This page will carry general background historical information about the former London and South Western Railway.

The L&SWR began as a railway to link Southampton and London, but in due course it expanded much further into the West of England until it reached as far afield as Exeter, Plymouth, Ilfracombe, Bude and Padstow. In the course of this expansion it acquired or leased many other smaller railway companies. In 1923 the L&SWR became part of the Southern Railway, which is covered also by RailWest.

Further details will be added to this page in due course. In the meantime, please see the L&SWR Index for details of L&SWR-related subjects already on RailWest.