This page will carry general background historical information about the former Southern Railway.

The Southern Railway was formed in 1923 from a number of earlier railway companies, including the London & South Western Railway which is covered also on RailWest. It also absorbed a number of minor independent railways, including the famous narrow-gauge Lynton & Barnstaple Railway. In 1948 it was incorporated into the new nationalised British Railways and became BR Southern Region.

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