part two Part one was published in Steam World July 2023
Onset of war and the REC
he next logical step up the promotion Tladder for Barrington-Ward would have been to the post of General Manager for the entire Southern Area of the LNER, but during 1937 he had seen H. Maudlin (his opposite number as Superintendent for the Eastern Area) appointed to that role. However, he did become Superintendent for the entire Southern Area and, close to the outbreak of war, was appointed by Wedgwood to be Assistant General Manager (Operating). With the railways again returning to government control, the shortly-to-retire Wedgwood (succeeded by Sir Charles Newton) wanted someone who could co-ordinate and communicate with the wartime Railway Executive Committee (REC) on behalf of the entire LNER. That role would be for all traffic flows as resources may have needed to be redirected asa result of the war.
Living near Gerrards Cross would be useful particularly if the expected bombing of London disturbed transport links. Within a few miles of Gerrards Cross (on the Great Western/Great Central
